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SEVENTEEN Breaks Personal Record for Pre-orders With ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN’

SEVENTEEN poses for their concept photo in 'SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN.' Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

SEVENTEEN has still a week before they officially release their upcoming 11th mini-album SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN but it’s already making new personal records for the K-pop boy group. 

On Thursday, October 12, album distributor YG PLUS announced that SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN has already recorded a total of 4,673,069 stock pre-orders so far. 

For those unfamiliar, stock pre-orders refer to the number of albums that were ordered by fans before its actual release. As a result, said album has set a new career high in SEVENTEEN’s discography. And what makes this achievement even more remarkable is it came just six months after their previous milestone. 

Previously, the group’s 10th mini-album FML, which was released in May, recorded 4.64 million copies in pre-orders. 

With this feat of SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, it now ranked second among the top 20 albums with the highest stock pre-orders in K-pop history. In the first place is Stray Kids’ 5-Star album with 5,130,000 pre-orders. 

Since there’s still roughly 10 days before the official release of SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, fans of SEVENTEEN are hopeful that they’ll rank higher once the pre-order season ends. 

Given the pre-order records from SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, charts are declaring that SEVENTEEN is about to surpass 30 million album sales on Circle Chart. 

In fact, SEVENTEEN already surpasses 10 million album sales for 2023 even without the count from SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN. According to PLEDIS Entertainment, the “Super” hitmakers have already sold an unprecedented record of 11,043, 625 physical albums, from January to September of 2023 alone.

 

Impressive year for SEVENTEEN

2023 really appeared to be pivotal for SEVENTEEN.  

In terms of group album releases, their two comebacks for 2023, FML and SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN, were both setting records. Aside from group albums, the comeback of SEVENTEEN’s subunit BSS also topped local and international charts. 

According to streaming platform, BSS and SEVENTEEN dominated the 2023 charts. 

Apart from music, the group also proved their entertainment skills through a number of variety shows.

As of writing,  Jeonghan and Dino are part of the travel program Magic Lamp. Meanwhile,  Seungkwan participated in the Netflix survival show The Devil’s Plan and Joshua and Hoshi participated in Bro Marble. 

Moreover, Jun also starred in the Chinese drama Exclusive Fairytale. To which he won a “Rising Star of the Year” award. 

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 poses for their concept photo in ‘SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN.’ Credit: Twitter/SEVENTEEN

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BTS KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

BTS Jimin’s Debut Solo Album ‘FACE’ Is Coming to Vinyl Soon

BTS‘ Jimin is gearing up to release a vinyl edition of his debut solo album FACE, as announced by BigHit Music on October 12. Initially released in March, FACE marked Jimin‘s official foray into solo music, following several individual tracks he had previously unveiled on Soundcloud.

The FACE vinyl album is packaged with a unique outer sleeve. Inside, you’ll find a vinyl disc, a booklet secured in its own envelope, a postcard, and two different photo cards. For fans eager to get their hands on this edition, pre-orders are already open in Japan and South Korea. Pre-orders will open at 11:00 AM KST (10:00 PM ET) on October 18 for those in Europe and the US. The vinyl editions will ship on December 8 in South Korea, December 15 in Japan, and January 12, 2024, in Europe and the US.

The Weverse announcement emphasized FACE’s profound impact on the fans. It resonated deeply with them due to its authentic expression of everything Jimin had experienced over the past two years.

A monumental milestone for Jimin

In related news, Jimin is set to launch a solo documentary titled Jimin’s Production Diary later this month. This film offers an intimate glimpse into the making of FACE, capturing the raw emotions he navigated while crafting the album. A teaser trailer has been released, showing Jimin in the studio, deeply engrossed in his music. Reflecting on his creative process, he shares, “It’s something that I shouldn’t think is simple. It was a chance for me to know exactly what I should do from now on.” Jimin’s Production Diary will premiere on Weverse on October 23.

‘Jimin’s Production Diary’ Teaser Trailer

FACE has been a monumental milestone for Jimin, making him the first South Korean soloist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart when “Like Crazy” went to No. 1. The same song also made the UK Top 10.

NME, in its review of FACE, lauded Jimin‘s creativity. “If Jimin’s mission on this record was to stretch himself creatively and distill that dissonance in these songs, it’s one he’s accomplished.” – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Jimin poured his heart and soul into this album. Source: YouTube/@BTS.

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Look: aespa to Return With ‘Drama’ in November

aespa shares photo from filming 'Better Things.' Credit: Facebook/aespa

Save the date, MYs! K-pop girl group aespa is returning with new album titled Drama in November. 

