Category: KPOP NEWS

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Legend Tony Leung and SAG Winner Jung Hoyeon Star in Newjeans’ “Cool With You” Music Video

Rising K-pop girl group NewJeans released on Thursday, July 20, two cinematic music videos for their song “Cool With You,” which stars Squid Game actress Jung Ho Yeon (for which she won the SAG Award for best performance by a female actor in a drama series in 2022) and a cameo appearance from veteran actor Tony Leung. 

In the first video for “Cool With You,” dubbed the “A side”, Ho Yeon was introduced as a cupid who appears to be completely invisible in life and prompts couples to fall in love through her glance. The latter part of the video saw the actress becoming interested in a man, with the members of NewJeans acting out as angels who are watching the forbidden love story unfold. 

 

Meanwhile, the “B side” video for “Cool With You” picks up from where the “A side” left off but Ho Yeon is now visible to the world. She’s then seen starting a relationship with her love interest. But as their budding romance starts to pick up, Ho Yeon comes across a mysterious man (played by Tony). From that moment, her lover can no longer see Ho Yeon. 

The “B side” video also saw the NewJeans members dancing to a snippet of their unreleased song “Get Up.” 

 

Aside from “Cool With You,” NewJeans has already released the music videos for “Super Shy” and “New Jeans.”

“Cool With You” and “Super Shy” are two of GET UP’s triple title songs, alongside the yet-to-be-released track “ETA.” 

NewJeans’ sophomore EP GET UP, which will be released on July 21, will have a total of six songs, with each track having accompanying music videos. 

GET UP will serve as the group’s second EP following their self-titled EP,  which was released in July 2022. 

Composed of Minji, Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, and Danielle, NewJeans is a five-member group under ADOR, the HYBE sub-label headed by Min Hee-jin. 

Featured image: HYBE Labels’ YouTube

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KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

K-Pop Album Exports Surge, US Overtakes China as Second-Largest Market

K-pop album exports soared in the first six months of 2023, setting a new record high. Notably, the United States surpassed China to become the second-largest market for K-pop music exports after Japan. This indicates that K-pop has firmly established itself as a genre in North America.

According to the export and import trade statistics released by the Korea Customs Service on July 18, the export value of K-pop albums from January to June this year amounted to $132.934 million. That’s approximately 168.5 billion KRW, a 17.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This marks the highest total for the first half of 2023.

When examining the target countries for album exports in the first half of this year, Japan topped the list with $48.523 million (approximately 61.5 billion KRW), followed by the United States with $25.519 million (approximately 32.3 billion KRW), and China with $22.64 million (approximately 28.7 billion KRW). They were followed by Germany, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Canada, the UK, and France.

The fact that the United States, often considered the world’s largest music market, has surpassed China to become the second-largest market for album exports says a lot. On an annual basis, China has been the second largest export target country after Japan since 2012, except for 2020.

K-pop stars’ remarkable achievements

Despite the absence of group activities from BTS, K-pop stars have achieved remarkable results in the United States in the first half of this year. BTS member Jimin made history when he became the first K-pop solo artist to debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with his debut solo single “Like Crazy.”

Stray Kids and TOMORROW X TOGETHER topped the Billboard 200, the main album chart in the United States, with their recent drops. ATEEZ, BTS’s SUGA, SEVENTEEN, and TWICE also made waves. Lastly, FIFTY FIFTY achieved what others thought was impossible when they charted within the Hot 100 for 16 consecutive weeks with their easy-listening song “CUPID.”

As K-pop achieved these results, the U.S. music market analysis company Luminate announced in its mid-year report that Korean was the third most streamed language in the United States, following English and Spanish (based on the top 10,000 songs).

Room for growth

Choi Kwang-Ho, the Korea Music Content Association’s secretary-general, said, “K-pop, represented by BTS and BLACKPINK, established itself as a genre in the North American market. It takes time for content to hit in a specific region after a certain trigger. It took years for K-pop to settle down after BTS received their first award at the U.S. Billboard Music Awards (BBMA) in 2017.”

He believes K-pop can go even further. “There were concerns about the enlistment of BTS, but the solo activities of BTS members and the performance of junior singers SEVENTEEN and Stray Kids are good. The K-pop physical album market has grown, but as seen in the success of ‘CUPID,’ there’s still a lot of room for growth in the streaming market. The peak of K-pop is not yet here.”

