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MONSTA X’s Minhyuk and GOT7’s Jinyoung Cover NewJeans During Military Service

Minhyuk might be serving in the military but that hasn’t stopped the MONSTA X member from performing like a proper idol. Lee Min-hyuk recently put on a great performance at a special military event and he wasn’t alone.

3RD GEN Idols Perform At Ground Forces Festival

MONSTA X’s Minhyuk, GOT7’s Jinyoung, and former Wanna One members Ong Seongwu and Ha Sungwoon are all 3rd generation K-Pop idols who are currently serving in the military. However, they recently had the opportunity to showcase their talents at the Ground Forces Festival, also known as the 2023 Army Fest.

Despite their absence from their respective groups due to military enlistment, these talented idols came together to perform as part of the same group of soldiers. They treated the audience to dance covers of popular K-Pop songs, creating an entertaining and memorable experience.

Their dance covers included hit songs such as NewJeans’ “Super Shy” and LE SSERAFIM’s “Eve, Psyche, & The Bluebeard’s Wife.” Additionally, each member had the chance to showcase their own group’s iconic tracks. GOT7’s “Hard Carry,” Wanna One’s “Energetic,” and MONSTA X’s “Shoot Out” were all featured in their performances.

Fans of these talented idols appreciated their dedication to providing entertainment even while fulfilling their mandatory military service. It’s clear that their passion for music and performance continues to shine, even in a different setting. As they showcased their dance skills and performed some of their group’s most beloved songs, it was a special moment for both the idols and their fans.

It’s heartwarming to see these 3rd generation K-Pop idols come together and bring joy to the audience, despite the challenges of their military service. Their performances at the Ground Forces Festival served as a reminder of their talent and dedication to their craft, and fans look forward to the day when they can return to the stage with their respective groups.

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Girl’s Day’s Sojin, Actor Lee Dong Ha to Wed in November

Girls' Day's Sojin shares prenuptial photo with actor Lee Dong Ha. Credit: Instagram/Sojin

Sojin of K-pop girl group Girl’s Day is set to tie the knot with actor Lee Dong Ha, their respective agencies announced on Friday, October 6. 

Sojin’s agency Noon Company and Dong Ha’s label 51K released a joint statement to confirm the two stars’ relationship. 

Moreover, Noon Company added that the private wedding will be held in November. And it will only be in the presence of the couple’s families, relatives, and close acquaintances. 

 

“We ask for your warm support and blessings for the future of the couple,” the agency added. 

Meanwhile, Sojin also personally confirmed the news as she penned a letter to her fans on Instagram. Along it were photos from the couple’s pre-wedding shoot. 

“This coming November, I will promise to spend the rest of my life with the person I love most on Earth, Lee Dong Ha,” the Girl’s Day lead vocalist wrote. “Yes, I have become a bride about to get married.”

Furthermore, she continued to describe her fiancée as a person “who filled the empty space in [her] heart with love.” 

“And he is the person who gave me a place to rest while I was busy living life. Also, he is someone I respect and love who made me realize that I am a precious person in the world,” she added. 

 

Additionally, the idol-turned-actress assured fans that she will continue to share snippets and milestones of her life with them. 

“I am sincerely grateful to fans who have supported and loved me for a long time,” she said. 

As for her future plans, Sojin promised fans that she will do her “best to repay the love and support with great projects and better acting.”

So much love for Sojin and Dong Ha

In the comments section of her Instagram post, several of Sojin’s celebrity friends showed their support and happiness for the couple. Among those who congratulated them were Girl’s Day’s Hyeri, actors Yoon Bak, Bae In Hyuk and Lim Se Mi. 

Following the news, several fans also sent their well-wishes for the couple through social media posts. Some were even surprised that the two were in a relationship.

The two previously worked together on the 2021 horror film Grotesque Mansion. 

Featured image: Girls’ Day’s Sojin shares prenuptial photo with actor Lee Dong Ha. Credit: Instagram/Sojin

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LE SSERAFIM Cancels Bangkok Concerts as 3 Members Got Sick

LE SSERAFIM poses for their 'FLAME RISES' poster. Credit: Twitter/LE SSERAFIM

K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM canceled their two-night concert in Bangkok as three of its members were diagnosed with Type A influenza. 

Source Music made the announcement on late Friday, October 6. The quintet was supposed to hold their FLAME RISES concert stop in Bangkok on October 7 and 8. 

According to the agency, members Kim Chaewon, Huh Yunjin, and Kazuha visited the hospital on Friday due to sudden fever and headaches. “After a series of medical evaluations, they were diagnosed with Type A influenza,” the label revealed. 

