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.
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.
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’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.
K-pop groupTREASURE 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 2ND FULL ALBUM 'REBOOT' TRACKLIST POSTER
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
EXO’s Kai makes a bold comeback—and got loads of fellow K-pop idols to join his dance challenge—with his third mini-album Rover
Has it really been almost three years since EXO’s center and main dancer Kai debuted as a soloist with his self-titled mini-album? It feels as if he has just released Mmmh and Peaches last month (probably because all the songs in his albums have never left my playlists). But, on March 13, 2023 Kai made a spectacular comeback with his third mini-album Rover.
The lead single, also called Rover, is a lively reggaeton-inspired dance track that I believe has a completely different vibe from his previous titles. The song genre is a new addition to the idol’s repertoire, but the song itself isn’t. It’s actually a remake of Bulgarian singer Dara’s Mr. Rover, but in true Kai fashion, he put in his signature intensity, charming honey-like vocals, and deep, rich raps to truly make the song his own. Plus, that high note in the bridge adds that much-needed extra punch—aside from showcasing his vocal growth. Some might not be too keen on the repetition in the chorus, but I personally love it—it’s so darn catchy! And hey, lots of idols love the song, too!
In interviews during his promotion period, Kai explained that the album explores the concept of freedom. Rover is about being free to live life without being weighed down by others’ expectations—and this release delivers the concept brilliantly.
Similar to the title track, Bomba is an upbeat, reggaeton-inspired song that surely won’t be out of place in summer playlists. This song continues the theme of living freely and being in the moment. It’s just as catchy as Rover, so it’s not surprising that it was once in the running to be a lead single!
The mood shifts dramatically with Black Mirror, a pointed critique on society’s over-reliance on social media; with people losing themselves while mindlessly scrolling on the screen. The song’s heavy hip hop beats give off an eerie, almost unearthly vibe. It’s my favorite song from this mini-album (possibly influenced by Film : KAI #Rover performance reel).
Slidin’ and Say You Love Me are both R&B tracks—but each song serves completely different vibes. Slidin’ is smooth and sultry, while Say You Love Me is intense and borderline hypnotic. Sinner, an emotional song with minimal accompaniment,closes out the mini-album.
I love all of Kai’s solo work, but Rover is my favorite so far (this whole album now has a permanent spot in my playlist). I believe this mini-album showcases his growth as an artist. In this album, he proves that he is not afraid to go outside his comfort zone, even with 11 years in the Korean entertainment industry under his belt. Kai clearly knows what he wants and what direction he wants to go, music and performance-wise. So go on, press play, and let Mr. Rover take you on a ride.
The PLEDIS Entertainment boy groupSEVENTEEN is gearing up for the release of their Japan Best Album ‘ALWAYS YOURS.’ To that end, they shared the tracklist for their highly-anticipated compilation.
SEVENTEEN JAPAN BEST ALBUM 「ALWAYS YOURS」 Track List (Hidden Ver.)
The album is divided into two discs, each packed with a selection of SEVENTEEN‘s best songs. The first disc has a total of nine tracks, including “CALL CALL CALL,” “Happy Ending,” “Fallin’ Flower,” “24H,” “You’re Not Alone,” “Power of Love,” and “DREAM.” However, the first two tracks remain a mystery, adding anticipation and excitement for the album’s release.
The second disc is a compilation of 16 tracks, all Japanese versions of SEVENTEEN‘s biggest hits. It offers Japanese Carats a whole new way to enjoy their favorite songs, reimagined in their native language. What’s more, the album comes in several editions, each with a unique set of inclusions.
SEVENTEEN‘s Japan Best Album ‘ALWAYS YOURS’ is set to hit record store shelves on August 23. This album promises to be a treat for fans, offering a comprehensive collection of the group’s best work in Japan. With the tracklist now revealed, the countdown to the album’s release has truly begun.
(Featured Image: This is one of several concept photos for SEVENTEEN’s latest Japanese release. Source: Twitter/SEVENTEEN’s Japanese Twitter account)
K-pop soloist Choi Yena faced an online backlash after her recently released music video, “Hate Rodrigo,” was set to private on Thursday, stirring up controversy and speculation among fans.
Yena's music video to her new single, ‘Hate Rodrigo,’ has reportedly been privated on YouTube following a request from Olivia Rodrigo's team due to copyright issues. pic.twitter.com/hBKU0jqVi3
The music video is part of Choi Yena’s second single album titled “Hate XX,” which features a collaboration with (G)I-DLE member Yuqi on the song. Alongside “Hate Rodrigo,” the album includes the B-sides “Bad Hobby” and “Wicked Love.” This release follows Choi Yena’s previous single, “Love War,” which came out in January.
The controversy arose due to the song’s title, “Hate Rodrigo,” which led to assumptions that it was a diss track directed at singer-songwriter and “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” star Olivia Rodrigo. Moreover, the music video features actual images of Olivia Rodrigo and contains numerous references to her music videos.
— Olivia Rodrigo China (@oliviarodrigocn) June 22, 2023
Choi Yena, credited as a lyricist and co-composer of the song, addressed the controversy during a guest appearance on “TheKstarNextDoor.” She clarified that her intentions behind the song were not to express genuine hatred but to convey a sense of jealousy toward Olivia Rodrigo’s success. Yena explained that the phrase “hate her” was chosen metaphorically to represent feelings of envy.