On Wednesday, October 11, the quartet released the first teaser for their fourth mini-album Drama. 

In the 19-second “INTRO” teaser, the shot opened with the members walking on what appears to be an abandoned building. Then, the shot changed to a hand picking up a miniature car toy. 

According to the press release from SM Entertainment, Drama will include six songs encompassing a variety of genres. Notably, the title track will be of the same name as the album. 

Moreover, SM Entertainment teased fans that aespa will “showcase more mature vocal charms and musical colors” in the upcoming album. 

MYs’ excitement for ‘Drama’ 

Drama will serve as aespa’s comeback in five months. 

Previously, the quartet released their third EP My World in May, which carries the title track “Spicy.” Said album recorded over 1.37 million sales on the first day of its release and 1.69 million in the first week. Which made it the highest-selling K-pop girl group album in the first week of its release. 

Given this feat, SM Entertainment shared that the group is looking forward to setting a new record for their upcoming release. 

“With the overwhelming popularity of the prior album’s title track, ‘Spicy,’ we are excited to witness the fresh music and evolving personas that aespa will unveil in this new album,” the agency said. 

In between these albums, the group also released their English-language single “Better Things” in August.

And although no other details about Drama have been provided yet, fans are already looking forward to the group’s new music. 

Drama is set to drop on November 10.

2023 for aespa

Outside of their album releases, aespa alo recently wrapped up their first world concert tour called SYNK: Hyper Line. It included stops across the United States, Asia, and Europe. 

In May, the group made history as the first K-pop act to attend the Cannes Film Festival. The quartet attended the prestigious event as the global ambassador of the luxury Swiss jewelry Chopard. 

Aside from that, aespa also recently collaborated with footwear brand Crocs. 

Featured image: aespa shares photo from filming ‘Better Things.’ Credit: Facebook/aespa

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SHINee’s Taemin to Make Solo Comeback With ‘Guilty’

Taemin poses for the teaser of SHINee's 'Hard' album. Credit: Facebook/SHINee

Mark your calendars, SHAWOLs! Taemin of K-pop boy group SHINee is making his first solo comeback in over two years with his fourth mini-album Guilty.

On Tuesday, October 10, the group released a poster announcing Taemin’s solo return. In the photo, a person’s feet is standing next to what appears to be a white shirt on the ground. 

Notably, the poster revealed that Guilty will be released on October 30. Moreover, the mini-album will reportedly contain six songs.

Other details such as its track list and concept have yet to be disclosed. 

Soloist Taemin is back!

Following the news, fans couldn’t contain their excitement as it’s been awhile since Taemin released a solo music. For those unfamiliar, his last solo comeback was in May 2021 for the EP Advice. 

Shortly after the release of the mini-album, Taemin enlisted in the military.

In January 2022, the SHINee member was transferred from the military band to supplementary public service. According to SM Entertainment, it was because the idol had “worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety.” However, at the time, the agency was quick to assure fans that he’s receiving treatment and therapy in the military. 

In April 2023, he was discharged from the military. Among the SHINee members, Taemin was the last to complete his service. 

As for his career as a soloist, he made his solo debut in August 2014 through the album Ace. Since then, he has had many hit singles such as “Move,” “Criminal,” and “Danger.” 

SHINee’s year for 2023

Aside from all SHINee members completing their service, 2023 also saw the 15th debut anniversary of the group. 

To celebrate, the group released their eight full-album Hard in June 2023. It served as the group’s first new music in over two years, following their April 2021 repackaged album Atlantis.

Moreover, the group will also be marking their anniversary with the release of their documentary My SHInee World. Said film is expected to premiere in November. 

Managed by SM Entertainment, SHINee made their debut in May 2008 with the extended play Replay. Initially a five-member group, vocalist Jonghyun passed away in December 2017. 

Throughout their career, the boy group has been collecting masterpieces in their discography. The list includes “Ring Ding Dong”, “Lucifer”, “Sherlock”, among many others. 

Recently, Key confirmed that all four members of SHINee renewed their third contract with SM Entertainment. 

Featured image: Taemin poses for the teaser of SHINee’s ‘Hard’ album. Credit: Facebook/SHINee

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ZEROBASEONE Reveals Release Date and Title of New Album

Rookie idol group ZEROBASEONE made waves in the K-pop scene shortly after they were formed on Mnet’s survival show Boys Planet. Now, they’re getting ready to do it all over again with their first-ever comeback. The group, managed by WAKEONE Entertainment, recently unveiled the logo poster and promotional schedule of their second mini-album, MELTING POINT, set to release on November 6. The poster, shared through their official SNS, showcases the album’s title amidst a snowy backdrop. 

