BLACKPINK members Jisoo and Rose take a selfie at the iconic Eiffel Tower ahead of their schedule for Paris Fashion Week 2021. Photo: sooyaaa__/Instagram
The month of September has been all about our beloved lovesick girls BLACKPINK. First, on Sept. 10, Lisa finally made her highly-anticipated solo debut with her single Lalisa, breaking records left and right like it’s nobody’s business. Just days after, September 15 to be exact, our main vocalRosé made headlines by being the first member of the group to appear at the Met Gala and being one of the first two female K-pop idols to grace the ceremony overall (with 2NE1’s CL). But even before the two girls gave us much-needed BLACKPINK developments, it was actually Jennie that ushered in the month with some eye-popping photos of her in the Calvin Klein Fall 2021 campaign, wearing nothing but her Calvins… underwear. How’s that for the group reminding us they’re in everyone’s area?
And before the month ends, BLACKPINK strikes again with more of the group’s fashion-related activities. All the members are reported to attend one of the fashion industry’s most awaited events: the Paris Fashion Week. It seems that BLINKs haven‘t been disappointed that the usually frugal (when it comes to giving their idols activities) YG is keeping the girls busy by giving the girls a packed schedule by letting them attend high-profile events even without a group comeback on the horizon yet!
It was only last week when news about BLACKPINK’s appearance at Paris Fashion Week started circulating when a number of Korean media outlets reported the group would be flying to the City of Love soon. Some sources claimed that Rosé and Jisoo were scheduled to leave for Paris via Incheon International Airport on Sept. 25, while Jennie and Lisa, who still have items in their Korean schedule, would be taking their flights at a later time. The rumors seemed to make sense with fans, especially since all the four girls are current global ambassadors for French fashion brands – with Dior having Jisoo, Celine having Lisa, Saint Laurent having Rosé, and Chanel having Jennie.
Alas, the reports came true when indeed, Jisoo and Rosé departed Incheon and went to Paris on September 25. Blinks rejoiced when the two shared selfies of themselves in front of the Eiffel Tower on Instagram.
After the IG updates, the two girls have gone to work, and by work, we mean appearing in the fashion shows of their respective brands. The Dior Collection show at Paris Fashion Week was scheduled to take place on September 28 at 2:30 PM, and Jisoo did not disappoint by attending the event wearing a black-and-white mini dress from the brand’s Resort 2022 collection. The group’s visual paired her attire with a tiny Lady Dior bag and open-toed platform heels, and with long straight hair, Jisoo gave high fashion vibes through and through.
But the day didn’t end there, as the Yves Saint Laurent Collection show was held that evening at 8 PM. It was our On The Ground singer’s turn, and she continued her penchant for black YSL outfits by wearing a sheer mini dress with knee-high boots, which she glammed up with a gold chunky necklace with pearl detailing.
So now, you may ask, when are Jennie and Lisa joining Jisoo and Rosé? The Paris Fashion Week will be until October 6, so there are still a good number of days for the two left in Seoul to take that Paris-bound flight. The Chanel Collection show will take place on October 5 at 10:30 AM, while there are no scheduled shows for Celine. Would that mean only Jennie would be off to Paris while Lisa would continue her Lalisa promotions in Seoul? Stay tuned for developments in the coming days.
BLACKPINK members Jisoo and Rose take a selfie at the iconic Eiffel Tower ahead of their schedule for Paris Fashion Week 2021. Photo: sooyaaa__/Instagram
Coldplay x BTS's My Universe official lyric video. Photo: Coldplay/YouTube
The song starts upbeat, reminiscent of early Coldplay when frontman Chris Martin was around the same age as BTS. It was more gaining-awareness-of-the-world Parachutes than a had-everything-in-the-world-but-did-not-know-what-to-do-with-it confused Mylo Xyloto. Think their Til Kingdom Come from X&Y remixed with BTS’s Mikrokosmos (which has always been an emotional ending stage, be it for their Map of the Soul tour in Seoul or BTS Festa 2021).
The buildup of My Universe is hyped yet soft and steady 20 seconds in—a clear feisty claim that sets the tone of the collab of the century: You are my universe.
It then cuts to the intro after “and I,” just as how our minds pause when we are consumed by strong feelings (such as love that moves people beyond boundaries and makes us see things exclusive to us and our beloved). It praises the poignancy of everyday things and the surreal, as Jungkook eloquently sang in Korean.
매일 밤 네게 날아가 (가)
꿈이란 것도 잊은 채
나 웃으며 너를 만나 (나)
I fly away with you; When I’m without you, I’m crazy. Please hold my hand.
Matched with its upbeat tune that hits the right spots, My Universe touches on this ode of love that trespasses hardships—and what can be harder than love that cannot be together—and leaves it as that.