— K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: With their Billboard chart success and performances at KCON USA, Stray Kids is actively leading the growth of K-pop in the US. Source: KCON USA/KCON USA’s official website.

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SM Entertainment Confirms No NCT Members’ Contracts Expire This Year

The K-pop industry has been abuzz with speculation regarding the wildly popular boy group NCT and the exclusive contracts its members signed with their longtime agency SM Entertainment. Rumors say those contracts will expire this year, coinciding with the group’s seventh anniversary. However, SM Entertainment recently addressed these rumors, clarifying the situation.

NCT, a 20-member group known for its unique structure of different unit groups, debuted in 2016, around the same time as BLACKPINK, another prominent K-pop act. Since the YG Entertainment girl group signed contracts that expire in August, fans have wondered if NCT’s contracts would follow a similar timeline. This speculation was further fueled by the fact that some of the group’s units also turned seven this year.

SM Entertainment has stated that the contracts of NCT’s members will not expire anytime soon. Unlike the usual seven-year period typical of idol contracts, SM Entertainment took factors such as military enlistment and overseas activities into account when they signed the members. So although no two members’ contracts are the same, none will expire in 2023. All the NCT members’ contracts are valid until the end of 2024 at least.

Rather than calm the fans, SM Entertainment’s statements made them even more concerned. Many expressed surprise over the length of the members’ contracts. After a landmark ruling ended “slave contracts,” seven-year deals became the norm for idols. That’s why they didn’t feel better when SM Entertainment implied that NCT’s contracts are longer than that. They even wondered if somebody had manipulated the members into signing shady deals. But it’s important to note that South Korean courts already ruled that 10-year contracts are legal.

NCT is far from over

NCT is a unique group in the K-pop industry, consisting of different unit groups like NCT 127, NCT DREAM, and WayV, which promote independently. When members from different units collaborate, they do so as NCT U or NCT. The first lineup debuted as NCT U in April 2016. NCT 127 followed suit in July of that same year. Later, additional units were formed, and more members were added. The group was initially intended to be ever-expanding, with new members coming on board every so often. However, SM Entertainment announced that NCT Tokyo, formed in 2023, will be the group’s last unit.

As we look ahead, it’s clear that NCT’s journey is far from over. With their contracts secured for the foreseeable future, fans can look forward to more from this dynamic group.

— K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: This is a screenshot from the official MV of “Beautiful,” NCT’s last single as a full group. Source: YouTube/SM Entertainment’s official YouTube channel.

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BTS K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Jimin Expresses Concern for Fan “Jibangie” Amidst South Korean Floods

Idols and their fans have deep connections in the K-pop scene. The bond between BTS‘s Jimin and a fan known as “Jibangie” is a perfect example. This relationship began when they met while filming content for the PIXID YouTube channel. Recently, a concerning situation brought their relationship into the spotlight.

“Jibangie” resides outside South Korea’s metropolitan area, a region currently affected by flooding and landslides. The country is at the peak of its summer monsoon season, and dams, reservoirs, and rivers are overflowing. As of this writing, approximately 40 people have died over the last few days. South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol has vowed to “completely overhaul” his country’s approach to extreme weather caused by climate change. 

Meanwhile, the “Like Crazy” hitmaker posted on the fan community platform Weverse to express concern for “Jibangie.”

His doing so is a testament to his character and highlights the connection between fans and their idols. Despite the distance and other things that separate them, idols like Jimin have been known to form unique connections with their fans. Aside from showing concern for someone’s well-being as the BTS member did, some idols even remember individual interactions long after they took place.

ARMY means a lot to Jimin

In the face of the flooding (even though he had flown to New York City with bandmate Jungkook at the time), Jimin‘s thoughts still turned to “Jibangie,” demonstrating how much his fans mean to him. 

Jimin’s concern serves as a reminder of the human element in K-pop, where fans and their idols can be affected by the same global events and share the same concerns. As the rains continue, the hope is that “Jibangie” and everyone affected by the foul weather stays safe. –K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: Jimin is fairly active on social media. He posted this photo as part of his work with the luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. Source: Instagram/Jimin’s personal Instagram account.

