Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

NCT’s Taeyong and SEVENTEEN’s Woozi Show Off Adorable Friendship

In the world of K-pop, where talents and friendships often flourish behind the scenes, fans are always eager for glimpses into the personal lives of their favorite idols. Recently, NCT 127‘s Taeyong surprised fans during a live Instagram session by introducing an unexpected guest: SEVENTEEN‘s Woozi

As this is the first time that the two idols were seen together, fans couldn’t help but be curious  as to how these two K-pop powerhouses came to know each other. According to Taeyong they became friends because of their mutual passion for creating music. “We became close because we both liked composing music,” he said.

 

Moreover, the NCT 127 leader didn’t shy away from expressing his admiration for Woozi’s capabilities as a producer. During the live session, he revealed that he played some of his work for the SEVENTEEN member, who provided valuable feedback that boosted his confidence. Another proof of their tight friendship was that Taeyong was able to listen to the demo of God of Music.” 

 

Throughout the live session, the two idols were also wary about dropping spoilers for their still-unannounced activities. At one point, Woozi told Taeyong that SEVENTEEN has imposed a fine for any member who drops spoilers. To which, the SM Entertainment artist was quickly taken aback. Which left Woozi quickly clarifying that it’s more of an inside joke within the group than a strict policy. 

Taeyong x Woozi collaboration?

Aside from the two idols sharing snippets from their daily lives, fans couldn’t help but adore the unexpected friendship between the two. At the start of the Instagram live, the “Supersinger mentioned that it was his first time appearing on someone else’s live stream, and the “Fact Checksinger expressed his honor at having him as a guest.

Moreover, Woozi also treated viewers to a dance to Taeyong’s solo track “Shalala.”  To which, the NCT member suggested that they film a TikTok dance challenge together, preferably their group’s latest comeback Fact Check“.

And the two did film several dance challenge, proving their genuine bond! On Friday, October 27, they released one video for NCT 127′s “Fact Check and two videos for SEVENTEEN’s “God of Musicdance challenge. One video showed them doing the track’s point choreography, while another showed them sitting down and dancing adorably. 

Apart from dance challenges, Taeyong also mentioned during the live session his desire to receive a song from Woozi tailored to his style. To which the SEVENTEEN producer agreed, promising he’ll create something cool for his hyung. 

Now that they’ve kept their promise of doing a TikTok dance challenge, fans are eagerly anticipating a music collaboration between the two. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that their musical collaborations and interactions will continue to be a source of joy and inspiration for many of their fans. 

Featured image: NCT’s Taeyong participates in SEVENTEEN’s ‘God of Music’ challenge with Woozi. Credit: YouTube/SEVENTEEN

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Wonbin Dishes on Favorite RIIZE Member and Other K-Pop Group Biases

There is little doubt that RIIZE has been making waves in the K-pop industry as one of the fifth-generation boy groups under SM Entertainment. Still, they all started out as fans who had biases in other idol groups. But which K-pop stars do Wonbin look up to? The idol dished on his favorite members and even revealed which member of RIIZE he admires!

RIIZE’s Wonbin Reveals His NCT, WayV, SEVENTEEN, and TXT Biases

In a recent video call event, a fan decided to inquire about Wonbin’s biases from other boy groups, including those outside the SM Entertainment umbrella. When asked about his favorite member from NCT Dream, Wonbin promptly responded with Mark‘s name. Continuing the inquiry, the fan wondered about members from NCT’s other subunits, NCT 127 and WayV. Wonbin revealed that Taeyong and Xiaojun were his favorites from these respective groups.

The fan then expanded the scope to non-SM Entertainment idols, beginning with the Pledis Entertainment group SEVENTEEN. To this, Wonbin expressed his fondness for Hoshi. Transitioning to TXT, he indicated Yeonjun as his favorite member.

Lastly, the fan asked Wonbin to name his favorite member from his own group. In good spirits, Wonbin humorously declared Sohee as his favorite RIIZE member within their own group. Still, fans believe that he gets along well with Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Seunghan, and Anton.

Wonbin’s responses shed light on his passion for K-Pop, revealing his appreciation for members from various idol groups and confirming that he has his biases just like everybody else. With his evident enthusiasm for the genre, fans can hope to see him collaborating with some of his favorite artists in the future.

RIIZE officially debuted with the single album ‘Get a Guitar’ in September. They are currently preparing for their first comeback with the single “Talk Saxy” on October 27, 2023.

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

SM Entertainment Shares Health Update on NCT’s Taeil

Taeil of K-pop boy group NCT will continue with his hiatus to focus on his recovery after being involved in a motorcycle incident. 

On Wednesday, October 18, SM Entertainment released an update regarding Taeil’s health status and participation in future group activities. 