And they said that we can’t be together.
No fixing. Just a quiet understanding that such is a special bond that transcends all barriers. At the same time knowing that when—as Kim Taehyung sings—darkness used to be more comfortable, someone gets the audacity to make our world light up inside.
Suga and J-Hope rapped it the best:
What brightens me up
Are the stars embroidered with your love
In my universe, you
Make another world for me
Because you are my stars and my universe
These hardships are just temporary
Just shine as bright as you shine now
We will follow you to adorn this long night
My Universe then ends in total technicolor surrender, as we do in real life. At the end of the day, when the world can’t help but be pitch-black, we somehow default to the safe space that is love. After all, how can we be alone when we are made of each other?
Coldplay x BTS’s My Universe is now available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and on CDs that got sold out within minutes on Weverse. Following its much-awaited release on September 24, 2021, we can now also hear a My Universe – Acoustic Version and an acquired taste My Universe – Supernova 7 mix. The My Universe official music video drops midnight ET, September 30, 2021.
BTS’s rap line—J-Hope, RM, and Suga—are credited as songwriters for My Universe, along with Chris Martin and the Max Martin. (He is partially responsible for numerous iconic 90s pop culture songs, including ones performed by Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, and Britney Spears; and more recent languishings such as Ari’s Thank U, Next album; Ed Sheeran’s “and you’re making me feel like I’m loved by somebody” I Don’t Care; and even TayTay’s “you look like my next mistake” Blank Space.)
Featured image: Coldplay x BTS’s My Universe official lyric video. Photo: Coldplay/YouTube
We may have heard a lot of news about these dramas, including casting updates, the dropping of stills and teasers, but for the longest time, we have not been informed of confirmed dates for their release.
Now, we have gathered the latest updates about three web and TV shows that will feature some of your favorite idols, so without further ado, here they are:
Heartbeat Broadcasting Accident
Scheduled to premiere on October 27 on Naver TV Cast
What’s it about: A lot of us K-drama followers are surely hard to please! We constantly complain that a majority of the content we see is not that relatable. If most dramas are about fantastical characters with superpowers like Goblin or A Korean Odyssey, we complain. If we get a suspense drama about how the 1% of society live, such as the Penthouse series or SKY Castle, we still complain. When we have period dramas like 100 Days My Princeor Mr. Queen, we still have something to say about the content being too foreign and irrelevant. Finally, when we have shows about celebrities like The Producers or Touch Your Heart, we still have an issue or two.
So alas, we are starting off this list with something most of us can surely relate to – an office drama! Heartbeat Broadcasting Accident is a web drama set in an office that will surely be relatable to a lot of us since it is about unrequited love (who can’t relate to fluttering hearts the first time we meet an attractive officemate?), influencer rivals (there’s always competition on who gets the boss’ approval, after all), and a love triangle (because it is sometimes inevitable that attraction breeds in the small circle of office teams)
Who’s in it? The web drama features SF9’s ZuHo, Lim Nayoung, Lee Hyunjoo, and Jung Mingyu. ZuHo proves that all (or at least, a majority of SF9) members can act and pursue careers outside of their group. So, it’s not just Rowon and Chani who get to display their acting chops, as in this show, he will essay the role of Cha Seonwoo, a first planning team leader at “Sherry Shop” and has good looks and top skills and competes with a male colleague for the affections of a female officemate.
[UPDATE] Official photo from script reading session of web-drama ‘Heartbeat Broadcasting Accident’ revealed
Cast: Im Na Young, SF9 Zuho, Jung Min Gyu, Lee Hyun Joo, Hak Jin, Jang Yoo Jin & Kang Hyun Moo
Lim Nayoung, former I.O.I and Pristin leader, seems to be intent on proving herself as an actress since her group’s disbandment and leaving her former talent agency, Pledis Entertainment. Debuting in the acting world with the acclaimed drama Flower of Evil, she has since appeared in the web drama Summer Guys with bandmate Kang Mina and the KBS idol drama Imitation, which also starred ZuHo’s bandmate Chani. Nayoung will be the leading lady of the drama, playing Yoon Yiseo, a social media influencer who has to keep an office job to make ends meet. She meets childhood friend Seonwoo in Sherry Shop, though she has also noticed another male officemate.
Second leads include Lee Hyunjoo, formerly of the girl group April, who plays Yura, Yiseo’s rival in many aspects – online, in Sherry Shop, and for Seonwoo’s affections. There’s also model-turned-actor Jung Mingyu, who as Kwon Hyuck, also works in Sherry Shop and will battle it out with Seonwoo for Yoon Yiseo’s heart.
