ICYMI IN CASE YOU MISSED IT // APRIL 12 - APRIL 18

Dragon of the West

Dragon of the West

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APRIL 12 - APRIL 18


Hello Hallyuplussers and welcome to another edition of In Case You Missed It. In this article, we'll help to break down everything that happened in the world of Asian Entertainment, as well as provide you with our thoughts on this week's most recent releases that we hope you enjoyed just as much as we did. Now with that said, let's jump into another great update!




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BY POLARIS_TAE


MONDAY:
#1- We started Monday with more news on the Seo Yeji attitude controversy. Dispatch reported that Kim Junghyun had treated SNSD's Seohyun poorly on the set of the drama 'Time' by refusing any skinship scenes on the orders of Seo Yeji, his girlfriend at the time of filming. Later in the week, it was also announced that Seo Yeji would be stepping down from the upcoming OCN drama 'Island' following the backlash from this controversy. What are your thoughts on this continuing controversy and its backlash?

#2- YG Entertainment has stated that they are accepting at-home auditions for their upcoming new boy group. Are you excited for their future boy group?

#3- B1A4's Jinyoung has announced that he's joined a new agency. The idol has signed with BB Entertainment and will be focusing on various fields such as acting, music & production. Later in the week, it was announced that SECRET's Jun Hyosung had signed an exclusive contract with IOK Company, while LADIES CODE's Sojung signed with JTBC STUDIO. We look forward to all of their future activities!

#4- Brave Girls want to share even more of their antics with you. This is why they've announced the opening of their official YouTube account. Will you be subscribing to them?



TUESDAY:
#1- I.O.I have some fantastic news for us this week! The group has kept their promise to reunite for their fifth anniversary. They are scheduled to broadcast a VLive on the 4th of May. Are you excited about their long-awaited reunion?

#2- Im Siwan has proven his generosity this week by donating 40 million KRW to the Community Chest of Korea. We thank him for his outstanding generosity.

#3- The Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism has announced that they will be holding a 'Kpop x Hanbok' exhibition to showcase 25 hanbok looks from eight artists including BTS, Oh My Girl, Chungha & more. Are you excited for this?



WEDNESDAY:
#1- CNBLUE's Jung Yonghwa will be coming back to greet us with brand new music soon! The idol has revealed that he'll be releasing his very first Chinese language EP 'STAY IN TOUCH' on the 22nd of June. Will you be pre-ordering his new album?

#2- Now on to TV and Drama news! Im Na-young has just been confirmed as the main female lead for the upcoming KBS disability awareness special drama 'Over To You'. We can't wait to see her in a drama that raises awareness for such a much-needed topic. Meanwhile, KBS has unveiled group posters for their upcoming drama 'Imitation' which is set to premiere on the 7th of May. The following day it was announced that NCT Dream will be appearing on 'Boys Mental Camp Season 2'. Will you be tuning in to see any of these shows?

#3- We received news of a contract dispute on Wednesday. JBJ95 filed a lawsuit against their current company, Star Road Entertainment, asking for the termination of their contract stating negligence in management as their reason for termination. Furthermore, the employees and managers within Star Road Entertainment are all said to have left the agency due to unpaid wages. Later in the week we also sadly learnt that BLACK6IX would be disbanding. We wish them luck in their separate careers.

#4- It has come to light that a staff member that worked with aespa's Winter on her Dazed & Confused pictorial had reportedly taken hidden camera footage of the idol. Shortly afterwards, SM Entertainment released a statement of the issue stating that the staff member was a photographer and "did not engage in anything that could be misunderstood". Do you agree with their statement?



THURSDAY:
#1- Even more upcoming releases and debuts were announced on Thursday with comebacks announced for Yesung & BiS! Super Junior's Yesung will be making his return as a soloist this May while BiS will be coming back with their second single, 'TOUCH ME/LOVE', on the 26th of May. Cube Entertainment also announced plans to debut a new girl group, LIGHTSUM; their debut date is currently unknown. Are you looking forward to this new group?