According to the agency, the idol still needs “sufficient treatment and stability.” They added that since his successful surgery in August, Taeil has been focusing on his treatment. 

To note, the vocalist sustained a fracture in his right thigh from the motorcycle accident. Based on the advice of the doctors, Taeil had to undergo a surgery and treatment. 

Given his situation, he had to sit out the NCT Nation: To The World concerts in South Korea and Japan. As well as the promotional activities for Golden Age and Fact Check albums. 

In late August, NCT released the album Golden Age, their first full group comeback in more than a year and a half. Then in October, sub-unit NCT 127 released their fifth full-length album Fact Check

Fans leave messages for Taeil

Following the update, NCTzens were quick to share their well-wishes for Taeil on social media. Some were even emphasizing that the idol’s health should be the priority, and he shouldn’t feel pressured to resume activities soon. 

In line with that, SM Entertainment also confirmed that Taeil will be absent in NCT 127’s third world tour, The Unity. Which means only members Yuta, Jaehyun, Taeyeong, Jungwoo, Winwin, Doyoung, Haechan, Johnny, and Mark will headline the show. 

Titled NEO CITY: SEOUL – THE UNITY, the concert tour will kick off for two weeks at the KSPO Dome. Set for November 17 to 19 and November 24 to 26, it will have a total of six shows. 

In a press release, SM Entertainment said that the group’s upcoming tour will feature “never-before-seen performances” that will highlight NCT 127’s unique music. 

As of writing, details about international stops have yet to be released. 

Featured image: Taeil poses for NCT 127’s ‘Fact Check’ concert photos. Credit: Facebook/NCT 127

Categories
KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

NCT’s Johnny Finally Reveals Real Height

Johnny has finally debunked a long-standing NCT mystery. After years of height-related confusion for NCTZENs, Johnny Suh has unofficially revealed his real height, much to the delight of fans.

How Tall is Johnny Suh? The NCT Height Mystery Finally Debunked

In the world of K-Pop, fans often take a keen interest in the heights of their favorite idols. Official profiles typically include this information, allowing fans to compare their idols and discuss who might be the tallest or shortest in their group. While most K-Pop idols have an average height, it’s the ones who stand out that often capture fans’ attention. NCT’s Johnny is one such idol as he is often listed as 6’0 (approximately 182~183 cm) in official profiles.

In the past, Johnny had confirmed his height as 6’0 when asked by fans, which added to the mystery, especially when compared to other idols with similar height listings. Fans were left confused and curious about the accuracy of these measurements considering that the NCT member appears to be much taller than he claims. Luckily, Johnny’s real height has finally been revealed, albeit unintentionally with the help of one eager NCTZEN.

Recently, during NCT 127’s visit to their pop-up shop location, Johnny provided fans with a way to check how tall he is. He marked a line on part of the exhibition’s decorations, sparking fans’ interest. One inquisitive fan, upon visiting the pop-up shop, took it upon themselves to determine the truth about Johnny’s height. Armed with a tape measure, the fan finally made the big discoveryJohnny’s marked height was actually 188 cm (6’2), a good two inches taller than he claims to be.

This revelation was met with immense joy from fans who had long questioned how tall Johnny truly is. Many were pleasantly surprised to find out that Johnny was even taller than they initially believed, finally putting the mystery to rest. Thank you for coming to today’s FACT CHECK.

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

WayV to Release ‘On My Youth’ in November

Mark your calendars, Weyshennies! WayV, NCT’s China-based unit, is about to make their first comeback in almost 11 months. 

On Monday, October 16, SM Entertainment announced that the group is gearing up for their second full length-album On My Youth. 

According to a Naver report, the album will have a total of 10 songs of various genres. Its title track will have the same title as the album. 

Notably, all tracks will be released on digital platforms on November 1. But the physical album will only be available starting November 8. 

To note, On My Youth will serve as the group’s first album since their fourth EP Phantom came out in December 2022. 

Moreover, this will also mark WayV’s first comeback since member Lucas officially confirmed his exit from the group in May.

According to SM Entertainment, Lucas parted ways with NCT and WayV to pursue his individual endeavors. To recall, Lucas had been on hiatus since August 2021 after he was embroiled in cheating and gaslighting controversies. Following the news, he penned a letter to fans, saying that he was sorry to the members. 

With this, WayV has continued activities with the remaining six members: Kun, Hendery, Yangyang, Xiaojun, Ten, and Winwin. 

Also in May, the group released the digital singleWelcome to My Paradise.” 

2023 for WayV

In line with the release of their fourth EP, WayV also held their fan meeting tour Phantom. Between February to August, the group staged shows across several stops in Asia and Europe. 

In August, WayV also participated in the full group comeback of NCT. Aside from the release of their album Golden Age, the SM Entertainment act also held their first concert as a full group titled NCT Nation: To the World. 

