Category: KPOP NEWS

In the first half of 2023, six acts from HYBE, a leading K-pop company, accounted for a staggering 40% of all K-pop album sales. The artists contributing to this impressive figure include BTS‘s Jimin, ENHYPEN, LE SSERAFIM, NewJeans, SEVENTEEN, and TOMORROW X TOGETHER.

According to Circle Chart, a music sales tracker, K-pop artists sold 55 million albums from January to June 2023. Of these, 22 million, or 40.4%, were by the artists mentioned above. Each is with one of the labels under the HYBE umbrella. Jimin‘s band BTS is with BigHit Music. So are TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Meanwhile, ENHYPEN is managed by BELIFT LAB, LE SSERAFIM by Source Music, NewJeans by ADOR, and SEVENTEEN by PLEDIS Entertainment.

SEVENTEEN emerged as the top performer. The 13-member boy group sold a whopping 8.9 million albums during this period. This figure includes sales from their 2023 mini album FML and their past albums.

Regarding downloads and streams, HYBE’s girl groups made a significant impact. Five of the top 10 most popular songs were from LE SSERAFIM and NewJeans. According to Circle Chart, the latter’s singles “Ditto,” “Hype Boy,” and “OMG” were the top three most-downloaded and streamed songs in the first half of 2023. “Attention” was No. 7 and LE SSERAFIM’s “ANTIFRAGILE” was No. 9.

HYBE attributes its success to its multi-label system, where it acquires smaller K-pop agencies and allows them to maintain their unique style while benefiting from the resources of a larger system. 

“The excellent result comes from the power of HYBE’s multi-label strategy,” the company stated in a press release. “HYBE allows the absolute independence of a label’s work to guarantee the birth of super content. This has allowed our labels to fulfill their creative potential and provide high-quality music to K-pop fans.”

— K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: HYBE’s headquarters is a 19-story building in Yeongsan, Seoul. It opened in March 2021. Source: HYBE Corp.’s company profile.)

The top 6 teams of JTBC‘s K-pop competition show for boy groups Peak Time are set to release a special concert single, “Your Time.” It aims to preserve the precious memories from their concert and give fans a chance to relive the magic of their performances.

The teaser for the song’s music video features BAE173, DKB, M.O.N.T, SEVENUS, Team 24:00, and VANNER. It recaps the moment from the Peak Time Top 6 concert when the teams performed the special single in front of fans for the first time. The teaser offers a glimpse of the energy and excitement that filled the concert venue, capturing the essence of the performance.

The special single and its accompanying music video will drop on July 18 at 12:00 PM KST. Its arrival is eagerly anticipated by fans who are looking forward to experiencing each group’s unique charm all over again. Not to mention reliving the concert’s highlights!

In addition to the release of the special single, the Taiwan show of the Peak Time concert also took place in that country’s capital city of Taipei on July 15. M.O.N.T, SEVENUS, and VANNER hit the stage at 7:00 PM local time. That show was a spectacular showcase of the three groups’ talent, each bringing their unique charms, energy, and style to the stage.

The Peak Time K-pop competition show served as a platform for these boy groups to showcase their talents in a bid to connect with more fans. The release of the special single “Your Time” is a testament to all their dedication and hard work. It’s a celebration of their journey in the competition and their growth as artists.

Featured Image: VANNER, the group that won Peak Time, celebrated the success of their show in Taipei with a group photo. Source: Twitter/VANNER’s official Twitter account.

In a recent interview, former MBLAQ member and solo artist Thunder addressed some questions about his relationship with former actress Jung Mimi, who used to be part of a girl group, Gugudan. They recently admitted to being in their fourth year of a serious relationship, with marriage on the horizon.

Thunder and Mimi first hinted at their relationship during an episode of KBS2‘s Second House 2. In the interview, Thunder confirmed that they plan to marry in the second half of 2024. He talked about their shared vision of an energetic, happy family life, drawing comparisons to the families in the anime Crayon Shin-chan and the sitcom High Kick. “It’s our dream to have a family where not a day goes by without a fun episode,” Thunder shared.

About speculations that they’re rushing to get married due to unexpected circumstances, Thunder clarified that they’re not in a hurry. He said he and Mimi are looking forward to preparing for their marriage at a leisurely pace and enjoying many dates in the process.

Thunder also shared his sister Dara‘s reaction to his relationship with Mimi. He revealed that Dara has always been supportive, saying they make a good couple. Dara has shown her affection for Mimi by giving her gifts, and Thunder expressed his support for his sister’s activities.

When asked if they plan to have children, Thunder revealed they want one daughter and one son. He wants a daughter who looks like Mimi, but Mimi says she wants one who looks like Dara.

