Category: KPOP NEWS

On September 6, DKZ‘s Jaechan officially began his solo journey with a media showcase at Seoul’s YES24 Live Hall. This event, which attracted attention from the local press, celebrated the release of his first solo mini album, JCFACTORY.

Factory owner Jaechan

The media showcase was a blend of performances, interactions, and revelations. Jaechan posed for photographs, performed songs from his album, and participated in a Q&A session with reporters and the event’s MC, Yoo Jae Pil.

Jaechan’s title track, “Hello,” is a synth-pop number that blends a vibrant plucking sound with 808 bass, giving birth to a minimalist R&B/urban pop vibe. Its MV is a visual treat, contrasting “celebrity Jaechan” and “ordinary Jaechan.” It’s all about the duality of his daily life, with scenes of him as an award-winning actor, news anchor, and even a luxury car commercial star.

[재찬 JAECHAN] ‘Hello’ MV

“Honestly, I’d never written or composed performance-oriented music before ‘Hello.’ I felt that the album’s title song should be a performance element. Originally, I was going to use a song created by another composer, but I ended up making the song myself,” he said. 

His dedication to his craft is outstanding. He has writing credits on every song on JCFACTORY, so his fans affectionately nicknamed him “factory owner Jaechan.” They say Jaechan churns out songs as fast as a factory churns out products.

Jaechan: ‘My music is me’

The other songs on the album are bops. “Oh Girl” is a poignant song where Jaechan says he “wants to give them everything.” “MAYB” offers a refreshing twist on love songs, featuring the talents of Chinese singer-songwriter Nathania. “Replay” captures the essence of post-breakup emotions quite well, and “Time” was introduced to fans as the album’s pre-release single.

Jaechan revealed, “These solo tracks were something that had been planned for a long time. In the case of ‘Oh Girl’ specifically, the demo first came around two years ago.” He confessed to feeling a little worried about his solo debut. Luckily, he found solace in the support of his DKZ members, who always checked on his schedule and cheered him on. 

[재찬 JAECHAN] 1st Mini Album ‘JCFACTORY’ SHOWCASE

Addressing the recent trend of male idols pursuing solo careers, Jaechan responded with grace and humility. He said, “Rather than thinking about what makes me different when I make music, I think about what kind of music I’m capable of, what kind of music really demonstrates my personal color. My music is ‘me.’”

The media also asked him about the recent exit of Jaechan‘s groupmate, Kyoungyoon. Addressing the issue, Jaechan said, “Something bad happened to our group, and to say it hasn’t been difficult would be lying.” However, he assured fans of DKZ‘s commitment to staying together. “The members have been talking a lot about group activities, particularly what direction we’d like to go in.”

The advantage of solo activities

Concluding the event, Jaechan expressed his gratitude and aspirations by saying, “The advantage of solo activities is that I’m fully able to enter my own thoughts when preparing music. Through this round of promotions, I’ll show you my personality and the direction of my thoughts.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Good luck with your solo career, Jaechan! Source: Twitter/@dkz_dy.

After the success of “Rose Blossom,” H1-KEY saw an increase in album sales. Earlier this year, the poetic Korean title and inspiring lyrics of the track written by DAY6’s Young K caught the public’s attention. This traction led the song to gradually ascend the Korean music charts. It even secured the No. 1 spot on Bugs.

Last week was H1-KEY‘s first-ever comeback since the January release of “Rose Blossom.” Hanteo Chart reported that their latest mini-album, Seoul Dreaming, sold a staggering 74,231 copies in the first week (from August 30 to September 5). To put this in perspective, their previous album, also titled Rose Blossom, sold just 6,290 copies in its first week.

H1-KEY(하이키) ‘건물 사이에 피어난 장미 (Rose Blossom)’ M/V

Seoul Dreaming has seven tracks. It starts with “Intro: Seoul Dreaming,” which is followed by the synth-pop sound of “SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City).” The album also features the groovy “Time to Shine,” the danceable “Low-key Scared But H1-KEY Ready,” and ends with the Latin rhythms of “Magical Dream.”

The heart of Seoul Dreaming lies in its message: to hold onto one’s dreams. The album traverses a spectrum of emotions aiming to comfort those chasing their dreams amidst challenges and setbacks. All seven tracks resonate with ambition, perseverance, and the undying spirit of dreamers.

H1-KEY goes from strength to strength

Collaboration played a significant role in shaping this album’s sound. H1-KEY worked with the likes of producers and songwriters Alina Smith, Annalise Morelli, DAY6‘s Young K, Hong Ji Sang, Lee Ji Eun, and Stella Jang. Their collective expertise infused the album with an exciting blend of sounds and sentiments.

In a testament to their growing popularity and their album’s success, H1-KEY clinched their first music show win on The Show. This happened on September 5 for “SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City).” 

H1-KEY (하이키), THE SHOW CHOICE! [THE SHOW 230905]

The win not only marked a significant milestone in the girls’ careers. It also underscored the impact of their new material on fans and the industry alike.