Following the backlash, the music video for “Hate Rodrigo” has been made private on YouTube, and several TikTok videos featuring the song have been deleted. Yuehua Entertainment, Choi Yena’s agency, reportedly responded to a request from Olivia Rodrigo’s team to privatize the music video due to the controversy and potential copyright issues.
Observant netizens also noticed the removal of many of Yena’s TikTok videos, particularly those utilizing the hashtag #Hate_Rodrigo.
Interestingly, Choi Yena’s “Hate Rodrigo“ release coincides with Olivia Rodrigo’s announcement about her upcoming sophomore album, “Guts,” set to be released in September.
As the situation unfolds, fans and the public closely follow the developments surrounding the controversy and the response it has garnered.
SEVENTEEN, the beloved K-pop boy band, continues to solidify their status as a global sensation, captivating audiences in Japan with their immense popularity.
They recently made a significant announcement regarding releasing their highly anticipated first-ever Japanese best album, “ALWAYS YOURS.”
As revealed through a press release on SEVENTEEN Japan’s official website, the album is scheduled to be unleashed on July 23, 2023. It will encompass a compilation of all the group’s Japanese original songs, Japanese versions of their Korean tracks, and two brand-new Japanese original songs, ensuring a delightful musical experience for their dedicated fanbase, known as Carats.
Carats can anticipate hearing their favorite Japanese tracks such as “Fallin’ Flower,” “24H,” “Call Call Call!,” “Happy Ending,” “Not Alone,” “Power of Love,” and “DREAM” consolidated into one album.
Additionally, the album will feature Japanese renditions of SEVENTEEN’s hit songs, including “HIGHLIGHT,” “Lean on Me,” “20,” “LOVE LETTER,” and “Oh My!” to name a few.
In their unwavering dedication to their Carats worldwide, SEVENTEEN will also present two brand-new Japanese original songs exclusively crafted for this album.
Since their Japanese debut on May 30, 2018, SEVENTEEN has amassed many accolades and a devoted fanbase. Their comebacks have consistently garnered immense support from their Japanese Carats, prompting the group to reciprocate the love by delivering exhilarating live performances.
Recently, the boy band kicked off their “SEVENTEEN 2023 JAPAN FAN MEETING ‘LOVE'” at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka and the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, enthralling audiences with their electrifying stage presence.
[#SEVENTEEN JAPAN NEWS] 『SEVENTEEN TOUR 'FOLLOW' TO JAPAN』[東京公演] "CARAT"会員先行抽選受付の当落結果発表のお知らせ 当落確認期間をご確認の上、必ず期間内に結果をご確認ください。
Before releasing their upcoming Japanese album “ALWAYS YOURS,”SEVENTEEN will treat their Korean Carats to a memorable two-day concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome on July 21 and July 22, 2023.
Congratulations to SEVENTEEN, and may their musical journey continue to flourish!
本日6/27よりHMV店舗にて配布の『HMV the music & movie master ISSUE363』はドームツアーを開催する #SEVENTEEN が表紙🎉
I’ve been a K-pop fan for at least seven years (and I’ve been a casual listener for even longer), but it’s only in the last few years when I’ve started spending money on official and unofficial K-pop merch. Here are just some of the things I realized (aside from happiness) when I started growing my collection.
An expensive hobby, especially as a multi-stan.
It started with one…or four. The first official K-pop merch I actually bought weren’t even albums by idols. I bought four—yes, four—CDs of a ballad singer I liked, Sung Si-kyung, on a trip to Seoul in 2016. The following year, I asked a friend to buy Bigbang’s MADE concert tour DVD for me. And then, I stopped. I thought that as a fan of more than one artist, if I continued doing this, I might end up bankrupt. Plus, I didn’t even have a CD player—not that I would risk scratching the CDs by actually playing them. Besides, the music was readily available on Spotify and YouTube.
Fast-forward to six years later, that initial collection of four CDs and one concert DVD slowly grew to include albums from several more of my favorite groups—Super Junior, EXO, VIXX, and Epik High (my playlist is a mixed bag of music genres lol). I’ve also since added several light sticks, unofficial merch, and magazines to my small collection. As a multi-stan, I knew I couldn’t possibly buy everything that my favorites released. So to keep myself from going into debt, I had to be very strategic with the items I wanted to buy—official light sticks, as well as full group albums and solo work by my biases are on top of my priority list.
Joy in the waiting and unboxing your purchases.
I didn’t understand what the fuss was about albums, magazines, and light sticks—I got my fill of K-pop by listening to my faves’ music and watching their variety show/drama appearances. That is, until I started ordering merch myself.
I’ve always found myself looking forward to new releases (music or other content), but the anticipation and eventual happiness in receiving the actual albums and merch gives off a completely different kind of thrill. After unboxing, I find myself flipping through the photobook pages multiple times as I listen to the songs off the album. And the high doesn’t fade even after a few days; I regularly still take out the albums and look at them to cheer myself up.