Idol: The Coup
Scheduled to premiere on November 8 on JTBC
Speaking of Lim Nayoung, after Pristin was disbanded, she moved to Sublime Artist Agency, where she is now pursuing an acting career. The agency is also home to former idols who have opted to diversify or shift their careers to include acting, such as Yerin formerly of GFriend, Youngjae of GOT7, and Ahn Heeyeon, or more known to us as Hani of EXID. Hani has dabbled a lot in acting since leaving Banana Culture, EXID’s agency, having bagged roles in web and TV dramas such as XX, The Spies Who Loved Me, SF8, Not Yet 30, and You Raise Me Up. Next for her is this idol drama, Idol: The Coup, which coincidentally is also similar to Nayoung’s previous drama, Imitation, in the sense that both are shows about the triumphs and struggles of idol groups.
Idol: the Coup is a story of an idol group that is on the brink of disbandment because of its unpopularity. Just like most idol groups these days, the fate of the band ultimately depends on a breakout hit that may possibly save them and bring them back to public attention. Us fans are too familiar with this scenario, as we’ve witnessed groups that have been on the brink of getting dismissed and it just took one viral hit to change public perception. There’s Brave Girls with Rollin’, LABOUM with Journey to Atlantis, and EXID with that viral Up and Down fancam that featured none other than Hani!
Alas, this drama’s story is also quite familiar with its actors because aside from Hani, who plays the leader of the fictional struggling group Cotton Candy, the other members include Exy of the Cosmic Girls (WJSN) and Solbin of LABOUM. Suffice to say these actor-idols will be acting from experience, indeed. The drama also includes Han Soeun and Green (of the group REDSQUARE) as the other members of Cotton Candy, Produce X 101 alumnus Kim Minkyu as Seo Jihan, the leader and main vocalist of Mars, a popular K-pop boy group that has an opposite fate as their labelmates Cotton Candy. There also may be a love angle between the leaders of the two groups.
Other members of the cast include Kwak Siyang as Cha Jaehyeok, the CEO of Starpeace Entertainment, the agency of both Mars and Cotton Candy, Lee Youjin as Piyon, a genius producer who exclusively provides songs to Starpeace Entertainment talents, and the other members of Mars, which also include real-life idols such as Hong Eunki (formerly of RAINZ and also a Produce 101 X contestant), Lee Eunsang (who was also with Eunki and Minkyu in PD101X and became a member of X1), and actors Baek Seohoo and Jo Joonyoung.
Teasers of the drama have already been released on JTBC’s YouTube channel, which show a lot of the cast members in heavy drama scenes. Looks like the idol actors don’t have to work that hard to be reminded of the struggles they had in their careers as idol group members.
School 2021
Premiering on November 17 on KBS2
I’m sure most, if not all of us, have at the very least heard of an installment of the School drama series. After all, there have been eight (you read that right, e-i-g-h-t) of them released, with the first one coming out in 1999. A lot of established actors have been a part of the franchise, including Bae Doona (School 1), Lee Dongwook (School 2 and 3), Jo Insung (School 3), Gong Yoo (School 4), Kim Woobin (School 2013), Kim Sohyun (School 2015), Nam Joohyuk (School 2015), and Kum Junghyun (School 2017). BtoB’s Sungjae and former Gugudan center and I.O.I main vocalist Kim Sejeong also have School 2015 and 2017, respectively, as part of their acting credentials.
A new batch of relative acting rookies will be introduced in this year’s School 2021, which was actually supposed to be School 2020 had the pandemic not delayed production of the show. As with the other earlier editions of the drama, this 2021 version still follows the life and growth of students, with a twist. This time, the show will be set in a vocational high school and will star feature ex-X1 center Kim Yohan, Choo Youngwoo, and Cho Yihyun.
Gong Kijoon (Yohan) used to be a taekwondo player and has played in national compet9tiojn when he suddenly had incurred a serious ankle injury. With his father’s business going bankrupt, Kijoon wanted to reverse his family’s misfortunes by quitting taekwondo and entering a vocational high school so he could be employed fast. Enter Jin Jiwon, his first love, who wants to become a carpenter and is already enrolled in the vocational school. There’s also Jung Youngjoo, a transfer student who has a connection to Kijoon’s past.
The other students in the drama include Kim Kangmin who plays Ji Hosung, a student who is always changing his plans on what he wants to become in the future and becomes Kijoon’s friend. There’s also Hwang Boreum Byeol who plays Kang Seoyoung, a high achieving student focused on making it to one of the five top universities in Korea and maybe cold and uncaring because of her ambition.
It’s an ethereal look at Jo Yuri’s upcoming solo debut. New fans and WIZ*ONEs who have been supporting Yuri since she was a member of IZ*ONE simply can’t get enough of it.
Hopefully, a video teaser will offer a taste of the new music she will be releasing this October.