Moreover, all those affected by the virus quickly underwent self-quarantine and are currently under medical supervision. 

Because of the members’ current well-being, Source Music decided to cancel the concert as it’s not feasible for LE SSERAFIM to perform. With this, they apologized to fans for the sudden development in the event. But they also requested for their understanding as the decision was made under guidance of health professionals and in consideration of the artists’ health. 

Furthermore, they also assured the ticket buyers that refunds for the show will be available. 

“We will continue to place the highest priority on the health and safety of our artists,” Source Music ended their statement.

LE SSERAFIM members pen message to fans 

Following the release of the statement, fans of LE SSERAFIM quickly took to social media to express their worry for the group. 

Many are wishing for their speedy recovery, while others are clamoring for the agency to prioritize the members’ resting period. 

On the group’s Weverse community, each LE SSERAFIM member penned a message to their fans to assure them of their condition. 

In Yunjin’s case, she wrote that “everything is okay.” “We are doing our best to get better as soon as possible,” she added. 

Moreover, she also apologized to fans who were excited for the show and expressed her sadness over the situation. “All five of us wanted to complete this tour by showing you guys only our best performances. So it’s truly such a shame that things ended up like this,” she wrote. 

Similar to Yunjin, Kazuha also wrote an apology for fans and promised that they’ll recover quickly. 

As for leader Chaewon, she also expressed her regret of not being able to see their fans in Thailand. Although she’s sad and upset, she promised that she will give them back with a better performance.  

Aside from the three members who got sick, Sakura and Eunchae also penned letters to their fans. 

LE SSERAFIM was supposed to wrap up FLAME RISES, their first concert tour, in Bangkok. The group made its debut on May 2, 2022. 

Featured image: LE SSERAFIM poses for their ‘FLAME RISES’ poster. Credit: Twitter/LE SSERAFIM

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KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Watch: Stray Kids Announces ‘Rock-Star’ Comeback With a Cinematic Prologue Video

Stray Kids for their 'TOPLINE' music video. Credit: Facebook/Stray Kids

Are you ready, STAYs? K-pop boy group Stray Kids will soon be blessing fans with new music!

On Friday, October 6, the “S-Class” hitmakers released a cinematic prologue video to announce their comeback with the upcoming mini-album 樂-STAR (pronounced as ROCK-STAR).

In the one-and-a-half minute clip, members Felix and Bang Chan narrated the story of a young boy dreaming before going on stage. Following the striking plot, Felix’s voice offered a soothing presence while Bang Chan showed a manic delivery of lines.

In addition, all the eight members: Han, Felix, Bang Chan, Hyunjin, Changmin, I.N. Seungmin and Lee Know made their appearance as different characters in the young boy’s dreams. 

With the young boy’s stage time approaching, Bang Chan whispered: “The anxiety is something we create ourselves.” Then, Felix tried to calm the boy by saying: “We believe that you’ll do great if you can get beyond these emotions and enjoy these moments.”

The prologue concluded with the child finally stepping on the stage to perform. Which was followed by the narrators shouting in unison: “Let’s show them how we rock!”

With its November 10 release, 樂-STAR will come five months after Stray Kids released their full-length album 5-STAR in June. 

According to the group’s agency, JYP Entertainment, the upcoming album will have a “close relationship” to the previous record. However, additional details, such as number of songs and title track, have yet to be announced. 

STAYs’ anticipation for Stray Kids’ 樂-STAR

With the official announcement, the group’s fandom, STAYs, have trended the hashtags “StrayKidsComeback” and “ROCK_STAR” to showcase their excitement.

“It looks so amazing and cool I cannot wait for it. Stray Kids you never cease to surprise us,” one fan wrote. Meanwhile, another fan gave a flattering remark of how detailed the prologue video is. 

 

STAYs are even more thrilled to see the new album break new records. 

To note, the eight-member boy group has previously dominated the Billboard charts, having three of their works: ODDINARY, MAXIDENT and 5-STAR all clinched the No. 1 spot in the Billboards 200. 

Aside from the album records, Stray Kids continue to solidify their position in the music industry through their consecutive achievements. 

In 2023 alone, Stray Kids became the first K-pop group to headline the LollaPalooza Festival in Paris. As well as bagging the “Best K-Pop” award at the 2023 MTV VMAs. 

Currently, the group from JYP Entertainment is also nominated at the 2023 MTV Europe Music Awards.

Featured image: Stray Kids for their ‘TOPLINE’ music video. Credit: Facebook/Stray Kids

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Aju Nice! SEVENTEEN Surpasses 10 Million Album Sales for 2023 in Just 9 Months

SEVENTEEN shares behind-the-scenes photo from their 'FML' album. Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

K-pop powerhouse SEVENTEEN continues to dominate the industry by setting records after records. With the last quarter of 2023 still to come, the group has achieved another milestone in their career.