X/@ZB1_official

X/@ZB1_official

The teaser materials for MELTING POINT hint at a winter-themed concept, a departure from their summery debut. The teaser video, captioned “Hello, Another World,” features the nine members stepping into a mesmerizing winter wonderland. The enchanting melody of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” plays in the background. Some say the video is hinting at the possible sampling of this classic tune for their title track.

ZEROBASEONE‘s debut was nothing short of spectacular. Their first mini-album, Youth In The Shade, performed exceptionally well on music charts and set a record by becoming the first K-pop debut album to sell over a million copies. This impressive feat was further solidified when the album was certified Million by the Korea Music Content Association (KMCA).

X/@ZB1_official

What ‘MELTING POINT’ will bring

Fans and industry insiders speculate on the musical direction ZEROBASEONE will take with MELTING POINT. Given the winter theme, some believe the album might explore ballads or mid-tempo tracks that match the season’s ambiance. The group’s versatility and ability to tackle various genres have been a talking point since their debut, and MELTING POINT is expected to showcase their range further.

With such a strong start and the buzz surrounding their comeback, fans eagerly anticipate what MELTING POINT will bring. As the release date approaches, the K-pop community remains on the edge of their seats, waiting to witness ZEROBASEONE‘s next big move. The group’s commitment to delivering high-quality music and captivating concepts has set them apart, and MELTING POINT promises to be another testament to their prowess. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: The ZB1 boys are ready to break more records with their first-ever comeback. Source: X/@ZB1_official.

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TXT Drops Highlight Medley for ‘The Name Chapter: FREEFALL’

TOMORROW X TOGETHER, popularly known as TXT, is gearing up for their much-anticipated comeback. The group recently released a preview for their album The Name Chapter: FREEFALL, and the excitement among fans is palpable.

The album is about confronting reality and dealing with the aftermath of dreams. It takes listeners on a journey where dreams meet reality, and the consequences of chasing those dreams unfold. TXT took this concept and spun it into a musical tapestry that spans multiple genres, showcasing their unparalleled versatility.

TXT (투모로우바이투게더) The Name Chapter: FREEFALL Preview

One of the standout features of this album is TXT‘s deep involvement in its creation. They’ve always been involved in their music, and The Name Chapter: FREEFALL is no exception. The members co-wrote the lyrics for a majority of its tracks. Specifically, they’ve penned songs like “Growing Pain,” a hard rock track that delves into the pains of confronting reality; “Dreamer,” an R&B/Soul number that reminisces about forgotten dreams and self-identity; and “Deep Down,” a pop song that celebrates acknowledging and accepting one’s true identity.

“Blue Spring,” a fan song that touched many hearts during TXT’s ACT: SWEET MIRAGE tour, is another highlight. All five members have writing credits on this alternative rock track, which also incorporates elements of folk rock and hip-hop rhythms. Beomgyu took the reins as producer for this song, adding another feather to his cap.

@txt.bighitent

Chasing that TXT 🎥Directed by #BEOMGYU 🧸 #NewMusic #TheNameChapter #FREEFALL #ChasingThatFeeling

♬ Chasing That Feeling – TOMORROW X TOGETHER

Another successful release for TXT

The album doesn’t stop there. “Back for More (TXT Ver.)” brings a touch of disco funk, celebrating the magical moments that exist even in a world of uncertainty. “Happily Ever After” is a bright and optimistic Jersey club track that encourages listeners not to lose hope despite the harshness of reality. “Skipping Stones” is an indie rock anthem about resilience and not yielding to hardships.

The title track, “Chasing That Feeling,” is set to be a game-changer. It’s a New Wave song with 1980s vibes. The boys sing about waking up from the deceptive allure of a carefree paradise and choosing to live on their own terms. Through this song, they express their determination to embrace the highs and lows of life.

Produced by the renowned Rock Mafia, a production outfit famous for their work with global stars like Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus, and Demi Lovato, this track is poised to be a massive hit. TXT‘s leader, Soobin, has expressed his belief that “Chasing That Feeling” will not only resonate with their fanbase but captivate the general public as well.

As the countdown to the release of The Name Chapter: FREEFALL continues, fans worldwide are buzzing with excitement. With such a diverse and promising lineup of songs, this album is set to be another successful release for TXT. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: MOAs can hardly wait for TXT’s new era to begin. Source: X/@BIGHIT_MUSIC.