Waiting for my purchases to be delivered at my doorstep is also part of the experience. The fear of not making the pre-order cut off, the anxiety over shipping delays—they only add to the joy upon finally seeing and holding the merch.
Effort into creating albums is admirable
Albums nowadays are more than just CDs in plastic cases; they now come with beautiful photo books, posters, stickers, and the much-sought-after photo cards. The quality isn’t something to joke about, either. I’ve come to appreciate how albums have different concepts, which show beautifully in the music and the album inclusions.
One of my recent favorites is Super JuniorKyuhyun’s latest album, Love Story. This mini-album is a compilation of the singer’s ballad releases under his Project: Season series in 2021-2022. The album I purchased was in a story/photo book format, with tons of pretty pictures of Super Junior’s maknae. Even the dust jacket is nice. I’m pretty sure this slim volume won’t look out of place on my bookshelf.
Inside the album, one can see that the story has a couple of chapters. In between the pages of text are photos of Kyuhyun and illustrations of the two characters in the Project: Season MVs. I assume that the narrations tell the story of the two characters, and I’m looking forward to reading that once my Korean language skills improve.
Fan-made merch, a connection to the fan community
As an introvert, I’m not really one to participate in fan events. Nor was I much interested in chiming in on conversations in stan Twitter. So to make myself feel like I’m part of the fan community, I buy (and use) fan-made merch! There are tons of talented fans who have created beautiful pieces that allow other fans to show their love for their favorite groups. When I started buying merch, I found myself browsing for fan-made stuff—and even bought a few pieces that I use on the daily!
Collecting merch brings genuine joy
In my early days as a K-pop fan, I’d been happy with streaming my favorite soloists and groups’ MVs on YouTube and playing the songs on loop in Spotify. I don’t think having a collection of albums or other merch has anything to do with being a true fan—and I don’t judge those who click on the checkout button as soon as their ults drop their latest release—but I personally used to think collecting merch isn’t for me.
That is, until the lockdowns hit and I found myself ordering albums on Ktown4u. And when I received my purchases, I realized just how much looking at the photo books and light sticks brightened up my days.
Today, I have a very modest collection of albums, light sticks, and merch. What I have might not fill up an entire room (it won’t even fill a whole shelf), but the ones I have right now spark joy—and that’s what makes my tiny haul special for me.
Featured Image: Official K-pop merch bought by the writer. Credit: Paula Abiog
K-pop videos are always an amazing visual and aural experience. But are you looking for music videos that are a step beyond the usual? Why not give animated music videos a try? Animation can just be as compelling and powerful storytelling tools, and the resulting music videos can be equally memorable.
Here are 11 fully- and partially-animated K-pop music videos to brighten up your day, suck you into another universe, or let you think about life. Who knows, by watching these animated music videos, you might even discover a new favorite group or soloist to follow!
That’s Okay – D.O (EXO)
In 2019, EXO’s main vocalist D.O gifted fans with his solo single That’s Okay just before enlisting for his mandatory service. The song is released with a heartwarming animated music video.
In the video, a man sees a wilting cactus while moving into his apartment and decides to take care of it. He nurtures the plant until it’s revived. Later on, it’s revealed that the man became a homebody due to grief over losing his dog. Eventually, the cactus sprouted some flowers, which seemed to bring the man out of his depression.
Through the song—and the animated music video—D.O reassured EXO-Ls that no matter what they’re going through, everything will eventually turn out okay.
Watch the music video below:
Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment) – BTS
Shortly after BTS released their official video for Yet to Come from their anthology album Proof, they came out with a special animated music videos for the same single. The animated video evoked the same sentimental feeling as the official music video, but in a more fun and cute way. In the video, the members trek across a desert, just like in the original. They stumble and slide down, and meet a purple humpback whale that takes them to an island paradise.
The video also doubled as a teaser for BTS Island: In the SEOM, a video game and a virtual space for “healing and relaxation.” The game was launched on June 28, 2022.
Rapper/singer Heize released her second full-length album, Undo, on June 30, 2022, and one of her B-sides, Supercar, comes with a colorful, yet melancholy music video. In this track, Heize sings about a magical supercar that runs so fast, so that could take her back to a relationship that has ended. The bittersweet lyrics complement the music video, where a woman in a bright yellow sports car races through her memories—both happy and sad.
Sing along and feel the emotions while watching the music videos below:
Hate You – 2NE1
Hate You showed K-pop fans that 2NE1 is just as badass in cartoon form. In this 2011 music video, the girls are the heroines chasing after a villain who blew up a town. They follow the villain, disguised as a man, into a pub, and engage in a brief fight before he escapes. The chase continues, and when they finally caught up with their enemy, it’s revealed that the being is actually some kind of monster. They successfully fight off the monster and emerge victorious, and they drive away into the pink sunset.
Watch the action-packed video below:
Tomboy – Hyukoh
Korean indie pop-rock band Hyukoh collaborated with illustrator Park Gwang-soo for the music video of their 2017 track Tomboy.
The song, according to lead singer Oh Hyuk, depicts the confusing and depressing side of youth, where everything is unfamiliar and uncertain. The black-and-white animated music video brilliantly translates the lyrics in a video packed with symbolism. The human-like figures are ablaze with the conflicting feelings of passion and bright hopefulness mixed with confusion, insecurity and desperation.