When talk turned to their professional future, Thunder shared that he’s currently promoting as a hip-hop musician. Mimi, on the other hand, released a solo single after Gugudan‘s disbandment and recently starred in a movie. She’s now looking for an agency to represent her acting promotions. The couple also expressed their desire to appear on family variety shows and release an album together, much like Choi Soo Jong and Ha Hee Ra from Second House 2.

Thunder’s interview looked candidly at his relationship with Mimi and their future plans as a couple and individuals. As they plan their wedding and continue their professional pursuits, fans can expect more updates and exciting news from the couple.

Featured Image: Thunder and Mimi posted the same photo on their respective Instagram accounts but with different messages. Source: Instagram/Thunder’s personal Instagram account.

Jang Wonyoung, a member of the Starship Entertainment K-pop girl group IVE, was recently in the spotlight for her extraordinary professionalism while filming their latest music video, “I Am.” The idol‘s commitment to her craft was tested when she suffered a severe injury on set, for which she needed immediate medical attention and seven stitches.

The untold story of Wonyoung’s injury was revealed by the music video’s director, Son Seung Hee, during an appearance on the MBC FM4U radio program GOT7 Youngjae’s Best Friend Forever. She shared, “I don’t believe this has ever been mentioned, but Wonyoung got injured on the filming set. She hurt her arm and had to get seven stitches. That was the biggest scare I’ve had on a set.”

Despite her injury, Wonyoung’s dedication to her work didn’t waver. The director recalled, “We had two more sessions left, but I thought filming would be canceled because Wonyoung got injured. But she went to the emergency room, got stitches, then returned to the set to continue filming.”

Wonyoung’s resilience was further highlighted by her ability to perform the choreography for “I Am,” which required extensive use of her arms. Director Son expressed admiration for Wonyoung’s fortitude, saying, “She was so professional. She didn’t show that she was having a difficult time. At her age, too. The choreography for ‘I Am’ has some moves where they have to use their arms a lot. I just winced watching her do those moves. It pained me to see her doing them with that injury.”

The director further praised Wonyoung, saying, “There are scenes from the MV that wouldn’t have been possible if Wonyoung hadn’t pulled them off with her injury like she did.”

That wasn’t the first time Wonyoung’s professionalism shone through. Last year, she was praised for her incredible performance despite a knee injury. Her ability to overcome physical adversity and deliver a stellar performance is a testament to her dedication and passion for her craft.

Featured Image: Days before IVE’s first full-length album dropped, Wonyoung posted this photo and captioned it, “It’s our time.” Source: Instagram/Wonyoung’s personal Instagram account.

Once again, the ladies of LE SSERAFIM captivated audiences with their lively, refreshing charms in a summer edition CF for the popular vitamin beverage ‘Vita 500 Zero.’ This comes after the K-pop girl group was tapped to be endorsement models for ‘Vita 500 Aero’ last March, a collaboration that saw them engage in various promotional activities with the brand.

One of the highlights of their collaboration was the release of a “Vita 500 Zero LE SSERAFIM Pop Art” limited edition line. This line emphasizes the girls’ vibrant energy and their influence in the pop culture scene. It’s proof of their growing popularity and the positive impact the group continues to have on their fans, collectively known as FEARNOT.

In the summer edition CF, the girl group brings a playful and energetic vibe that perfectly matches the season’s spirit. The commercial features playful outdoor references like a game of ‘Red Light, Green Light’ (‘The Mugunghwa Has Bloomed’ in Korean). It’s a popular children’s game often played in different countries, with variations in name and rules. The game involves one player acting as the “stoplight” and the rest trying to touch or pass the stoplight.

In the context of LE SSERAFIM’s CF for ‘Vita 500 Zero,’ the choice of ‘Red Light, Green Light’ as a theme is entertaining and symbolic. Like the game itself, it represents the stop-and-go nature of life. It serves as a reminder to take a break, refresh, and recharge—just like what ‘Vita 500 Zero’ aims to provide its consumers.

By filming the CF, LE SSERAFIM isn’t only promoting the beverage, but they’re also enhancing their image as a group that embodies youthful energy and positivity. Their personalities shone through in the CF, making it engaging and relatable to a broad audience. It perfectly encapsulates the spirit of summer and the revitalizing effect of ‘Vita 500 Zero.’ It’s a delightful blend of entertainment and promotion that leaves a lasting impression.

As LE SSERAFIM continues to make waves in the K-pop scene, FEARNOT can look forward to more exciting collaborations and promotions in the future. Their charms are sure to bring more color and excitement to the advertising world and beyond.

-Kpop News Writer

Featured Image: A 30-second version of LE SSERAFIM’s full CF was uploaded to YouTube. Source: YouTube/Kwangdong’s official YouTube channel.