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SM Entertainment Criticized for Its Mismanagement of NCT 127’s ‘Fact Check’ Comeback

NCT 127 performs 'Fact Check' during the A Night of Festival event. Credit: Facebook/NCT 127

Comebacks are generally an exciting time for K-pop fans. Although NCTzens had high anticipation for NCT 127’s Fact Check album, the excitement was immediately cut short due to SM Entertainment’s alleged poor management of the group.

NCT 127 returns with ‘Fact Check’

On October 6, NCT 127 unveiled their fifth full-length album Fact Check. Consisting of a total of nine tracks, the album received a warm response due to the group’s distinct musical style. However, fans were perplexed to see the significant drop of the album sales as compared to the group’s previous records.

According to a Korean Sales Tracker, Fact Check recorded sales of 256,800 copies on its first day. Then, for its following days, it even recorded less sales ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 each day.

The numbers showed a shocking change in contrast to the group’s previous albums. In 2021, Sticker achieved an impressive 2.4 Million first-week sales. Meanwhile, 2 Baddies recorded a remarkable 1.5 Million copies within the initial week. 

NCTzens criticism towards SM Entertainment

With the drastic difference, the group’s fanbase, NCTzens, were quick to call out SM Entertainment for their historical problem with mismanaging stocks.

 According to fans, the insufficient production of the album has caused delays in delivering the products to the public. 

Additionally, NCTzens took their disappointment to social media and demanded better service by trending the hashtag #RestockFactCheckAlbums. 

https://twitter.com/joyin127/status/1710833092209070269

Moreover, NCTzens were frustrated to learn that NCT 127 would not be performing on popular music shows including MCountdown and Inkigayo on the first week of their comeback, limiting the supposed promotion for the album.

Aside from that, fans were also enraged with the sudden delay of release of Fact Check’s official music video. Supposedly released at 1PM, the video was pushed back to 3PM last October 6. 

Following the postponement, SM Entertainment released an apology for keeping fans waiting. However, NCTzens were more disappointed to see that even the notice was delayed. According to the fanbase, this is not the first time NCT’s releases have been postponed.

Amidst the backlash SM Entertainment is facing, the agency has yet to make an official statement regarding the fans’ complaints.

Featured image: NCT 127 performs ‘Fact Check’ during the A Night of Festival event. Credit: Facebook/NCT 127

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BTS KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Everything We Know About BTS’ Jungkook’s Solo Album

BTS‘ Jungkook made waves on October 3, 2023, when he announced the release date for his debut solo album, Golden. The album is set to feature 11 tracks, with the English singles “Seven (feat. Latto)” and “3D (feat. Jack Harlow)” among them.

Why ‘Golden’?

The term “golden” holds special significance for Jungkook, who has been dubbed the “golden maknae” of BTS due to his multifaceted talents. This nickname has been a significant part of his journey, from inspiring a fan chant for “Euphoria” to being the title of his travel vlog series, Golden Closet Films. Now, “golden” is more than just a descriptor; it’s the title of his debut album. A press release described it as capturing the “golden moments of Jungkook as a solo artist,” emphasizing the vocals that will charm ARMY worldwide.

On October 4, BigHit Music rolled out the promotional timeline for the album as pre-orders began. Concept photos dropped on October 6, 7, and 8. Fans eagerly anticipate Jungkook‘s upcoming performance on KBS2’s Music Bank, scheduled for October 13. The tracklist is coming on October 16, and the title track’s poster will follow on October 17. 

The excitement doesn’t stop there. Starting October 20, a fresh track from Golden will drop daily, culminating on October 30. An album preview is slated for October 31, paving the way for the title track’s teaser on November 2 and the grand release of the official music video on November 3.

A landmark release

Adding to the anticipation are mysterious “COMING SOON” slots on the schedule for November 6, 8, 16, and 20. BigHit Music filled one of these slots with news of Jungkook‘s Golden Live On Stage, a live performance in Seoul‘s Jangchung Arena on November 20. This concert promises to feature songs from Golden and share behind-the-scenes tales of its creation.

Jungkook has also planned special events for fans. The Pre-order Customer Video Call Fansign event is on November 11, where fans can hop on a quick video call with Jungkook. They must buy specific versions of Golden on Weverse Shop Global to participate. A second event offers them a chance to win an autographed poster signed by Jungkook. To be eligible, fans must buy at least one copy of Golden on Weverse Shop Global and enter the raffle. Winners for both will be notified through Weverse.

Golden promises to be a landmark release, showcasing Jungkook‘s evolution as an artist. With so much to look forward to, the anticipation is sky-high. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: Jungkook has released three sets of concept photos for ‘Golden.’ Source: X/@BIGHIT_MUSIC.

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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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