#2- Park Seojoon will be celebrating his 10th debut anniversary this year and he has announced plans to hold an online fan-meeting on the 15th of May in celebration of such a momentous occasion. Will you be tuning in to see him?

#3- ATEEZ San has received an exciting opportunity this week! He's been appointed as the promotional ambassador for his hometown, Namhae. We congratulate him on receiving such a fantastic opportunity!

#4- Kang Sora has announced the birth of her first child on Thursday. We congratulate her on the new addition to her family!



FRIDAY:
#1- On Friday a few more artists announced comebacks! It was reported that BTS is currently preparing to release a new digital single on the 21st of May. In response to this BigHit released a statement that they cannot confirm the statement, but will release their artists' schedules once finalized. Ailee, Oh My Girl & ONEUS will also be making their comeback in May. Oh My Girl will be back on the 10th of May, while Ailee & ONEUS are yet to release a specific date for their comeback. Which release are you most looking forward to?

#2- Sayuri Matsumura will be bidding goodbye to Nogizaka46. The idol announced on the online Nico Nico program, “Nama no Idol ga Suki", that Nogizaka46's 27th single would be her final release with the group. Sayuri Matsumura debuted with Nogizaka46 during their 1st generation and was one of their most popular first-generation members throughout her time with the group. We wish her the best of luck in her future solo career.

#3- Shin Dong-yup and Suzy have both been announced as the MCs for the upcoming 57th Baeksang Arts Awards. Will you be looking forward to the awards now that the two are confirmed as hosts?

SATURDAY:
#1- Are you ready for more Apink? Because the group has announced that they'll be dropping a new digital single on the 19th of April just in time for their 10th anniversary. We can't wait!

#2- Now on to SNS announcements! NCT's Shotaro opened his very own personal Instagram account this week! We can't wait to see just what great content he shares with us on Instagram!

#3- Now on to variety news! EXO's Kai will be officially joining the cast of the Na PD show 'The Devil Wears Jungnam 2'. The following day, we learned that EXO's Xiumin will be a fixed MC for the channel S variety show 'Drink With God'. We're looking forward to more great EXO varieties!

#4- The individual boy group member brand reputation rankings for April has been released! BTS' Jimin took the top position yet again this month, while ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo & EXO's Baekhyun rounded out the top three. The following day, the individual girl group brand reputation rankings were also released! BRAVE GIRLS' Yujeong took the top spot for this month, while BLACKPINK's Rose & BRAVE GIRLS Yuna took 2nd & 3rd place respectively.



SUNDAY:
#1- In relation to the ongoing April bullying controversy, former APRIL member Lee Hyunjoo -- who was bullied by multiple members of APRIL -- has posted on her personal Instagram account to address her experiences. She recounted that she was mistreated from the time she began preparing for her debut in 2014 up until the time she left the group in 2016. Following Hyunjoo's post, APRIL members Chaewon & Yena both released statements saying that Hyunjoo was unfairly accusing them as 'assailants' and acting like a victim. What are your thoughts on this ongoing controversy?

#2- After 13 years with the company, UKISS' Soohyun has announced that he has officially left NH EMG following the expiration of his contract. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

#3- FT Island's Lee Hongki will be finally greeting his fans once again after he completed his mandatory military service on Sunday. We welcome him back to the entertainment industry!

#4- B1A4 will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, and in honour of this they will be releasing a brand new digital single. That's not all though, as their labelmates will be releasing covers of the group's previous songs as well. Will you be celebrating 10 years with B1A4?