Jo Yuri was one of the competitors on Produce 48 and was ranked #3, confirming her place as a member of IZ*ONE. She debuted with the 11 other members as IZ*ONE in October 2018. Unfortunately, the group officially disbanded in April this year.
Despite IZ*ONE’s disbandment, the members are determined to pursue their own careers. Jo Yuri is proof that these idols can continue making music for their fans.
Jo Yuri previously released her first collaboration single Autumn Box, a duet with SG Wannabe’s Lee Suk Hoon.
Jo Yu Ri’s solo debut single album Glassy drops on October 7, 2021.
BLACKPINK to participate on the YouTube Originals “Dear Earth” campaign; Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa reportedly attending Paris Fashion Week. Photo: BLACKPINK/Twitter
Looks like October is going to be a busy month for BLACKPINK: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa are reportedly attending Paris Fashion Week 2021, and have been invited to participate in the “Dear Earth” campaign for climate change.
Blackpink in Paris Fashion Week 2021
There are speculations that all Blackpink girls—Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa—will attend Paris Fashion Week next week. Several reports have pointed out that some of them have left for Paris on September 25. However, it was also reported that Jennie will not leave with the other members due to changes in schedules.
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if all four were invited to Paris Fashion Week. After all, all BLACKPINK members are global ambassadors for a few French luxury brands. Jisoo is the ambassador for Dior while Jennie is the Chanel ambassador. Rosé and Lisa are the ambassadors for Yves Saint Laurent and Celine, respectively.
Blackpink for Dear Earth
It has also been confirmed that Blackpink will participate in the YouTube Originals special Dear Earth event on October 23, 2021. The campaign for climate change will also be attended by leaders such as Pope Francis, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and Google/Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.
Other artists Billie Eilish, Anitta, Jaden Smith, Lil Dicky and GaTa, Tinashe, and Marsai Martin are also attending Dear Earth. It is unclear, though, if Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa will only perform or will also give a speech. As of publishing time, BLACKPINK is the only K-pop act participating.
Stay tuned for more updates on both stories.
Paris Fashion Week takes place from September 28 to October 5, 2021, while “Dear Earth” will premiere on YouTube on October 23, 2021.
Featured image: BLACKPINK to participate on the YouTube Originals “Dear Earth” campaign; Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa reportedly attending Paris Fashion Week. Photo: BLACKPINK/Twitter
Blackpink's Jennie Kim after the Spring-Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear Show — CHANEL. Photo: Chanel/YouTube
The Hallyu wave isn’t just limited to K-pop and K-dramas anymore. K-pop has gained massive popularity and grown its influence in the last few years, and many are standing up to take notice—including the fashion industry.
Today, K-pop acts are dominating the global music scene—from BTS to Blackpink, EXO to Twice, and more—breaking records and capturing the hearts of fans everywhere. Not only are these extremely talented and gorgeous artists crushing records and topping music charts; they’re also smashing the proverbial glass ceiling of beauty and fashion.
K-pop idols making waves in the global fashion industry
K-pop stars are now among the world’s biggest influencers. Their huge fanbases and social media following has helped brands reach a wider, more diverse audience and boost the sales of luxury goods.
For example, the four members of Blackpink alone have a combined 205 million followers across their individual Instagram accounts as of September 21, 2021. Lisa has 60.1 million followers, followed by Jennie with 51.7 million, Rosé with 46.7 million, and Jisoo with 46.5 million.
The Kai x Gucci capsule collection sold out quick after its launch earlier this year. And BTS’ Louis Vuitton outfits ran out of stock almost immediately after their most recent airport photos came out online, proving that idols’ popularity and global reach do wonders for brands and the industry as a whole.
Rolling out the red carpet for K-pop’s biggest stars
Bigbang’s G-Dragon, one of K-pop’s original fashionistas, paved the way for idols to discover and explore their own styles. The K-pop legend has always been a style icon in South Korea, with his bold, brave, and experimental take on fashion. But his appearance at the Chanel show at Paris Fashion Week in 2015 and his appointment as a brand ambassador for Chanel cemented his spot among the upper echelons in the world of haute couture.
Since then, Korean celebrities, especially idols, have become ambassadors for various luxury brands. They have also started to grace runways and red carpets. Two years ago, Winner’s Mino walked the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2020 show. And just this September, the Baddest Female CL and Blackpink’s main vocalist Rosé made a splash on their MET Gala debut.
14 K-pop idols and groups that are the face of luxury brands
The fashion world has, indeed, embraced K-pop stars wholeheartedly. Here are some of the global fashion and beauty houses that have tapped our favorite idols to be their brand ambassadors:
BTS for Louis Vuitton
Global superstars BTS became the Louis Vuitton house ambassadors in April this year. All seven members made their debut as models in a stark, futuristic fashion film that also showcased their individual styles.