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MC Mong Allegedly Attempted to Recruit EXO’s Baekhyun and Kai

The K-pop scene was rocked by a new development in the controversy involving singer MC Mong and his alleged attempt to recruit members of the popular K-pop group EXO. Despite MC Mong‘s initial claim that he simply offered support to his younger colleagues, a recently surfaced recording tells a different story. 

On July 18, media outlet Ten Asia obtained a recording of MC Mong talking about Baekhyun and Kai during a meeting with unidentified entertainment industry officials. In the recording, which reports say was made in January 2022, MC Mong says he’s working on getting them.

A year and five months later, Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin of EXO and the sub-unit EXO-CBX filed a petition to terminate their exclusive contracts with their longtime agency SM Entertainment. In a statement, the trio said their main grievances were SM Entertainment’s alleged “refusal to provide settlement reports” and alleged “unjust long-term contracts and attempts to extend them further.”

In response to these allegations, SM Entertainment claimed that external forces were approaching their artists with false information and unreasonable offers to encourage contract breaches. Later, they accused fellow agency Big Planet Made (home to artists like Soyou and VIVIZ) of being behind everything. It was then that MC Mong’s name was mentioned in connection with the controversy for the first time.

Big Planet Made denied SM Entertainment’s accusation in their own statement, saying, “We’ve never met with the artists mentioned in the report, and we have never discussed or exchanged opinions on any exclusive contracts.”

Ultimately, Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin patched things up with SM Entertainment. In a statement, all four parties announced that they agreed on new terms. In other words, the trio’s contracts were amended to ensure they and the company would be on the same page moving forward. EXO has since released its seventh full-length album EXIST last July 10, led by the title track “Cream Soda.” 

Read: EXO-CBX Members Reach Agreement With SM ENTERTAINMENT

EXIST beat EXO’s previous first-week sales record of 902,210 copies in one day. That record had been set by the group’s 2021 special album, DON’T FIGHT THE FEELING. Six days later, on July 16, Hanteo Chart reported that EXIST had sold 1,562,649 copies in one week, nearly doubling their previous record. Just when it looked like things would return to normal, TenAsia dropped a bomb on the K-pop scene by revealing they had irrefutable proof of MC Mong’s plan to get Baekhyun and Kai to leave SM Entertainment. 

An SM representative told TenAsia they don’t know what MC Mong’s real intentions are. Regardless, this controversy underscored the industry’s need for fair practices and transparency. As the story unfolds, fans and insiders alike will be watching closely to see how this latest revelation will impact the careers of those involved and the industry as a whole. -K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: Before TenAsia’s explosive revelation, EXO’s Baekhyun took a selfie backstage at a music show. Source: Twitter/Baekhyun’s personal Twitter account.

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STAYC Set for August Comeback Following the Success of “Teddy Bear”

The popular girl group STAYC is set to make a comeback in the music scene this August. According to reports, the group has confirmed their return on August 16 and is currently in the final stages of preparing their new album.

This comeback comes approximately five months after the release of their hit single “Teddy Bear” in February. Since they debuted on November 12, 2020, STAYC has been adored for their charms and talent. They owe that to the many hits they’ve dropped, including “ASAP,” a delightful fusion of vibrant bubblegum pop and sultry summer vibes.

STAYC set a new personal record with “Teddy Bear.” It sold 186,405 copies on the first day, more than its predecessor did. A week later, it had sold a staggering 341,047 copies, according to Hanteo Chart, marking a new milestone in the group’s first-week sales. In February, Circle Chart’s monthly update reported that “Teddy Bear” sold 350,738 copies, securing the No. 6 spot on the chart. Two months later, the single album received a Platinum certification from the KMCA for selling 250,000 units, as reported by Circle Chart.

The “Teddy Bear” music video earned 10 million views in one day and has since surpassed more than 40 million views, demonstrating the steady love it has received from international fans. It peaked at No. 3 on the Melon Top 100, the highest ranking recorded by STAYC since they debuted.

Also read: 5 K-pop Debut Songs That Made Legends Out of K-pop Girl Groups

More on STAYC: Which 4TH Gen K-pop Girl Group Will Take Over the K-pop Scene?