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BY DRAGON OF THE WEST


#1- SHINEE - ATLANTIS
In what has already promised to be a jam-packed year for SHINee, the group has released its 7th repackage album Atlantis with its eponymous title track just two months after the release of Don’t Call Me. While the veteran group has already proven on multiple occasions that they can tackle just about any concept, it’s an undeniable fact that very few can nail electro funk-pop in the same way they do. Lead single 'Atlantis' is just that, a song that showcases SHINee at their strongest. The song wastes no time as it lays down tense bass guitar as a prelude to its powerful verse. The instrumental provides a sparse backdrop for their vocals which time and time again has shown that their talents can get away with such a revealing arrangement. Their vocals are layered in a towering blend that over the years has come to characterize so much of their music but even though this might be the song’s centrepiece, the entirety of 'Atlantis' is performed with incredible intensity. Both the accompanying b-sides are well worth a listen. 'Area' carries a sense of melancholy with an instrumental that grooves on addictive percussion that fits perfectly with their funkier songs on the album while 'Days and Years' feels much like an acoustic sing-along helped by their ear-pleasing harmonies and also gives off a very nostalgic aura. Overall, this is SHINee doing what they do best, and once again reaffirms their status as one of K-pop’s most legendary groups.





#2- KANG DANIEL - ANTIDOTE
As the final piece in his trilogy of mini-albums geared towards showcasing his colours, Kang Daniel has released his fourth mini-album Yellow. While Cyan and Magneta were based around youthful and energetic vibes respectively, Yellow is a more personal album to Daniel as it aims at showing listeners the feelings he was going through during the darkest period of his life. The title track 'Antidote' places Daniel at its forefront which is to be expected of a song that emphasizes his story and emotions. It is certainly a track that will resonate well with fans who have followed his journey as an artist thus far right from his days on Produce 101 to being the centre of Wanna One, the legal issues with his former company that eventually led to him breaking away and founding his own agency Konnect Entertainment and of course, his personal battle with his mental health issues. As for the b-sides, in the words of Daniel himself, 'Digital' is from a time he felt angry and motivated, 'Paranoia' and 'Misunderstood' are self-reflective and finally, 'Save U' is meant to reassure himself and other people that they are not on their own in their struggles.





#3- THE8 - SIDE BY SIDE
Following the release of his fellow Seventeen member Hoshi's mixtape last week, THE8 has released his own digital single 'Side By Side', a song that brings its share of brass and jazzy undertones to its pop frame with THE8 being the perfect artist to deliver its soundscape. The chorus is quite strong and pulls the listener back in each time it repeats. In between, 'Side By Side' unveils rhythmic shifts, catchy counting refrains and even a sprinkle of jazz piano. The guitar-fueled instrumental has a satisfying, laidback groove that even embraces elements of the reggae genre. Overall, 'Side By Side' has a lot going on within its narrow frame, which some might view as its strength while others might see it as being a potential hurdle.





#4- SEVENTEEN - NOT ALONE
To cap off what has been a great week for Carats, Seventeen are back with their latest Japanese single titled 'Hitori Janai' which translates to 'Not Alone. With the pandemic that has lapsed for well over a year not, this is a welcoming reminder that we aren't as lonely as we might think we are. The song constantly gathers steam the longer it goes on with each element from the emotive rap verse to the post-chorus instrumental hook contributing to this. The instrumental’s feels almost like a mix between rock and EDM sounds and serves as the perfect foundation for the group’s emotional performance. Both the build-up and pay-off are executed really nicely, making this yet another highlight in Seventeen’s consistent and growing Japanese discography.





#5- WHEEIN - WATER COLOR
Wheein made her solo debut in 2018 with the digital single 'Easy' and followed that up with the single album Soar in late 2019. Since then she had a relatively quiet 2020, featuring on a few songs and releasing some OSTs while her fellow Mamamoo members all made their solo debuts. Now that their solo promotions have come full circle, she has made her comeback with her first mini-album Redd and the title track 'Water Color'. While it may not focus on powerful notes or emotional flourishes, but this retro-inspired track offers a style of rhythmic performance that presents its own challenges and unveils its own strengths. This is a solid groove track, with every element intent on contributing to its enjoyment rather than distracting the listener, but its real strength comes from the performance which Wheein executes perfectly. In terms of b-sides that stand out, I would recommend 'Trash' and 'Butterfly' which feature pH-1 and GSoul respectively.