Watch the thought-provoking music video below:
Eight – IU feat. Suga (BTS)
In Eight, IU and Suga expressed the loneliness and fleeting nature of life, and the longing for a place with no sadness and where everyone could live happy and free. It also talks about the yearning to revisit precious memories, and to live life without taking anything or anyone for granted.
The music video flits between live action and animation, beginning when IU goes to a lab to presumably download her forgotten memories. IU then sees flashes of memories, as well as fantastical adventures throughout the song, before she wakes up again as the song draws to a close.
See IU’s ethereal visuals—both live action and animation—in the music video below:
Super Duper – Super Junior
If you’re looking for music that will surely lift your mood, look no further—because Super Junior is coming to your rescue! Their 2018 SM Station single, Super Duper, will get you moving to the funky beat in no time.
The accompanying music video is just as much of a happy pill, as the music videos reflects much of the group’s lively and chaotic personality. Plus, the animation’s bright, solid colors add to the overall cheerful vibe you’ll get from the song.
This is not the only animated music videos that the group has released. They came out with the Latin pop-infused Animals in 2018. The music video featured the animated versions of the members matched with their zodiac signs. In 2020, they released the sweet, Christmas-themed animated music videos for Tell Me Baby, a B-side from the group’s Renaissance album.
Dance to the beat while watching the kooky music video below:
Where the Sea Sleeps – Day6 (Even of Day)
Where the Sea Sleeps is a ballad from Day6’s sub-unit Even of Day, released in 2020.
The track has a comforting vibe; the lyrics sing about promising to stay together even through hardship. It’s also as if the band members are also reassuring their fans that no matter what happens, they will always be by their side.
The song’s music video complements the lyrics surprisingly well. In the music videos, three animal friends build a rocket ship and journey to space. However, they fly into several asteroids, which destroys the rocket ship and eject the friends onto a nearby planet. All three initially lose consciousness, and for a while, everything seems lost. But, the animal friends wake up, and using a compass they were able to swim to shore and safety—showing that they will always stick together.
Watch the music video below:
Savage – aespa
K-pop crosses over to the metaverse with aespa’s Savage. This music video from the fourth-gen super rookies blends live action, computer graphics, and animation. In the music videos, the girls continue their quest to reunite with their avatars in the SM Culture Universe (SMCU). The lyrics might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially as it contains plenty of references to elements in the group’s SMCU storyline that some might find a little jarring to listen to. But the vibrant, sassy energy of the song pairs well with the aggressive, yet sophisticated vibe of the music videos.
Step into the metaverse with aespa today:
Dream – Eric Nam ft. Park Jimin
This video is quite different from the other music videoss on this list, because the “animation” is actually sand art! Eric Nam, together with Park Jimin, sing about longing for a lost love in Dream. The song and the music video tells the story of a couple who have gone their separate ways, but still look back on their relationship with nostalgia and a bit of yearning.
The sand art transitions throughout the music videos makes watching it feel like being in an actual dream sequence. Check out the music video below:
Hold My Hand – Lee Hi
Singer and songwriter Lee Hi’s refreshing vocals and adorable visuals take center stage in her music video for Hold My Hand. But despite the song’s cheery tone and the music videos’ cute 8-bit graphics, the lyrics tell the story of a heartbroken individual longing for their ex-lover to come back and love them again.
Jump into this cute video game simulation-like video below:
While music videos featuring drama plotlines and slick choreography will always be fascinating both to fans and non-fans, animated music videos offer a different, yet refreshing charm that only adds to the rich K-pop scene. Which one in our list is your favorite?
In just a few days, Apink will be ushering in their 11th year as a Kpop girl group. One of the most successful idol groups to do so.
It has been a decade since the sweet and innocent fairies of Acube Entertainment (which later became Plan A, and now, Play M Entertainment) debuted and made their own unique niche in the rather competitive world of K-pop. With girl groups surviving for ten years being a rare feat, Apink deserves all the recognition they can get.
So here it is, a rundown of Apink songs and title tracks, plus a trivia for each song about its music video:
2011: I Don’t Know
So we start off with the song that started it all: the song that made guys’ hearts flutter and girls want to be sweet innocent fairies. Mollayo was quite unique at that time because most girl groups at that time have already established themselves in different images and concepts that were far from the sweet and innocent image Apink manifested in their debut song. 2NE1 was girl crush, Girls’ Generation was getting more glammed up with The Boys, the Wonder Girls‘ sound became Americanized after staying in the US for an extended period, Kara was still sophisticated, After School had their gimmicks, and T-Ara was going full retro.
It came as no surprise that Apink quickly captured their market because there wasn’t really a reigning group that owned a very wholesome image. It can be argued that Rainbow tried, but still not as cutesy as Apink. Thus, with no direct competition, Apink was THE quintessential innocent fairies of K-pop. For a debuting girls group that’s not from the Big 3, I Don’t Know and Seven Springs of Apink, the EP where the single is from, both fared well in the charts, with the song selling more than a million copies (quite a rare feat for a debit single) and more than 25,000 copies for the EP.