WayV debuted in January 2019. The group is known for songs Kick Back,” “Love Talk,” “Turn Back Time,” andMiracle.” 

Featured image: WayV releases the digital single ‘Welcome to my Paradise.’ Credit: Facebook/WayV

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

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

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

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

NCT New Team Releases Pre-debut Single ‘Hands Up’

2023 is shaping to be a busy year for the NCT New Team!

On Sunday, October 8, the latest act from SM Entertainment released their pre-debut album Hands Up. 

Hands Up has two songs, with the title track having the same name of the album. Described as a dance anthem, “Hands Up” is characterized with synth rhythms and dynamic instrumentation. Additionally, the song aims to highlight the lively spirit of the group. 

Meanwhile, the second track We Go!” is characterized by pop-infused melodies and guitar arrangements. For this song, the lyrics reflect the idols’ passion for reaching their dreams. 

Although it came as a surprise, fans of NCT New Team welcomed the release with open arms. As it gives the supporters a glimpse of what the group can offer. 

Moreover, the release of Hands Up came days after NCT New Team officially launched their social media accounts. Since then, the members have been releasing photos and teasers. 

Based on their posters, the group marked October 8 and October 19 as special dates. Notably, Hands Up was released on October 8. But as for what will happen on October 19, there’s still no details yet. 

After the release of their single, the group is also set to embark on a pre-debut tour titled LASTART. According to reports, it will have a total of 24 shows across nine Japanese cities. 

Ready for NCT New Team? 

Initially a septet, NCT New Team was formed through the reality show NCT Universe: LASTART. 

On October 2, SM Entertainment announced that Jungmin will no longer debut with the group due to health reasons. 

Following this, the group will only continue with six members: Sion, Riku, Yushi, Daeyoung, Ryo, and Sakuya. 

Following the conclusion of NCT Universe: LASTART, the new unit participated in the NCT NATION concerts in Japan alongside other NCT units

Moreover, SM Entertainment has earlier confirmed that the NCT New Team will be the last chapter to NCT’s limitless expansion concept. Previously, it was stated that the group would be called NCT Tokyo. But the agency has yet to unveil the group’s final name. 

As of writing, SM Entertainment has yet to reveal the debut details of NCT New Team.

Featured image: NCT New Team performs ‘Hands Up’ during NCT Nation: To the World concert. Credit: Twitter/NCT Japan

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Jungmin Departs From NCT New Team

Just a month after the finale of reality show NCT Universe: LASTART, SM Entertainment has announced the departure of member Jungmin from NCT New Team

On Monday, October 2, the agency announced that Jungmin will no longer debut with the group due to health reasons. 

According to the label, the NCT New Team was preparing for their pre-debut tour that is set to start on October 8. However, Jungmin wasn’t able to participate in practice given his health condition. 

While the chosen pre-debut member was focusing on his treatment, SM Entertainment shared that they continue THEIR discussion with the aspiring idol’s family and medical staff. 

“After deep consideration with Jungmin’s health as the top priority, Jungmin will not join NCT New Team,” they said. Additionally, the agency explained that he’ll return to being a trainee as he completely focus on recovery.

Moreover, they apologized to fans who felt shocked with the sudden news. But the agency also asked for continued support for Jungmin as he work on getting better. 

With this, NCT New Team will continue with six members moving forward. 

What we know about NCT New Team so far

In NCT Universe: LASTART, a total of 11 trainees underwent four rounds of missions showcasing their potential as K-pop idols. Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and soloist Boa served as art directors and mentors in the show.

Initially, SM Entertainment announced that NCT New Team will only have six members. But during the program’s last episode, it was revealed that the unit would have seven members instead. 

Prior to the show, SMRookies  members Sion and Yushi were already confirmed to be the part of the unit. The two have been fixed participants in all of the missions for the series. 

Those who were included in the lineup were Riku, Sakuya, Daeyoung, Jungmin, and Ryo. 

As of writing, SM Entertainment has yet to reveal the debut details of NCT New Team. 

But it can be recalled that the new unit participated in the NCT NATION concerts in Japan alongside other NCT units

Moreover, SM Entertainment has earlier confirmed that the NCT New Team will be the last chapter to NCT’s limitless expansion concept. Previously, it was stated that the group would be called NCT Tokyo. But the agency has yet to unveil the group’s final name. 

With Jungmin’s departure from NCT New Team, NCT will now have a total of 26 members in its six units instead. The six units are as follows: NCT 127, NCT Dream, Wayv, NCT U, NCT DoJaeJung, and the LASTART group. 

Featured image: Jungmin in a scene still from ‘NCT Universe: The Lastart’ episode. Credit: Twitter/NCT Universe: The Lastart

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP ALBUMS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Watch: NCT 127 Transforms Into Deities in the ‘Fact Check’ Trailer

NCTzens, buckle up as NCT127 invites you into a whole new world! On Thursday, September 28, SM Entertainment unveiled a trailer video for NCT127’s Fact Check comeback. 