#5- KING & PRINCE - BEATING HEARTS
King & Prince dropped the music video for their latest track, 'Beating Hearts', earlier this week from their 7th single of the same name which is scheduled for release on the 19th of May. In this release, the group takes inspiration from the retro big brass band that popularized the 70s & 80s, keeping the retro aesthetic, while also adding a modern spin to it through the presentation of their vocals. The song begins with a lone bass guitar creating a muted intro with very few instruments, this bass guitar remains a constant throughout almost the entirety of the song. The futuristic visuals that they present to us throughout the opening of the music video are in stark contrast to the retro-sounding musical presentation. Later, the aesthetics of the music video constantly shift from futuristic to retro and back again. Once we hit the chorus the brass band sound begins, which shifts both the tone and music video from a somewhat subdued piece of music into a no holds barred retro-styled song that we didn't know we were missing until now! We can't wait to see even more of King & Prince and their 'Beating Hearts' in the future!





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BY NARA


#1- Congrats to MOMOLAND as their music video for the hit song 'BBOOM BBOOM' became their first to reach 500 million YouTube views! It's a bop well deserving of its huge YouTube milestone!

#2- Great news for BLACKPINK as the group became the first female artists to surpass 60 million subscribers on YouTube! As for the main vocalist of the group, Rose, she is officially listed in two Guinness World Records with her solo 'On The Ground' as the 'Most Watched Kpop Solo Artist on Youtube in 24 Hours' and the '1st artist to be Ranked 1 in the US Billboard Global Chart as solo & group'! Huge congrats on these astounding achievements!

#3- NIZIU's 'Take a picture/Poppin' Shakin' has sold 317,000 copies in its 1st week on Oricon! It's their 2nd number-one single in a row. Congrats to the monster rookies!

#4- In just 7 months after its release, BTS' MV for 'Dynamite' has reached 1 billion views on YouTube! It is the fastest MV to reach this milestone for a Korean group!

#5- For more YouTube milestones this week, TWICE's 'YES OR YES' MV has reached 300 million views on YouTube, Red Velvet's MV for 'Russian Roulette' has surpassed 200 million Youtube views, and Weeekly's MV for their most recent title track 'After School' has surpassed 30 million views on YouTube! Congrats to all the groups for these wonderful milestones!

#6- Check out the TOP 12 Best Selling Singles of 2021 on Oricon so far! Congrats to all artists and especially to Snow Man who topped the list with 'Grandeur' which has sold 920,031 copies so far!

#7- Stray Kids' first Japanese single 'TOP' has been certified 'Gold Disc' by the RIAJ! Congrats to the boys!




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BY POLARIS_TAE


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The April Orbs Giveaway is currently ongoing. If you want to be in the running for free orbs make sure to enter before it closes on the 29th of April.


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Shop+ fans, our team worked hard again this week to deliver even more great items for you to purchase. These were all the items added to the shop this week:

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The Translations Team gave us one article translation this week!

Lurkette helped us to understand 'The Real Reason Fukumura Mizuki Became A Part Of Morning Musume'.


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Hallyu+ is actively recruiting for staff. If you want to contribute to the forum's growth and join our amazing team, don't hesitate and apply now!
We are searching for new members for the following teams: GFX, Public Relations - Video & Outreach Divisions, Translations and SM Team - Press Division.



This brings us to the end of ICYMI for another week. We hope to see you again next week for even more great news, releases, charts and more. As always, don't forget to leave a comment if anything in this article piqued your interest and we hope to see you again soon!





GFX BY @yerm
PROOFREAD BY @Dragon of the West
FEATURED ARTISTS Hirano Sho (King & Prince), Wheein (Mamamoo), THE8 (Seventeen), Lee Haeri (Davichi), Im Siwan​
 
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