And the music video! Definitely, something that brings us back to a different time, when we allow strangers who pass out (in the case of the music video, it was BEAST‘s Gikwang) in our front porch into our house to recuperate. Before you scream stranger danger, the girls actually nursed him back to health, with the music video ending with the guy leaving a thank you note as he exited the house.
Question:
Who gave Gikwang a cookie?
Yookyung
Hayoung
Naeun
No cookies were given. It was Eunji who gave him a bookmark.
2011: My My
My My was one memorable song for both the Pink Pandas and the group. After all, it is the song that gave them their first-ever music show trophy. The group started 2012 great when they won their first music show award on Mnet’s M Countdown for this particular show. Suffice to say, the announcement was met with a mix of disbelief and tears by the group. As it didn’t take the group a year since their debut in April of 2011 before they got their first music show win was telling – it showed that they indeed have a solid fanbase and they were not some nugu group. The next month, the group received the Rookie of the Year award at the first Gaon Chart Awards, which cemented their position as a promising K-pop girl group.
My My was also memorable for fans because it was the first time they saw the members’ parents through Apink News. On the episode that showed the group filming for the music video of the song, all their family members came to watch them behind the scenes. In season one of Apink News, only Namjoo’s mom made an appearance, but for this episode, all family members came, with Hayoung’s grandma crying upon seeing her in front of the camera, Eunji’s mom and brother Minki (who everyone will get to know more in a later Apink News episode) calling her by her birthname Hyerim, and Yookyung crying because she won’t be able to celebrate her mom’s birthday with her at home. My My continues to be one of the group’s well-loved title tracks.
Question:
Who wore the Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey in the My My music video?
Bomi
Yukyung
Chorong
Naeun
2012: Hush
For those who were still unconvinced that Apink is more than just a cutesy, innocent girl group that they perfectly showed in their debut single, Hush should have been a more successful effort. My My was still very wholesome, and although Hush still maintains this level of wholesomeness in the group, it also showed a different side of Apink. The song is faster, beat-wise, and the lyrics are a tad more mature than the first few songs of the group. Yes, it still talks about a girl’s hesitation to reveal or voice out her true feelings to the person she likes, but there’s something about the song that tells the listener that the group has definitely graduated from just singing cutesy, teenybopper tracks.
Even their outfits in the music video were a shift from the expected fairy-like attires they have worn on their previous videos. Half of the video had the girls wearing skintight baby tees and white jeans. Definitely not your “typical” wholesome Apink music video.
Question:
What was the letter printed on the girl’s baby tees that they wore on most of the music video?
Trick question: The baby tees were plain white with no print.
A for Apink
P for pink
H for the song’s title
2013: NoNoNo
NoNoNo is pretty iconic. If you are going to ask any Korean which song they can relate to the group the most, they will most probably answer NoNoNo, for a number of factors. Some will say the unforgettable choreography where the members form a straight line then appear one by one, while some just love the unrelenting positive message of the song that has several idols choosing to cover it when they are assigned to sing an Apink song, including some people you won’t expect to cover a song from the innocent fairy group like Heize.
NoNoNo is also the first song the group released after the withdrawal of Yukyung from the group. Although there wasn’t much of a controversy regarding Yukyung’s decision, as she opted to focus on finishing her studies rather than continue on her career as an idol, people were a bit anxious if her departure would result in a bit of the backlash for the group.
Alas, this didn’t happen for a number of reasons. One, after My My which won them their first music show, the group was already on a steady rise to stardom. This was validated with the second reason when Eunji launched a career in acting with a lead role in the series Reply 1997, which eventually became a certified hit. Moreover, the group’s center, Naeun went on to new heights of popularity in 2013, when she appeared with SHINee’s maknae Taemin in the wildly popular reality show We Got Married, where they pretended to be a couple.
So, despite apprehensions, the group’s popularity went on to skyrocket with this song. NoNoNo became the group’s highest-charting single until then, peaking at number 2 on Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100. In November 2013, at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards, Apink received the Next Generation Global Star award.
There was really no holding Apink back since the release of NoNoNo. Even leader Chorong said in interviews that it was during the release of NoNoNo that she felt that she was really serious in her career as an idol. While she felt in the past that they were still room for fun and games, the NoNoNo era was really the time for them to get serious at work.
Question:
The candles on the cake that the members blew before the last repetition of the chorus spells:
A P I N K
I ❤ Y O U
P I N K P A N D A
H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y
2014: Mr. Chu
Who doesn’t know this song? Who doesn’t remember the dance to this song? Mr. Chuwas simply Apink at the top of their game. During that era that started from Luv to Remember, everything that the group touched turned into gold. Apink won six music show trophies for this song, and the song went on to become the eighth bestselling digital song of the year 2014, selling close to 1.6 million copies.
Pink Blossom, which was the EP Mr. Chu was part of, went on to sell more than 76,000 copies. If you’re a fan of Korean variety shows that have idols as special guests, Mr. Chu continues to be one of the most covered and danced to songs by any K-pop group. Who wouldn’t be addicted to this song anyway? It is the perfect representation of what an Apink song should be – sweetness and innocence mixed with a wholesome view of young love.
The music video doesn’t disappoint either as it is more or less a great representation of the song. The girls all decked in tennis player outfits trying to outshine each other by stuffing gifts in the locker of the boy they all apparently like. If you are not familiar with the song, or the video, your K-pop fan card will be indefinitely revoked until you watch it (or know the answer to the question below).