The success of “Teddy Bear” is attributed to its energetic and lovely feel. The point choreography, known as the “bear dance,” became popular on TikTok. Many artists have filmed the dance challenge alongside the STAYC members, including the top Japanese girl group AKB48, whose current center is IZ*ONE alum Honda Hitomi.

@stayc_jp

💃AKB48の本田仁美さんと #TeddyBear_Challenge 🧸 @AKB48 @ひぃちゃん🍞 #AKB48 #本田仁美 (Hitomi Honda) #혼다히토미 #STAYC #ステイシー #스테이씨 #Sumin #スミン #수민 #Sieun #シウン #시은 #TeddyBear

♬ Teddy Bear – Japanese Version – STAYC

STAYC’s announcement comes five months after their last single exceeded expectations. The girls are doing everything they can to ensure their next release will be as successful. –K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: STAYC posted a groufie after their performance on YES! MUSIC ON earlier this month. Source: Twitter/STAYC’s official Twitter account.

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Verdict Announced in BTS Impersonation Case

In a recent case that sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry, a 28-year-old male was handed a suspended prison sentence for posing as a member of the globally-renowned K-pop group BTS and leaking unreleased tracks.

The male, referred to as “A,” was found guilty of violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection. Last July 17, the Western Branch of the Daegu District Court’s Criminal Division 9 sentenced “A” to a one-year and two-month prison term, suspended for three years. In addition to the suspended sentence, “A” was told to complete 240 hours of community service and 40 hours of psychiatric/mental health education.

https://twitter.com/enoughtobeloved/status/1680853102713524225

This case dates back to February 22, 2022, when “A” contacted a producer from Big Hit Music, the agency managing BTS, from his home in Seo-gu, Daegu. Pretending to be a member of the group, “A” tricked the producer, referred to as “B,” into giving him confidential information on their activities and unreleased tracks.

Over the next three months, “A” posted the unreleased music files on Instagram or passed them to others 47 times via KakaoTalk. Not only did this violate the privacy of BTS and the producer, but it also disrupted BigHit Music’s music production, release, and sales operations.

Investigations revealed that “A” found “B’s” personal information on the internet and impersonated a successful composer to impress other people. The prosecution initially demanded a 1.5-year prison term for “A.” But the defense argued that “A’s” previous criminal record made it challenging for him to form healthy relationships, leading to an obsession with social media. They further revealed that “A” used to study music but became jealous of his successful peers, which was why they committed this crime.

The court took into consideration the popularity and sales of the artist in question, concluding that the victims must have suffered significant financial and social damage. However, it also noted that most of the leaks were short clips of 10 to 20 seconds, and they had since been officially released. Additionally, Big Hit Music withdrew its complaint.

This case serves as a reminder of the potential risks and violations that can occur in the digital age, where confidential data can be easily misused. It underscores the need for stringent cybersecurity measures and ethical online behavior to protect artists and their creative content. –K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: The leaked songs mentioned in this article reportedly ended up on BTS’s “Proof.” Source: Weverse/Weverse Magazine’s BTS ‘Proof’ release interview.

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TREASURE Gears Up for Comeback with 2nd Full Album, “REBOOT”

K-pop group TREASURE has announced their much-anticipated comeback with the release of their second full-length album, titled “REBOOT.” On July 4, the group’s agency YG Entertainment posted an announcement film for the upcoming album on YouTube. The album is set to drop on July 28. 

Early July 17, YG Entertainment revealed the track list for REBOOT. Based on the track list, fans can expect a wide variety of songs showcasing the group’s charms, musical style, and talent. 

TREASURE’s Concept Photos for “REBOOT”

Later that day, TREASURE released individual concept photos and a visual film, raising anticipation for their comeback. The members are sporting black military-style jackets with red detailing in the concept photos—the exact fit they donned for the visual film. Their fashion style was transformed, which is quite telling. In K-pop, such changes often hint at the theme of the upcoming album.

TREASURE, known for their catchy music and energetic performances, has amassed a large fanbase since their debut. The announcement of their second full-length album follows the smashing success of their previous releases and is expected to be a significant event in the K-pop calendar.