Watch their Louis Vuitton Men’s Fall/Winter 2021 fashion film below:
EXO Kai for Gucci and Bobbi Brown
EXO’s Kai first made his presence known when he attended Gucci shows as one of the fashion house’s brand ambassadors. In 2019, he was appointed as the first Korean male global ambassador for Gucci Eyewear. Just two years later, Kai would release his very own capsule collection with the brand. Kai also represents cosmetics brand Bobbi Brown as its first male muse.
Kai was also recently named the global ambassador for the 2022 S/S Seoul Fashion Week, to be held online from October 7 to 15, 2021.
IU for Gucci
IU is one of the most sought-after celebrities in South Korea, and Gucci has fallen for her charms. Just like Kai, IU is also a Gucci ambassador. She signed on with the brand in February last year.
IU most recently starred in the brand’s Beloved campaign.
Bigbang G-Dragon for Chanel
Bigbang’s leader has been loved by Chanel for years; he’s been a house ambassador since 2017. His style continues to inspire everyone, from fellow idols to VIPs around the world.
Watch G-Dragon with his fellow house ambassadors in the teaser video for the Chanel Fall/Winter 2021/22 Ready-to-Wear virtual show:
Plus, the rapper talks about the one piece he would love to get for himself from the Chanel Spring/Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear show in the video below:
Blackpink Jennie for Chanel and Calvin Klein
Blinks have affectionately dubbed Jennie as the “Human Chanel”—and it’s easy to see why. She has been a house ambassador for the brand since 2018, and the brand’s classic, feminine style perfectly matches the idol’s image.
Listen to Jennie as she shares her thoughts on Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear show:
More recently, the star made a stunning debut in the Calvin Klein Fall 2021 campaign.
EXO Chanyeol and Red Velvet Irene for Prada
SM labelmates Chanyeol and Irene were both appointed as brand ambassadors for Prada in 2020. Both idols showed off their stunning visuals while decked out in the house’s designs.
Hyuna for Loewe
Hyuna’s sexy, daring, and charismatic style has not escaped the attention of Spanish fashion house Loewe. The brand introduced the “I’m Not Cool” singer as their newest global ambassador in July.
EXO Sehun and Blackpink Jisoo for Dior
Dior appointed Blackpink’s Jisoo as its global ambassador for fashion and beauty earlier this year. Watch Jisoo try out the latest pieces from the brand’s Cruise 2022 collection before settling in to watch the virtual show in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QgLDiA-0UM
And, EXO’s Sehun shows off his stunning visuals as the face of Dior Men.
Watch Sehun sporting Dior Men’s Fall 2021 collection in this video for GQ Korea:
Blackpink Rosé for Saint Laurent and Tiffany & Co
Rosé has been Saint Laurent’s muse since 2020. In one of her first shoots with the brand, she modeled key pieces from the Fall/Winter 2020 collection. Watch the chic clip below:
The “On the Ground” singer also became a brand ambassador for jewelry brand Tiffany & Co this year.
Blackpink Lisa for Celine and MAC
Blackpink’s main dancer and rapper Lisa was appointed as Celine’s first official brand ambassador in 2020. The idol is often seen and photographed looking her Parisian chic best, decked in head-to-toe Celine.
The Thai superstar is also the face of MAC Cosmetics. Watch Lisa as she shows her MAC must-haves in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA2p8GYBNhU
Red Velvet Seulgi for Salvatore Ferragamo
Red Velvet’s main dancer Seulgi is loved by fans, not only in South Korea but all over the world. But this multi-talented idol is also loved by Italian fashion brand Salvatore Ferragamo! Seulgi’s unique personal style, passion, and creativity led the brand to tap the star as their new global ambassador.
Aespa for Givenchy
Rookie group Aespa, with their breathtaking visuals and unique avatar concept, has caught the attention of French luxury brand Givenchy. In February 2021, the brand announced Aespa as their newest global ambassador.
The K-pop and haute couture crossover isn’t just a passing fancy. As idols continue to gain popularity in and out of South Korea, global luxury brands and K-pop stars will continue to make beautiful music together for a long time.
Featured image: Blackpink’s Jennie Kim after the Spring-Summer 2021 Ready-to-Wear Show — CHANEL. Photo: CHANEL/YouTube
After three years of marriage, Taeyang and Min Hyorin are now expecting their first chid. Photo: KBS WORLD TV/YouTube
It looks like Big Bang is finally getting a real Fantastic Baby! Horin’s agency, PLUM A&C, has confirmed that Taeyang and Min Hyorin are currently expecting their first child.
A new report from Hankook Ilbo shared the news, stating that Hyorin is already in the third trimester of her pregnancy. The report points out that the Sunny actress and her husband Dong Youngbae are joyfully waiting for their first child’s birth.