In the data released by the group’s agency Pledis Entertainment on Thursday, October 5, it was revealed that the “Super” hitmakers have sold an unprecedented record of 11,043, 625 physical albums, from January to September of 2023 alone.

A huge contributor to this massive number is the group’s 10th Mini Album FML, released in April. For that album, SEVENTEEN broke the group’s personal record for the most pre-ordered album, having sold a whopping 4.64 million pre-orders. 

Two months after its release, Circle Charts revealed that FML is now the highest-selling Korean album of all time, surpassing 6 million copies in sales.

Moreover, the boy group’s 4th full-length album Face The Sun released in May 2022 sold more than 950,000 copies. 

Meanwhile, Second Wind by SEVENTEEN’s subunit BSS also contributed to the total sales. Consisting of members Seungkwan, Dokyeom, and Hoshi, BSS topped local and international charts with the release of their title track “Fighting”, featuring rapper Lee Young Ji.

Notably, SEVENTEEN’s decision to re-release eight of their out-of-print albums also helped in boosting sales. Among the albums they re-released include: 17CARAT, BOYS BE, A1, and TEEN, AGE. 

Prior to this achievement, SEVENTEEN’s cumulative album sales in South Korea exceeded 10 million in November 2021. Which means that the group achieved the feat six and a half years after their debut in 2015. 

Undoubtedly, the group’s popularity continued to grow exponentially thanks to their unrivaled discography and world-class performances. With the impressive 10 Million album sales in just nine months, SEVENTEEN has now become the first Korean artist in history to achieve this feat.

More to come from SEVENTEEN

After the previous album’s success, the “theater kids of K-pop” are soon getting back on track with their 11th mini album. Titled Seventeenth Heaven,  the group is set to celebrate their wins so far with the fandom CARATs, through a festival-like concept.

As part of the promotions, the 13-member group will hold the offline event “Seventeen Street in Seongsu-dong.” The will consist of exhibition experiences, art walls, and collaboration stores. As for the album, it will officially be released on October 23.

Apart from music, the group also proved their entertainment skills through a number of variety shows. As of writing, Seungkwan stars in the Netflix survival show The Devil’s Plan. Meanwhile, Jeonghan and Dino are part of the travel program Magic Lamp. 

Additionally, SEVENTEEN has also finished shooting Nana’s Tour, the group’s version of Youth Over Flowers with PD Na Yeong Seok. Details about the show’s release are yet to be announced.

Featured image: SEVENTEEN shares behind-the-scenes photo from their ‘FML’ album. Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

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LOONA’s HeeJin Announces Solo Album Release With First “K” Teaser

LOONA’s HeeJin is gearing up for her highly-anticipated official solo album release, and fans couldn’t be more excited.

HeeJin Drops First Teaser for Solo Album Release

On October 6, the official ARTMS Twitter account shared the first image from HeeJin’s solo debut. In a captivating teaser reveal, HeeJin unveiled the title of her upcoming solo album release, which is simply titled ‘K.’ The teaser image exudes a strong and elegant traditional Korean ambiance, captivating viewers with its captivating visuals.

The choice in aesthetics perfectly aligns with HeeJin’s unique allure and charisma, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the seamless fusion of music and visuals that her upcoming album is poised to deliver.

The announcement of HeeJin’s official solo debut has ignited excitement and anticipation among fans, who are eagerly awaiting the release of her new music. With a confirmed debut date set for October 31, fans can mark their calendars and prepare for what is sure to be a remarkable and memorable solo debut from the talented LOONA member. Stay tuned for further updates and information on HeeJin’s highly-anticipated solo debut as the countdown to October 31 continues.

Explaining The LOONA Legal Drama

In related news, LOONA’s former agency Blockberry Creative is still determined to pursue legal action against the members. The company is actively pursuing an appeal and has initiated a secondary lawsuit currently pending at the Seoul Northern District Court. Off the record, officials from the agency also continue to assert their position, indicating that they are far from ready to admit defeat.

The LOONA legal battle began with Chuu’s decision to initiate legal proceedings, which triggered a chain reaction within the group. Subsequently, HeeJin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, Choerry, HyunJin, Vivi, and others also followed suit, ultimately leading to the effective disbandment of the group.

Following these legal battles, some members have already signed contracts with new agencies and are making preparations to resume their entertainment careers. Furthermore, the remaining members – HaSeul, YeoJin, Yves, Olivia Hye, and Go Won – have also won an appeal at the Seoul High Court, liberating them from the constraints on their entertainment activities.