In the three-minute clip titled “Deities of Seoul,” the members turned into deities who defend the city of Seoul from mysterious forces. Styled in sleek black suits, the group looked alluring as they acted on their mission.

Moreover, the cinematic video narrated by Jaehyun delivered a fascinating message. As NCT127 piqued interest in the city Seoul, they decided to jump in to be part of people’s lives. “Just a bit of our powers is enough,” Jaehyun stated in the teaser. 

Amusingly, the trailer served as an extension of the members’ individual “Mystery in Seoul” series released two weeks prior. There, Taeyeong, Yuta, Johnny, Jungwoo, Jaehyun, Doyoung, Taeil, Haechan and Mark were seen living normal lives as they concealed their real identities.

In addition, the group also released individual photo teasers that followed the concept. Each member showed their unrivaled visuals at the Gyeongbokgung Palace, a symbolic place in Seoul.

NCTzens’ hype for 127

With the captivating and suspenseful “Deities of Seoul” trailer, the group’s fandom, NCTzens, were all praises for the group. Since their debut, NCT127 has been known for their futuristic concepts following the group’s meaning of “neo-cultural technology”.

NCT 127 will give birth to another legendary album with an amazing set of songs,” a comment read. One fan also pointed out how the members  showcased versatility, having tried a wide range of characters for their music videos.

What to expect in NCT127’s ‘Fact Check’

Fact Check will be NCT127’s fifth full-length album. It will consist of a total of nine tracks including the title track of the same name. Additionally, the album will reportedly be a mashup of pop, hiphop, and R&B.

As part of the group’s promotions, the “2 Baddies” singers launched an interactive Invitation Website where fans can listen to a short preview medley. 

In the invitation, the rest of the tracklist were revealed to be “Space,” “Parade,” “Angel Eyes,” “Yacht,” “Love is a beauty,” “Misty,” and “Real Life.” One song also caught the attention of fans for its unique French title “Je Ne Sais Quoi.”

With Taeil currently on hiatus due to an injury, only the remaining eight members will participate in the much-anticipated comeback.

Fact Check will officially be out on October 6.

Featured image: NCT 127 releases concept photo for album ‘Fact Check.’ Credit: Twitter/NCT 127

Categories
K-POP ARTISTS KPOP NEWS LATEST STORIES

Look: ‘NCT Universe: Lastart’ Announces Official Lineup for NCT’s Final Unit

Attention, NCTzens! SM Entertainment’s survival show NCT Universe: LASTART aired its final episode on Wednesday, September 6, revealing the seven members who will officially debut as NCT’s last unit .

In NCT Universe: LASTART, a total of 11 trainees underwent four rounds of missions showcasing their potential as K-pop idols. Super Junior’s Eunhyuk and soloist Boa served as art directors and mentors in the show.

Additionally, the contestants were also trained by numerous talented SM artists, including NCT members themselves. In episodes six and seven, Johnny and Haechan appeared as special artist directors. Aside from them, NCT members Taeyong and Ten also appeared as mentors in the earlier episodes of the show.

 

During the program’s last episode, Eunhyuk surprised both participants and viewers by revealing that the unit would consist of seven members. Initially, SM Entertainment announced that it will only have six members. 

Meet NCT’s last unit

Prior to the show, SMRookies members Sion and Yushi were already confirmed to be the unit’s first two members in June. The two have been fixed participants in all of the missions for the series. 

Joining Sion and Yushi are Riku, Sakuya and Daeyoung. They were ranked as the top three members in NCT Universe: LASTART’s final episode. Meanwhile, Jungmin and Ryo are the last two members who will complete the team. 

We’ll do our best to live up to the name of the world’s popular boy group NCT,” the members were quoted as saying. 

 

As of writing, SM Entertainment has yet to reveal the debut details of the new NCT unit. However, during the finale episode, it was revealed that the group will  hold pre-debut shows and participate in the NCT NATION concerts in Japan.

The new unit, considered to be the last chapter to NCT’s limitless expansion concept, is yet to reveal their final group name. Previously, it was stated that the group would be called NCT Tokyo, although this was not confirmed in the survival show’s last episode.

With this last addition, NCT now has a total of 27 members and six units. These are NCT 127, NCT Dream, Wayv, NCT U, NCT DoJaeJung, and the LASTART group. 

Also, it can be recalled that three members left the group in 2023. In May,  Lucas officially left NCT and WayV after a two-year hiatus. Meanwhile, Sungchan and Shotaro left NCT to debut under new boy group RIIZE.

Featured image: The seven members of NCT’s final unit pose for a photo. Credit: Twitter/K-pop Herald

Exit mobile version