Hyorin’s pregnancy was reportedly noticed by local Hannam residents as the couple was seen walking around the neighborhood. However, there were no previous reports about the pregnancy.
Just a few hours after the report was dropped, Hyorin’s agency PLUM A&C decided to share an official statement.
“It’s true that Min Hyo Rin is currently expecting. They are currently waiting for the baby with happy hearts,” the statement reads. It was also revealed that the “Twenty” actress wanted to go through the pregnancy quietly so the agency didn’t share any further comments.
Taeyang and Hyorin met in 2013 and have been in a relationship ever since. The couple tied the knot in February 2018.
In related news, Taeyang’s YG Entertainment labelmate Bobby has just welcomed his first child. The iKON rapper had previously announced in August that he is getting married and that he and his fiancee are already expecting a baby in September.
After three years of marriage, Taeyang and Min Hyorin are now expecting their first chid. Photo: KBS KBS WORLD TV/YouTube
SNSD Yoona's personal YouTube channel, So Wonderful Day. Photo: Yoona's So Wonderful Day | 임윤아 오피셜/YouTube
South Koreans love YouTube—so much so that they spend an estimated 25 hours and 40 minutes on the platform every month. In recent years, the number of YouTube creators—from home-based business owners promoting their products to cat owners uploading their pets’ adorable antics to mukbang stars hosting live broadcasts—increased exponentially, giving audiences in Korea and around the world endless content to dive into.
Even idols are quick to set up their own channels as a way to showcase their interests and express themselves. These days, we’ve got idols uploading song covers, vlogs, cooking tutorials, Q&A sessions, and more!
Previously, we’ve featured the male idols who are showing off their charms in their respective YouTube channels. Now, it’s time to take a look at female idols with YouTube channels that are worth watching!
GIRLS’ GENERATION
Taeyeon
In Taengoo TV, Taeyeon has uploaded a mix of vlogs featuring her travels, concert rehearsals, and random moments in her daily life. It’s been two years since her last video, but SONEs everywhere are looking forward to the day Taengoo TV becomes active again!
Watch Taeyeon run errands for her mom:
Yoona
Yoona’s So Wonderful Day is just the ray of sunshine you need when you’re feeling down. In her channel, Yoona shares snippets of her wonderful days on and off work.
Learn how to bake lemon cake with Yoona below:
Sooyoung
Sooyoung shows off her quirky personality and tells stories through her vlogs in her aptly-titled YouTube channel The Sootory. In her channel, she documents her travels, food trips, conversations with fellow idols, and more.
Watch Sooyoung celebrate Girls’ Generation’s 14th anniversary by baking a cake:
Yuri
It seems the members of Girls’ Generation really love to cook! Yuri’s channel, Yurihan TV, features the idol’s kitchen adventures. She also uploads exercise vlogs, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from her dramas and photo shoots.
Check out her latest video, where she cooks and shares a meal with fellow member Yoona:
BLACKPINK
Jennie
Blackpink’s Jennie celebrated her birthday in January this year by launching her own YouTube channel, Jennierubyjane Official! In her intro video, the star says that she opened her channel to give Blinks everywhere a glimpse of her daily life. She even included a cover performance of Mandy Moore’s “When Will My Life Begin” from Tangled!
Rosé
Like fellow member Jennie, Rosé just opened her own channel, ROSÉ Official, earlier this year. Her first video is an interview film where she shares stories from her childhood up until her preparations for her solo debut.
Lisa
Want to see more of Lisa’s show-stopping dance moves? Head over to her Lilifilm Official channel! Aside from her performance videos, Lisa also uploads vlogs from Blackpink’s concert tours and her travels.
Mamamoo’s leader Solar shows off her bright, cheerful personality in Solarsido. In her channel, she shares how she spends her weekends, takes on various challenges, and goes on mukbang battles. She also uploads quick exercise routines that Moomoos can follow!
Follow her Solar Fit 10-minute hip workout below:
OH MY GIRL
Hyojung
There’s something about idols cooking and eating that makes it interesting to watch—and Oh My Girl’s Hyojung does not disappoint in her Jjungi eonnichannel. Her videos are pretty chill, even when she holds eating broadcasts! Fair warning: do not watch while hungry!
GIRL’S DAY
Hyeri
Girl’s Day Hyeri has also jumped onto the YouTube train! Her channel, I am Lee Hyeri, has a wide variety of content that fans can watch. Watch her fun and healing solo trip to Jeju Island below:
APINK
Bomi
Bomi’s Bbom Bbom Bbom channel is a mixed bag of treats that can keep fans entertained for hours on end. The Apink member uploads vlogs of her daily life, travels, mukbang, and snippets of her broadcast activities. She also does beauty tutorials and game and product reviews. Watch Bomi drive away the heat with her cold noodle mukbang:
AKMU
Suhyun
Lee Suhyun from the sibling duo AKMU is not just a soulful singer; she is also a well-known beauty YouTuber! Her channel features beauty product reviews and makeup tutorials.