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ITZY Confirms First Drama OST for tvN’s ‘Strong Girl Nam Soon’

ITZY is set to make a significant contribution to the upcoming South Korean drama “Strong Girl Nam Soon” with their first-ever drama OST as a group, titled “Superpowers.”

ITZY Joins “Strong Girl Nam Soon” OST Lineup

Scheduled for release on October 8 at 6 PM KST, “Superpowers” serves as part of the OST for tvN’s new Sat-Sun drama, “Strong Girl Nam Soon.” The track promises to be an upbeat and energetic dance number that perfectly encapsulates the impressive strength and spirited personality of the main character, Kang Nam Soon.

“Strong Girl Nam Soon” is an eagerly anticipated television series featuring a star-studded cast, including Lee Yoo-mi in the title role. The drama is a spin-off of the popular 2017 series “Strong Girl Bong-soon.” This time, the story follows Gang Nam-soon, who is revealed to be the cousin of Do Bong-soon (Park Bo-young) from the original series.

Nam-soon, like her cousin, is gifted with extraordinary superhuman strength, which she inherited from her mother and grandmother. The series explores her journey as she navigates her life with this unique ability, promising an entertaining and action-packed storyline.

ITZY’s “Superpowers” is set to enhance the drama’s narrative by providing a captivating and fitting theme song for Kang Nam Soon, who possesses exceptional abilities similar to those of Do Bong-soon. The collaboration between ITZY and “Strong Girl Nam Soon” is eagerly awaited by fans, as it marks the group’s first venture into drama OSTs, adding to their ever-expanding musical portfolio. With their empowering music and catchy tunes, ITZY is sure to amplify the excitement and energy of the drama’s storyline and characters, making “Superpowers” a highly anticipated release.

In related news, ITZY was scheduled to perform the highly anticipated Superpop 2023. However, the event was cancelled after a portion of the stage collapsed just a few days before the concert. Nine out of the thirteen workers present were injured during the accident.

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LOCO Confirms 2nd Full Album ‘WEAK’

Renowned artist LOCO is making a triumphant return with his highly-anticipated 2nd full album, “WEAK,” marking a significant milestone in his musical journey. This would be the rapper’s first full-length effort in almost six years.

LOCO Confirms 2nd Full Album For October Release

“WEAK” is a remarkable achievement as it marks LOCO’s first full-length album in six years since his debut full-length album, “BLEACHED,” which was released in 2017. The 2nd full album is set for release on October 17, 2023.

To build anticipation for this momentous comeback, AOMG, the label representing LOCO, has unveiled captivating image teasers across its official social media platforms. In these teasers, LOCO dons a striking appearance with his red-dyed hair, piercings, and an intriguing “WEAK” inscription engraved on his head. These unconventional visuals have piqued curiosity and excitement among fans, also hinting at the unique direction of his upcoming album.

Having solidified his position as a leading figure in the domestic hip-hop scene, LOCO has consistently delivered trendsetting music that resonates with fans. This summer, he also released his first single in over a year, titled “INEEEDYOURLOVE,” showcasing his distinct musical style through both the title track and the b-side “VOLVO.”

With LOCO’s return to the music scene this season, expectations are running high as fans eagerly await the unveiling of the tracks featured in his long-awaited full-length album, “WEAK.” As a talented and influential artist, LOCO’s music also continues to captivate audiences and shape the landscape of contemporary hip-hop in South Korea and beyond.

In related news, LOCO recently opened up about his married life. The rapper dropped the surprise news last year confirming he is tying the knot with a civilian woman. Although he has kept silent since getting hitched, LOCO has opened up about his marriage and also discussed how he met his lovely wife.

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TVXQ Announces December Comeback for 20th Anniversary

TVXQ is getting ready for a December comeback! The legendary idol group is set to commemorate their remarkable 20th debut anniversary with a highly anticipated new album, concert, and exhibition later this year!

TVXQ Confirms December Comeback and Massive Year-End Showcase

SM Entertainment announced on October 5th that TVXQ will be launching a new album, hosting a concert, and organizing an exhibition to celebrate their 20th debut anniversary. The agency also confirmed that the group is set for a December comeback this year.

TVXQ, who made their debut in December 2003 with the chart-topping single “Hug,” will reach their momentous 20th debut anniversary on December 26th. To honor this significant occasion, TVXQ has decided to express their gratitude to the devoted fans who have showered them with love and support over the years by presenting a full-length ninth album.

