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The Korea Times

By Dong Sun-hwa
The chart competition among K-pop stars will intensify in the next few weeks, as several acts release new music. Among them are girl groups NewJeans and Aespa, boy band Treasure and RM from BTS.
NewJeans’ new album, How Sweet, is set to arrive on May 24. It will feature two tracks, titled “How Sweet” and “Bubble Gum”, along with instrumental versions of both songs, as announced by the quintet’s management company, Ador.
The details about the lead track, “How Sweet”, have been kept under wraps, but NewJeans unveiled the music video of “Bubble Gum” on April 27, which by last week had surpassed 34 million views.


It garnered more than five million views within 13 hours of being released, showing the group’s popularity despite the ongoing management rights dispute involving Ador and its parent company, Hybe.
Following the release of How Sweet, NewJeans will release an album, Supernatural, on June 21. It will be their first Japanese release.

The album’s title track samples “Back of My Mind” (2009), a collaboration between Pharrell Williams and Japanese singer Manami.
The producer of NewJeans’ 2022 mega-hits “Attention” and “Hype Boy”, 250, has reinterpreted the tune by infusing it with a new jack swing style.
BTS’ leader RM, who is currently fulfilling his mandatory military service in South Korea, will drop his second solo album, Right Place, Wrong Person, on May 24.

RM’s new album will feature 11 tracks, mostly about moments when people feel like they are “a stranger who cannot fit in”. RM participated in writing the lyrics of all the songs.
On May 10, the 29-year-old unveiled the music video of “Come back to me”, one of the songs on his upcoming album. It was directed by Lee Sung-jin, who won an Emmy for best director for his 2023 Netflix series Beef. The music video has so far garnered more than 11 million views on YouTube.


“Come back to me” is an indie pop song that explores the contradictory emotions that people experience as they try to make a choice between challenge and complacency.
“The upcoming album, which is RM’s first solo release in about 17 months, will also present a collaboration that breaks down the boundaries of art,” says Big Hit Music, the subsidiary label of Hybe that represents BTS.
RM’s first solo album, Indigo, hit shelves in December, 2022.
On May 27, girl group Aespa will release their first full-length album, Armageddon. The 10-track album will be fronted by two lead singles: “Armageddon” and “Supernova”, according to their label, SM Entertainment.
The quartet heightened anticipation among fans by unveiling “Supernova” on May 13, two weeks before the album’s release. The catchy dance track quickly climbed multiple streaming charts in South Korea and abroad, reaching the No. 6 spot on the real-time chart of Melon, a major streaming service in Korea, within three days.


“The ‘Supernova’ music video is in line with the upcoming album’s slogan – ‘Only I can define myself’,” SM says. “It paints a picture of the members who attempt to depict their authentic selves.”
Boy band Treasure will put out a digital single, “King Kong”, on May 28. The group’s record label, YG Entertainment, says the tune will be reminiscent of the movie of the same name, about a character that takes a risk for love.
“Our members’ energy and charisma have been raised to the maximum,” YG says.
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


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K-pop star Hanni of NewJeans tells South Korea lawmakers of workplace bullying

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K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

BTS’ RM, NewJeans, Aespa and Treasure to go head to head in the K-pop charts with a clutch of new releases

RM of K-pop juggernauts BTS in Seoul in 2023. K-pop fans have a lot to be excited about in the coming weeks as he, girl groups New Jeans and Aespa, and boy band Treasure release new music. Photo: Getty Images

NewJeans perform on stage in Seoul. The girl group will face off against BTS leader RM, fellow girl group Aespa and boy band Treasure in the K-pop charts, with all set to release new music within days of each other. Photo: Getty Images

NewJeans will release two new projects in the coming weeks. Photo: Ador

RM of BTS in Seoul in 2023. Photo: Getty Images

Super Junior’s Kyuhyun on his love for his fans and why he couldn’t be a K-pop rookie today

Kyuhyun before his solo concert in Hong Kong in early April. The K-pop veteran of idol group Super Junior looks back on his 18-year-long career and shares how his relationship with his fans has changed. Photo: SCMP

Fans of Kyuhyun said they cherish the comfort and companionship that only time can create. Photo: courtesy of Antenna

Kyuhyun performing at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. Photo: Sophie Li

The initial reaction to Kyuhyun could not have been more different than that of Super Junior fans today. Photo: Antenna 

Kyuhyun has expressed his gratitude to his fans. Photo: Antenna 

Kyuhyun performs at the Seoul Park Music Festival 2023. Photo: Getty Images

Fans of Kyuhyun said they cherish the comfort and companionship only time can create. Photo: Antenna 

Kyuhyun fans queue outside his concert venue in Hong Kong. Photo: Lllewellyn Cheung

K-pop star Kino on going solo, his new album and surviving the gruelling K-pop training schedule

K-pop star Kino, 26, has been in the South Korean music industry since he was 12. He talks about going solo after boy band Pentagon’s break-up, training, and his new album. Photo: courtesy of Naked 

Kino is dropping his first solo album, If this is love, I want a refund, in early May. Photo: courtesy of Naked

Kino has wanted to be a singer since he was young. Photo: courtesy of Naked

Kino and his backing band during his concert at The Box, in Freespace, in West Kowloon, Hong Kong. Photo: Sophie Li 

Fans take photos at Kino’s Born Naked concert in Hong Kong in April 2024. Photo: Erika Na

Move over, K-pop – J-pop groups want a share of global fan base, and Netflix and TikTok are helping

Japan’s music industry, once seen as a solely domestic affair, is now exporting its singers abroad – with groups like XG now making waves across the world. Photo: X/@ XGGlobal_

XG are one of a growing number of Japanese acts breaking into America and Europe. Photo: Facebook/@XG

XG has a bigger following on YouTube than Johnny & Associates group King & Prince. Photo: X/@XGGlobal_

XG’s songs do not perfectly fit into typical J-pop or K-pop music. Photo: X/@ XGGlobal_

XG have set their sights high. Photo: X/@ XGGlobal_

Lifestyle

K-Pop

Bands

Entertainment

Culture

Music

BTS leader RM’s album Right Place, Wrong Person and NewJeans’ album How Sweet will be released on May 24, followed by Aespa’s album Armageddon on May 27
Boy group Treasure will release a new single, King Kong, on May 28, before another NewJeans album, Supernatural, drops in June. Who will come out on top?


K-pop fans have a lot to be excited about in the coming weeks as RM from BTS, New Jeans and Aespa drop new albums, and Treasure release a new single. Which group will dominate the K-pop charts?