Suhyun announced on her channel that she would be taking a break from YouTube to recharge. Fans don’t need to worry, though because she has promised to return to creating content—so do not press unsubscribe! In the meantime, catch up on her videos, such as her holiday makeup video with LeeHi:
DARA
Dara TV is just as colorful and quirky as Dara herself! In her channel, she uploads everything from song and dance covers, to local and international trips, and even the secrets to her ageless beauty!
It’s been a while since her last upload, but now that Dara has joined a new agency, fans are hoping she will be back soon for more entertaining content! In the meantime, watch her hunt down her birthday ads on the subway in the vlog below:
IU
Check out IU’s official YouTube channel if you want to know more about what the soloist does off-stage. In her channel, IU posts behind-the-scenes clips of her in concerts, album recordings, and fan meets. She also uploads interviews with other celebrities in her own web talk show, IU’s Palette.
Watch IU sit down for a chat with ITZY below:
HYUNA
Here’s something not commonly seen among idols’ YouTube channels: idol couple videos! In HyunA’s official YouTube channel, the idol posts her vlogs with her boyfriend of six years, Dawn.
The couple recently released a new song together. Watch their behind-the-scenes album photo shoot:
There’s something for every fan on our list, so make sure to check out these ladies’ channels! We know there are more female idols who have their own channels—but we’ll never get to the end of this article if we include them all (so maybe we’ll do a part two!). Which female idol YouTuber do you like most?
BLACKPINK LALISA special stage. Photo: BLACKPINK/YouTube
After more than two weeks since Blackpink’s Lisa dropped her debut single album, it may now be safe to assess its merits. There are currently two schools of thought when it comes to Lisa’s solo effort – those arguing that it was a resounding success and those claiming that it was a downright flop. So, which is which? To view things objectively, we need to weigh all the points of both sides.
LALISA special stage
Spelling success with L-A-L-I-S-A
Arguing that Lisa’s debut was a hit would definitely bank on the achievements it has claimed. Let’s count them up:
Broke the record for 24-hour YouTube views for a soloist previously held by Adele;
Broke the record for 24-hour YouTube likes for a soloist;
Only female K-Pop artist ever to be number 1 on iTunes in 71 countries;
Biggest streaming week by a K-Pop soloist on Spotify;
Biggest first-week sales for a female act on Hanteo (quick cheat sheet: Hanteo tracks real-time sales while Gaon tracks shipments and pre-orders);
First foreign soloist to get a win on a Korean music show (Music Bank on September 17);
Number one on Gaon album charts.
With achievements on Spotify, YouTube, Hanteo, Gaon, iTunes, and physical sales of over 700K, you can argue that Lalisa is an unqualified hit. Or is it?
LALISA on SBS Inkigayo
The rest of Korea hasn’t been loving Lalisa
On the flip side, many also argue that Lisa’s debut isn’t as successful as her fandoms, the Lilies and the Blinks, make it appear.
One facet in this entire scenario where Lisa has been severely underperforming is in the digital charts. On Gaon, while she has proven her dominance in the album charts, she has been struggling with her single Lalisa, where she is currently #88 in the streaming chart, #10 in the download chart (falling six places from last week), and #64 in the digital chart.
This is further emphasized by her absence in the instiz chart, a compendium chart that combines the charts that South Korea uses to rank music sales (MelOn, Genie, Bugs, Flo, and Naver’s Vibe). It is also what fans use to determine an “All-Kill” (a song that charts at #1 on all real-time charts) and “PAK” or “perfect all-kill” (a song that charts at #1 on all real-time and daily charts).
Lisa bowed out of the instiz charts three days after Lalisa was released on the 10th. As of press time, the song is out of MelOn’s Top 100. MelOn is Korea’s largest online music store and streaming service.
In contrast, both Jennie and Rose stayed on the instiz charts for months, with Jennie topping the charts in November 2018 and Rose only getting blocked by digital monsters IU and Brave Girls. In fact, Jennie even achieved a certified all-kill on November 14.
That Lisa is underperforming in Korean song charts despite having huge album sales is indicative of one thing: Koreans outside the Lily-BLINK fandom are not supporting her songs. In fact, they do not like the song at all.
The digital charts are more informed by what the general public likes, which makes Lisa’s success more or less fandom-driven. Considering that not 100% of BLINKs are supportive of Lisa, that she has been breaking records means that her own personal fandom is massive enough. This is why the album and streaming figures are mind-blowing. But for digital sales and downloads that restrict every single account to be counted as one download, the two fandoms can be limited in taking their idols’ singles to the top to as far as the number of multiple accounts one member of the fandom can handle.