TREASURE’s New Album Reception

The announcement film, concept photos, and visual film for REBOOT have already generated buzz. While specific details about TREASURE’s promotional activities for this comeback have yet to be revealed, the anticipation is building as the release date approaches.

Stay tuned for more updates on TREASURE’s comeback and the release of their second full album, REBOOT. The group’s dedicated fans, popularly known as Teume (“트메”) (short for Treasure Makers), are undoubtedly excited to see what the group has in store for this comeback. -K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: K-pop group Treasure’s logo was changed to reflect their new direction. Source: Twitter/The TREASURE members’ shared Twitter account.

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Kang Daniel Magazine Issue Dominates Photo Music Korea Sales

Photo Music Korea (PMK) recently launched a new series that introduces K-pop artists every month. The series kicked off with a special Kang Daniel edition for its July 2023 issue. The magazine cover and inside pages feature unreleased photos of the soloist from a photoshoot he did in Las Vegas for his recent album REALIEZ.

PMK’s Kang Daniel edition quickly became a hit among fans. Pre-orders for the magazine opened on July 12, and it soared to No. 1 on several sales charts, including Aladdin Daily Best, Kyobo Daily Best Sellers, and Yes24 Daily Best. In response to the overwhelming demand, PMK’s editor-in-chief, Kim Young Ik, expressed gratitude to Kang Daniel’s fans by expanding the singer’s spread to 50 pages, longer than originally planned.

The issue features an interview with Kang Daniel by Billboard pop columnist Jeff Benjamin. It also has spreads with other K-pop artists, including BB Girls, MIRAE, NINE.i, Play J, and TEEN TOP. With this issue, Photo Music Korea has initiated a monthly feature called “Jeff’s Corner,” which will introduce K-pop artists to readers.

In other news, Kang Daniel recently concluded promotions for REALIEZ and wrapped up his FIRST PARADE world tour with an encore concert. He was booked for the SUMMER SONIC 2023 festival in Japan and will serve as the MC on Mnet’s Street Woman Fighter 2.

The success of Kang Daniel‘s special edition of PMK is proof of his popularity and the dedication of his fans. It also sets a high bar for future editions of the magazine, which will continue to spotlight K-pop artists every month.

— K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: Kang Daniel uploaded a couple of post-event selfies after a recent fan sign event. Source: Twitter/Kang Daniel’s official Twitter account.

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SEVENTEEN’s Joshua and Vernon Interview “Mission Impossible” Cast

Last July 15, 2023, the official SEVENTEEN YouTube channel released a video titled ‘[Code Name Seventeen Part One Interview]’. In this video, two of the group’s members, Joshua and Vernon, sat down with the stars of the Hollywood movie Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning. Present for the interview were Hayley Atwell (Grace), Pom Klementieff (Paris), and Simon Pegg (Benji).

Vernon opened the interview by telling Hayley and company that it was their first time interviewing anyone. He and Joshua were somewhat nervous at first, but they visibly relaxed when Simon talked about the connection between K-dramas and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.

“One of the things I love about K-drama is how varied those shows are,” he said. They’re dramatic, funny, sweet, and violent. ‘Mission’ has that mixture. It takes you everywhere, all over the spectrum of emotion.”

The interview covered a wide range of topics related to the movie. Joshua and Vernon asked the cast about their favorite scenes. The K-pop stars were particularly interested in finding out exactly how one of the actresses prepared for a drifting/driving sequence. They also asked the cast which of the movie’s many action-packed moments they were most excited for fans to see.

Although Joshua and Vernon have more experience answering questions, they did their best to act like real reporters. They didn’t hesitate to ask about the more challenging parts of working on the movie. The SEVENTEEN members asked the Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning cast what it was like to shoot a particularly daunting train scene. This provided viewers with a deeper understanding of the hard work that goes into creating a high-octane action movie.

The interview showcased Joshua’s and Vernon’s hosting skills. Their engaging manner and thoughtful questions made for an insightful, interesting interview. The video sparked interest among fans, with many expressing hope that Joshua and Vernon will host more interviews in the future.

— K-pop News Writer

Featured Image: Hayley hoped she and her co-stars would be good guests for Joshua’s and Vernon’s first interview. Source: YouTube/SEVENTEEN’s official YouTube channel.)

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