Question:
Which statement about the song and the video is correct?
The girls give Mr. Chu gifts in boxes colored purple and white.
The member responsible for the high note on the song’s bridge is Eunji.
The D-Day in the calendar on the video is March 31, the release date of the song and EP.
It was Chorong who stuffed the locker with a big white teddy bear.
2014: Luv
One of Apink’s most iconic songs, Luv was released when the group was at the peak of their popularity. After the wildly popular Mr. Chu, the group’s next comeback featured them in a mid-tempo song that is actually more sad than upbeat, as it narrates the singer’s longing for the days when their love was new. Though it is definitely not the usual uplifting and bright song Apink is known for, K-pop fans fell in love with the song, and the girls looked good singing it while adapting to this slight change in concept.
luv era is so iconic… 17 consecutive music show wins and it STILL hasn’t been beaten for a girl group? OKAY APINK pic.twitter.com/xYr9ENMtDJ
Maybe it was the lack of competition, or it may be because people just loved the song, but Luv holds the record of being the girl group song with the most music show wins at 17. The entire December 2014 had Apink win almost all music shows. It won twice in M Countdown, thrice in Inkigayo and The Show, four times in Music Bank, and a whopping five times in MBC’s Show! Music Core. Even up to now, only two male groups, EXO and BTS have surpassed this record.
Sales-wise, Pink LUV, the EP where Luv is from, has sold over 79,000 copies, while LUV has accumulated more than 1,490,000+ in digital sales.
Question:
In the video, Namjoo wrote which initials in a tree:
NJ and HS
NJ and AP
NJ and PP
NJ and EJ
2015: Remember
After the successive chart-toppers Mr. Chu and Luv, Apink staged their 2015 comeback via Remember, which completed the group’s triumvirate of hits in only their 4th year as a group. Pink Pandas were a bit scared after Mr. Chu and Luv both blew up, as those two were tough acts to follow. But as an old adage goes, the third time’s a charm, and Remember did not disappoint.
Remember is actually the title track of the group’s second full-length album entitled Pink Memory. Pink Memory is to date Apink‘s most successful multi-track release, selling over 90,000 copies and peaking at number 2 in Gaon’s album charts. The song also sold more than 1.1 million copies and also peaked at number 2 in the national digital charts.
As for the video, it is considered Apink‘s most experimental in an unexpected way – in terms of their hair! All members had orange hair, Hayoung sported short shoulder-length hair, and Bomi not only became wheat blonde but also pink in some parts! It was the peak of Apink hair supremacy, I dare say.
Question:
Spreaking of pink-haired Bomi, in some scenes, she is seen wearing with _______________ printed in front.
I ❤ COLD BEER
APINK ❤ PANDA
DO YOU REMEMBER?
HAYOUNG HAS SHORT ACHILLES TENDONS
2016: Cause You’re My Star
The first special album of the group, Dear, had Cause You’re My Star as its title track. Play M (Plan A during that time) stated that the album “would commend the unwavering love and invaluable support from their fans since their debut.”
Although it’s not said, the move may have been brought about by the underperformance of the full-length album that Dear preceded, Pink Revolution, which had Only Oneas its title track. It was tragic that Only One did not perform well that the company felt like it had to erase that sad episode from everybody’s memory by releasing a “special album.”
The song is sweet and okay and the music video may have continued the hazy filter the group first used in Only One, but that’s pretty much all that can be said about the song. Not particularly one of the most outstanding Apink tracks, but for us Pink Panda, we can’t really complain when we’re given any new music by the group. Full stop.
Question:
While Namjoo was carrying a pile of pancakes in the Only One video, what food was in front of her this time?
Two cakes
A samgyeopsal
Jokbal (pig’s trotters), Apink’s favorite food
French fries, which she again encounters on a different video
2016: Only One
Alas, we have come to the song that cast doubts on Apink‘s longevity. The song that didn’t win a single music show trophy. The song that Pink Pandas waited for more than a year to be released (a year and two months, to be exact). The song that made the members cry because of how beautiful the song was, supposedly (or so they claimed in their Yu Huiyeol’s Sketchbook interview – or maybe they were just relieved of having a comeback at last). The same song that made Chorong cry because they felt they let their fans down because it didn’t win anything and had a lukewarm reception in the charts.
So, what went wrong with this era of Apink? A number of things, actually. For one, the song was pretty, I’ll give them that, but it doesn’t have the catchiness all Apink songs are known for. The song is standard Apink, all right, with the group’s trademark mix of sweetness, femininity, and innocence, but quite frankly, Only One sounds like a B track. Well, Apink is one group known for having excellent B tracks, and Only One unfortunately sounds like one. Moreover, when Only One was released, other big hitters like Got7, Infinite, BTS, Monsta X, and Shinee released new music only days before and after Apink had their comeback. With the fandoms of these groups obsessed with giving their groups music show wins, it was not that feasible for Apink to squeeze in a win, especially since the song was not that strong in K-pop standards.
All of that said, the music video had the girls at their prettiest. And yes, die-hard Pink Pandas will argue that Only One is the most underrated song in Apink‘s career.