The song has been dismissed by several of its listeners as overtly repetitive and dependent on its hoo that just lets Lisa her name countless times. And to top it off, YG is very selective of its artists’ promotional activities, it’s highly doubtful that a substantial number of people outside the bubble of Lisa’s fandom will be converted
To answer the question in the title, it can be argued that Lalisa as a debut song has its limitations, but it cannot be denied that Lisa is currently one of the most popular musical artists in the world.
Featured image: BLACKPINK LALISA special stage. Photo: BLACKPINK/YouTube
EXO Xiumin and Baekyun guest on Kyuhyun’s Things That Make Me Groove. Photo: 채널 십오야/YouTube
EXO as a group is on hiatus at the moment, as most of the members are currently completing their military service as required in South Korea. Their last comeback was Don’t Fight the Feeling, which was released in June. But that doesn’t mean there’s a shortage of content from this multi-talented group. While several of the members have their own YouTube channels and regularly upload new content, some opt to go on Korean variety shows and even other celebrities’ web variety shows.
So if you’re missing EXO a little extra lately, here are some must-watch online variety programs that the members have either starred or guested in:
Xiumin’s The King of Tennis Tomorrow
Xiumin is known by EXO-Ls to be quite the sportsman, and for his first solo web variety show, he takes on a new athletic challenge: learning how to play tennis! In the program, the star admits that he became interested in tennis through the anime Prince of Tennis and shows off his passion to learn.
Xiumin and his friend, former professional handball player Hwang Tae Gun, pick up tennis basics over 16 episodes from former Korean professional tennis player Jeon Mi Ra. Watch and learn tennis with Xiumin starting with the first episode below:
The Devil Wears Jung Nam 2
Kai has always had an impeccable taste in fashion and can rock anything from crop tops to three-piece suits. His superior sense of style makes him a perfect match for the second season of The Devil Wears Jung Nam! In the show, actor and model Bae Jung Nam recruits Kai to join him as a fashion consultant. Together, they work as personal shoppers that help style regular people.
The pair displayed great chemistry as boss and employee throughout 10-plus episodes. Fingers crossed that Kai gets a call back for season 3!
Start binge-watching with episode 0 below:
KAIst
Kai also recently started his own YouTube web show, KAIst!
In KAIst, which combines the idol’s stage name “KAI” with “st” meaning style, the idol star promises various types of content for EXO-Ls to enjoy. The show is hosted on EXO’s official YouTube channel.
Watch episode 00 of the show to find out how Kai began his new adventure as a YouTuber, and how he ended up picking KAIst as the name of his web program:
EXO on Workman
During EXO’s Obsession promotions, the whole group made a guest appearance in television personality Jang Sung Kyu’s YouTube variety show Workman. The program follows Jang Sung Kyu as he tries different jobs. During EXO’s time in the show, the TV personality took on the role of EXO’s manager for the day and followed the group as they went about their schedules.
Watch the fun episode below:
Baekhyun on MMTG
Genius idol Baekhyun brought his witty and funny self on the set of production director (PD)/host Jae Jae’s web program MMTG. Baekhyun talked about his career as a member of EXO and as a soloist, and how he marked his “thirty sexy” with his latest solo song “Bambi.”
Watch Baekhyun’s interview on MMTG:
Xiumin and Baekhyun on Things That Make Me Groove
In one of his first schedules after his military discharge, Xiumin, along with Baekhyun, paid a visit to Super Junior Kyuhyun’s home for Things That Make Me Groove. The idols have a fun night playing several games and sharing stories over food and alcohol.
Watch Baekhyun be his usual playful self and Xiumin get adorably awkward below:
Xiumin and Suho on Lee Su Geun’s Channel
Xiumin and Suho showed off their football skills when they went on gagman Lee Su Geun’s YouTube channel! The idols teamed up with their managers and choreographer and challenged the comedian’s team (which included a former national team player) to a game of futsal.
Xiumin and Suho impressed everyone with their quick reflexes and teamwork throughout the two-episode show. Watch the exciting match to find out which team won below:
Baekhyun, Kai, and Sehun on Lee Su Geun’s Channel
EXO’s hyungs weren’t the only ones to make an appearance on Lee Su Geun’s channel. Baekhyun, Kai, and Sehun’s competitiveness were revealed in their guest appearance on the channel! Watch them try to one-up each other in the videos below:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
We hope to see more of EXO on web variety shows in the future!
Featured image: EXO Xiumin and Baekyun guest on Kyuhyun’s Things That Make Me Groove. Photo: 채널 십오야/YouTube
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