H1-KEY‘s journey from the release of Rose Blossom to Seoul Dreaming is inspiring. Their increase in sales is a clear indicator that their star is on the rise. With their unwavering dedication and the support of their fans, H1-KEY is on track to reaching greater heights soon. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: ‘Rose Blossom’ went viral, giving the group’s career a much-needed boost. Source: Twitter/@H1KEY_official.

The K-pop world was abuzz with anticipation and excitement as RIIZE, the first boy group formed by SM Entertainment in seven years, took the stage for their debut showcase. Their single “Get a Guitar” was just the beginning of the surprises they had in store. The boy group also unveiled their official fandom name, “SUNZ,” a revelation that was met with a fair amount of controversy.

The choice of “SUNZ” as the fandom name soon became a point of contention. When combined with the group’s name it bore an undeniable resemblance to the term “rising sun.” Netizens freaked out when they realized this. That term is associated with a controversial flag flown by Japan during its colonial era. As such, the flag has become a symbol with strong negative connotations in some parts of Asia, including Korea and China, due to its historical ties to Japanese imperialism and militarism.

Recognizing the sensitivity of the issue, RIIZE took to their official fan club platform to address the concerns. They stated, “Amidst a lot of support from fans, RIIZE announced their official fan club name upon their debut last September 4. We introduced the fan club name ‘SUNZ,’ which fans supported the most, but there are opinions from fans who are concerned that it may unintentionally sound negative. SUNZ’s good meaning of growing together with RIIZE could be distorted. We’ll be changing the fanclub name to BRIIZE, which received the second most amount of votes.”

RIIZE gave the fans three choices

Initially, the boy group presented fans with three potential names they were supposed to pick from. “SUNZ” symbolized the sun, representing a commitment to always shine alongside the boys and grow to great heights. The next choice, “WIISH,” was a combination of the words “WITH” and “WISH.” It captured the fans’ desire to grow with RIIZE and fulfill their shared dreams of success. Finally, “BRIIZE” conjured the image of a gentle breeze, indicating unwavering support for RIIZE‘s journey and a pledge to accompany them wherever they go.

In a series of social media posts, member Sungchan shared his personal thoughts on the names. He expressed a preference for “BRIIZE” because he felt it rolled off the tongue easily. He also made fun of “SUNZ,” likening it to the name of a snack brand.

[BE ORIGINAL] RIIZE(라이즈) ‘Get A Guitar’ (4K)

With the new name “BRIIZE” in place, the group looks forward to a fresh start, with their official fan club set to open on September 12th KST. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: RIIZE is eager to grow with BRIIZE by their side. Source: Twitter/@melon.

It’s been quite a whirlwind journey for Lee Chaeyeon since IZ*ONE‘s disbandment two years ago. The bond between the members, however, remains unbroken. Recently, Chaeyeon, gearing up for her new single album The Move: Street, reunited with ten of her old bandmates at a cafe in the trendy Seoul neighborhood of Seogyo. “We support each other and get along well,” she shared.

IZ*ONE, a product of the Mnet survival show Produce 48, debuted in 2018 with 12 members. Their time together lasted for two years and six months, ending in April 2021. Since then, the girls either joined new groups like IVE and LE SSERAFIM or flew solo. Chaeyeon, for instance, earned a lot of attention with her hit “Knock.”

LEE CHAE YEON(이채연)_1st Single Album [The Move : Street] Highlight Medley

“Nako visited Korea last month, and we met with the IZ*ONE members,” Chaeyeon shared. “Ten of us gathered, excluding Hitomi, who is active in Japan, and Wonyoung, who had a shooting schedule.” Their meet-up was reminiscent of a high school reunion, filled with laughter and chatter.  

“It was so fun that we decided to meet up once a year,” she added.

What’s going on with Chaeyeon and IZ*ONE?

Chaeyeon‘s dancing was her strong point on Produce 48. After IZ*ONE, she joined Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter and made a brief appearance on Queendom Puzzle last month. Reflecting on all the shows she participated in, she said, “Survival programs are tough and can be hurtful. However, you can also gain learning and growth from them. That’s the taste of survival.” She expressed her love for challenges and her desire to venture into areas where she can excel without enduring excessive pain.

Her new single, The Move: Street, features the track “LET’S DANCE.” The choreography revived the shuffle dance that was popular in the 2010s. For this, she reunited with choreographer Rosalyn, whom she met during Street Woman Fighter and had previously worked with on “Knock.”

(MV)LEE CHAE YEON(이채연)_LET’S DANCE

“Dancing is my life,” Chaeyeon said passionately. “When I dance, it feels like I travel to a different world, and I don’t think about anything else.”

In other IZ*ONE news, the girls just achieved a significant YouTube milestone. Their official video for “Secret Story of the Swan” breached the 100 million views mark. This came about three years and two months after its June 16, 2020 release. This actually their’ first brush with such success; “Secret Story of the Swan” is IZ*ONE’s third music video to earn 100 million views, following “La Vie en Rose” and “FIESTA.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Chaeyeon is busy establishing herself as a soloist, but that doesn’t mean she loves her IZ*ONE bandmates less. Source: Twitter/@official_LCY.