Question:
The Gothic-style rooftop featured in the video, which was also featured in 2PM’s I’ll Be music video released only weeks earlier, is located in
Kyung Hee University
COEX Convention and Exhibition Center
Myeongdong Cathedral
Seoul City Hall
2017: Five
Five was the song that brought back Apink to public consciousness after the two 2016 comebacks after Remember, namely Only One from the Pink Revolution album and You’re My Star from the “special” album Dear performed below expectations. The song has Apink written all over it – the sweetness, innocence, and catchy chorus that harkens back to old school K-pop popularized by first-generation groups like Fin.K.L and S.E.S.
Fans who may have probably been alienated by the lack of catchy hook in Only One and the lack of promotions for the Dear album were too eager to embrace the distinct Apink sound that they felt went missing in 2016. Pink Up, the EP that had Five as its lead track, sold more than 50,000 units. After the dismal performances of both Only One and Cause You’re My Star that only sold 449,000+ and 121,000+ copies, Five peaked at number 4 in the Gaon Download Charts with more than 800,000 copies sold.
Question:
What was the color of the cake that Chorong was decorating and putting the icing on?
Blue
Pink
White
ROYGBIV
2018: I’m So Sick
After the success of Five, which brought the group back to its default sweet and innocent concept, Apink staged their 2018 comeback in a rather surprising fashion. Goodbye, cutesy wholesome concept, hello more daring (with an unavoidable Apink twist) image with I’m So Sick. Casual observers pointed out that the slight tweak of the group’s image in 2016 during the Only One era was unsuccessful, so it was recommended for the group to return to their most popular concept for a couple more comebacks before risking alienating fans again with even the slightest of concept changes.
Even a number of full-fledged Pandas (it was around this time that the fandom dropped “pink” from their fandom monicker and just go with Panda instead) threatened to leave the fandom if the group would go with even just a slight image revamp. Luckily, the disappointment of some fans did not cause a mass exodus, and the image change was well-received by everyone, from the majority of the Panda fandom to critics and even casual K-pop listeners.
From singing about wishing to walk with a boy while wearing couple rings to receiving insincere phone calls from a drunk lover is a huge shift, but there wasn’t a huge disdain for the song. In fact, it was well-received and reintroduced Apink to a new generation of fans who prefer their girl groups with more spunk and who tone down on having saccharinely sweet public images.
Question:
What did Eunji do to the negatives of the pictures from her camera?
She submerged them in water.
She burned them.
She cut them into small pieces.
She gave them to the members.
2019: %% (Eung Eung)
After the wildly successful I’m So Sick, the pressure was on again for Apink to follow up their success with more success. Actually, the group was in their 8th year already and pretty much had nothing to prove already after surviving both the seven-year curse and the “drastic” concept and image change. But then, Apink is one of those groups that have always somehow felt that it had to prove something. After all, they are not from a Big 3 company, their innocent fairy concept has always been seen as a rather weak and easy way to maintain a fandom, and their songs do not actually require intense choreography like GFriend or intricate harmonization ala Mamamoo.
But then, trust Apink to deliver. When fans expected them to go further with a more adult image, the group opted to continue with their sublime elegant concepts with a distinctly Apink flavor. That may be one of the secrets to the group’s steady popularity. Whether they sing of nostalgia in Luv, daydreaming of an ideal man in Mr. Chu, or an earnest declaration of love and encouragement with NoNoNo, there’s always something they always put their trademark Apink flair that other groups cannot copy.
The song was a bop and underperformed in the charts, peaking only at number 17, but it was universally and critically acclaimed and loved. None other than Billboard Magazine ranked %% second in their annual list of the 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019. As for the song, the high level of production from I’m So Sick was maintained. It is a retro throwback track with very sublime beat drops and a pinch of trap and a dash of house. Very satisfying to the ears.
Anime fans will definitely appreciate the music video because its entirety is a reference, making it a tribute to Fullmetal Alchemist. The video has each of the members put a body part or an item like a watch, some honey, and a heart locket to a sort of altar and Chorong (in pink hair) and Eunji putting all of these in a clear container filled with pink liquid. Transmutation device alert. Finally, the members, housed in the “Pink Factory” produce a man. Based on the song’s lyrics, it may seem to be a man who possesses qualities of their own liking. Sounds like these six are just reminding everyone of how empowered they are. That’s the power of an 8-year group!
And yet, they were still disrespected. In a year-end TV station concert, the group’s performance of Eung Eungwas cut short because the concert’s floor director allegedly thought the performance was running a tad long. So much disrespect for a senior group. Korean and even international Twitterverse expressed disappointment and even fandoms of other groups could not believe what the group experienced. The TV station public apologized the next day.
Question:
Who was responsible for bringing the heart of the man they were making?
Eunji
Bomi
Chorong
Namjoo
2020: Dumhdurum
What is there to say about Apink‘s latest release? Suffice to say that the group has done it again – releasing bops thrice in a row, just like what they did in 2014 to 2015, when they released Mr. Chu, Luv, and Remember one after another. To paraphrase a popular YouTube K-pop commenter, it is indeed a feat for a nine-year-old group like Apink to seemingly have caught lightning in a bottle not once, not twice, but three times. But then again, for Apink, good things come in three’s, so it’s not really a mystery why the group maintained their success after releasing I’m So Sick and Eung Eung.