The theme of their upcoming anniversary celebration is aptly named “20&2 (20th Anniversary & 2 Members).” Through their musical activities, TVXQ also intends to reflect on the meaningful two decades they have spent together and offer fans a glimpse of the exciting journey ahead, led by the duo consisting of Yunho and Changmin.

This forthcoming full-length ninth album marks their first new Korean release in approximately five years, following the launch of “New Chapter #1: The Chance of Love.”

In anticipation of their highly awaited comeback, TVXQ also unveiled a teaser image adorned with the Cassiopeia constellation, which also symbolizes their dedicated fan club. This teaser image has only heightened the excitement surrounding their return to the music scene.

As the K-pop industry anticipates this momentous comeback, TVXQ’s 20th debut anniversary is also bound to be a spectacular celebration that fans around the world will eagerly embrace.

TVXQ began as a five-member boy band composed of members U-Know Yunho, Max Changmin, Hero Jaejoong, Micky Yoochun, and Xiah Junsu. After Hero, Micky, and Junsu left the group, Yunho and Changmin continued to promote as a duo.

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Cute! BTS’ Jungkook Shows off Close Friendship With Seventeen’s Mingyu, Seungkwan

SEVENTEEN's Mingyu celebrates his birthday with BTS' Jungkook. Credit: Instagram/Mingyu

How are we feeling, ArmyCarats? BTS’ Jungkook delighted fans anew when he recently showcased his tight friendship with SEVENTEEN members Mingyu and Seungkwan.

On Wednesday, October 4, the BTS member posted a video clip of doing the “3D” dance challenge with Mingyu. “3D” is Jungkook’s latest digital single, which featured American rapper Jack Harlow. 

In the TikTok challenge, the two sported matching denim outfits and caps. 

@jungkook

#fyp #dance #gcf #jungkook_3d #seventeen #mingyu

♬ 3D (feat. Jack Harlow) – Jung Kook & Jack Harlow

Notably, this is now the third challenge the long-time friends have taken. In August, Jungkook and Mingyu also appeared in matching black and white attire to dance along to Jungkook‘s single “Seven,” which featured American singer Latto.

@jungkook

아 몰라 걍 올려 #jungkook #mingyu #bts #seventeen #seven #sevendayaweek

♬ 오리지널 사운드 – JK – AbjkMRstY

Before that, the 97-liners first surprised the K-pop world when they danced to SEVENTEEN’s “Super.” Prior to the release of the said TikTok challenge, the BTS member also talked about learning the choreography for “Super” on his Weverse Live in several accounts. 

https://twitter.com/_RapperJK/status/1709615064825872698

Although Jungkook has done challenges with other K-pop idols to promote his track, Mingyu remains as the only artist featured in his personal TikTok account.

For fans, the dance challenges just proved the adorable friendships between two K-pop idols. And while fans are already well aware of Jungkook’s friendship with Mingyu, the BTS member has also apparently developed a close bond with the other SEVENTEEN members as well.

Jungkook and SVT members’ interaction

During the“3D” challenge of Jungkook and Mingyu was posted, Seungkwan was peacefully taking his time to talk to CARATs, SEVENTEEN’s fandom, in a Weverse live. Then, Mingyu suddenly appeared in the comment section and informed Seungkwan about the challenge.

Shortly after, Jungkook also left remarks in the live through Mingyu’s account. The BTS member warmly greeted CARATs and stated that he will do a SEVENTEEN challenge next time. “CARATs, please support us,” Jungkook said.

Furthermore, Jungkook also confessed how much he misses the younger idol. 

The whole situation even became more chaotic when Wonwoo also made a sudden appearance in the comment section. There, the rapper revealed that he was the one who took Jungkook and Mingyu’s “3D” challenge.

Moreover, Seungkwan’s live was suddenly cut short since he was receiving a call from Jungkook. Following the brief exchange, he had to explain to the viewers that Jungkook, Wonwoo and Mingyu were hanging out with ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo, who’s also part of the 97-line friend group. 

Because of this, Seungkwan was prompted to share how close he is with Jungkook and Eun Woo, even though they’re from a different group. Additionally, the SEVENTEEN vocalist shared that the 97-line friend group often contact him when they need a mood maker while they’re hanging out. 

With all these interactions in just a single day, fans of both BTS and SEVENTEEN can’t help but gush over the sweet friendship between the two groups. And they also remain hopeful for more interactions given that both acts will make a comeback around the same time. 

SEVENTEEN is set to drop their 11th Mini Album Seventeenth Heaven on October 23. Meanwhile, Jungkook will also release his first solo album Golden on November 3.

Featured image: SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu celebrates his birthday with BTS’ Jungkook. Credit: Instagram/Mingyu

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