After weeks of anticipation, K-pop monster rookies NewJeans have finally released their sophomore EP GET UP on Friday, July 21.
The five-piece rising girl group also released the music video for their track “ETA,” which sees the NewJeans members reaching out to their female friend to tell her that they’ve discovered her boyfriend cheating on her at a pool party.
The “GET UP” EPfeatures a total of six songs, with “ETA,” “Super Shy,” and “Cool With You”as its triple title tracks.
All six songs have their own music videos, but the earlier released ones already boast impressive collaborations.
The “New Jeans” music video, for example, saw the group transform into superheroes as it was a collaboration with the 25th anniversary of the hit American cartoon series THE POWERPUFF GIRLS.
Meanwhile, the two music videos for “Cool With You,” meanwhile, featured Asian superstars Tony Leung and Jung Ho Yeon. THE “ETA” music video is also in collaboration with Apple as the whole video was entirely shot on iPhone 14 Pro.
GET UP is NewJeans’ second EP following their self-titled EP, which was released in July 2022.
Composed of Minji, Hanni, Hyein, Haerin, and Danielle, NewJeans is a group under ADOR, the HYBE sub-label headed by Min Hee-jin,
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
Kai cranks up the charisma in the music video for Rover. (Screen capture from youtube.com/@SMTOWN)
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.
A super junior light stick. Photo credit: Paula AbiogVIXX light stick. Credit: Paula AbiogFast-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.
Kyuhyun’s Love Story mini-album. Credit: Paula AbiogWaiting 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!
EXO fan merch (feat. my EXO bias SUHO) Credit: instagram.com/eleventwosevenpm
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
Credit: Screenshot from Youtube video - Day6 (Even of Day)
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?
![TREASURE 2ND FULL ALBUM 'REBOOT' TEASER PHOTO LOAD VER.[230717] #treasure #트레저 #reboot](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tlIjuFvWI18/hqdefault.jpg)
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![[STATION 3] D.O. 디오 '괜찮아도 괜찮아 (That's okay)' MV](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j2aQ_NqeTNw/hqdefault.jpg)
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