What was so special about Dumhdurum, anyway? The song for one is catchy as hell. Moreover, it’s something that will grow on you, making you want to keep on tapping the replay button countless times. Alas, the peculiar sound effects sprinkled throughout the song are so interesting that it makes you want to keep on replaying the song to know what those sounds are. Right from the start, there’s this instrumentation that starts off sounding almost like background noise until it grows louder and louder until the beat drops. Then, there’s this unique sound when the song transitions between verses that sounds like an alarm mixed with an ambulance siren.
Then, there’s the music video where so many colors were used that almost look like they took inspiration from some Wes Anderson film. The ladies start off the dance segment by power catwalking! The yellow eyeliner and eye shadow used on Chorong! Naeun in cornrows! A blonde Namjoo wearing a black Gucci tee! Hayoung wearing Gucci literally from head to toe (a Gucci hair clip to Gucci stockings) when the song hasn’t even started! Eunji is in a room full of lamps with her Chanel earrings and a corset dress in the dance sequence! Too much luxury. Too much sophistication.
Everyone’s make up is definitely on point in this video. Also, I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt the extra sound effects from the train on the music video (bell clanging, the sound of trains running on the tracks, to name a few) added more charm to the song that I sort of wished the sounds would be featured in a remix version.
The song was well-received and charted high as well. The girls repeated their 2019 feat by ranking at number 2 in Billboard’s top 25 K-pop songs for 2020 with Dumhdurum. And the choreography, particularly the twisted arms of Bomi and Naeun, went viral on Tiktok.
Question:
Where did Bomi perform her dance break?
In a dark room with exploding light bulbs
In a room full of flickering lampshades
In a train car that has gone underwater
In a warm-lighted room with shallow water
So after the fan service song Thank You, released last April to commemorate Apink’s tenth anniversary, the group hasn’t had a proper comeback. It may be because of Naeun’s transfer to YG Entertainment as she pursues more acting opportunities, maybe it’s because of Chorong’s involvement in a bullying scandal. But since Naeun is still active with some Apink activities and the police has released a statement claiming there is insufficient evidence to implicate the group’s leader to the incidents, here’s hoping that comeback will happen soon.
Answer key:
2011: I Don’t Know
Who gave Gikwang a cookie?
Hayoung. Eunji did give him a bookmark, but Hayoung also gave a cookie..
2011: My My
In the dance break for the music video of My My, the girls wore basketball jerseys. Who wore the Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey?
Naeun. Bomi also wore a yellow jersey, but it was an Apink jersey. Yukyung wore a dark blue jersey and Chorong wore a NY Knicks Carmelo Anthony jersey.
2012: Hush
What was the letter printed on the girl’s baby tees that they wore on most of the music video?
A for Apink
2013: NoNoNo
The candles on the cake that the members blew before the last repetition of the chorus spells
I ❤ Y O U
2014: Mr. Chu
Which statement about the song and the video is correct?
The D-Day in the calendar on the video is March 31, the release date of the song and EP. The girls give Mr. Chu gifts in boxes colored purple and yellow, not purple and white. The member responsible for the high note on the song’s bridge is Namjoo. Finally, it was Eunji who stuffed the locker with a big white teddy bear.
2014: Luv
In the video, Namjoo wrote which initials in a tree:
NJ and EJ. Not sure if it was Eunji.
2015: Remember
Spreaking of pink-haired Bomi, in some scenes, she is seen wearing with _______________ printed in front.
I ❤ COLD BEER. Who doesn’t?
2016: Cause You’re My Star
While Namjoo was carrying a pile of pancakes in the Only One video, what food was in front of her this time?
Two cakes, which our Healthy Girl would have probably finished.
2016: Only One
The Gothic-style rooftop featured in the video, which was also featured in 2PM’s I’ll Be music video released only weeks earlier, is located in
Kyung Hee University, whose Cyber University has been attended by some EXO and Super Junior members. The university is also the alma mater of two Korean presidents, including the current one, Pres. Moon Jaein.
2017: Five
What was the color of the cake that Chorong was decorating and putting the icing on?
Blue. Namjoo had a rainbow cake in the You’re My Star music video, though.
2018: I’m So Sick
What did Eunji do to the negatives of the pictures from her camera?
She submerged them in water, making them unusable. Or maybe they were blackmail pictures.
2019: %% (Eung Eung)
Who was responsible for bringing the heart of the man they were making?
Eunji brought the heart from the container with the pink liquid (where she dropped a heart-shaped locket which apparently turned into a glittered heart) to the table where a suit was laid.
2020: Dumhdurum
Where did Bomi perform her dance break?
In a warm-lighted room with shallow water. The darkroom with exploding light bulbs was where she got stuck in the end, the room full of flickering lampshades is Eunji’s, and the train car that has gone underwater was where Hayoung was and had no choice but to look at fishes passing by like she was inside an aquarium.
Featured image: Listen to these Apink songs to celebrate the wildly successful Kpop girl group’s 11th anniversary! Photo:@Apink_2011/Apink Official Twitter