ICYMI IN CASE YOU MISSED IT / FEBRUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 28

[Lilac]

FEBRUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 28


Hello, Hallyuplussers, and welcome back to another great weekly wrap-up! This week has been both good and bad in terms of news. The great news was that we saw SHINee return for the first time in two years, making their comeback with a new release in the form of "Don't Call Me." Sadly, we also saw a number of South Korean idols and actors being accused of school violence. To find out more, make sure to read on!

BY BEEFY & POLARIS_TAE


MONDAY:
#1- The week starts off with a bang as multiple idols have been accused of bullying. (G)-IDLE's Soojin was one of the first to be accused as an anonymous netizen came forward and claimed that the idol had bullied her sister in middle school, but Cube Entertainment quickly denied the allegations. However, famous child actor Seo Shin Ae, who attended the same middle school as Soojin, soon became involved by posting an Instagram story that seemed to address the accusations. Furthermore, Seventeen's Mingyu was also accused of being involved with an iljin group. Stray Kids' Hyunjin was also received accusations of partaking in school violence. Finally, former IOI member Kim Sohye ran into another set of bullying accusations but her company quickly denied them and said they will be taking legal action against the false claims. Do you believe in all of these recent accusations?

#2- Sadly, BerryGood's SeoYul and Gowoon have announced that they will be leaving the group after deciding not to renew with JTG Entertainment. You can read both members' letters to their fans through the linked thread. We wish both of them the best in their future endeavours!

#3- Now onto releases, G-Soul and Ben have released a collaboration single "사랑이 공평할 순 없을까" on February 28th! It has also been shared that the trio BDC will be making their comeback on March 8th with their second EP ''THE INTERSECTION: DISCOVERY" sometime in the same month. Weeekly will also be making their return! Finally, Oh My Girl's Hyojung will sing the Korean version of the ending credit song for Disney's new movie Raya and the Last Dragon! We are excited to listen to all of these new releases!

#4- Hirose Suzu and Sakurai Sho will be the leads for the new NTV spring drama Nemesis; the show is a crime drama that follows a detective and his genius assistant who solve cases. The show will be airing this April, and we will definitely be tuning in!

#5- DAY6 has been selected as the new faces for fashion brand MUSINSA. We congratulate them on this new endorsement!

#6- On SBS's My Little Old Boy, Super Junior's Heechul has shared his mother's desire for him to get married this year. Do you think his mother will be getting her wish granted?



TUESDAY:
#1- More victims continue to come forward with bullying accusations. This time, LOONA's Chuu was accused; however, the original poster has since released an apology for making a false claim against the idol. Everglow's Ashia also became embroiled in her own bullying accusations. Finally, Starship Entertainment has made a statement regarding MONSTA X's Kihyun's bullying allegations; in this statement, they claimed to be contacting the idol's past acquaintances for more information and suing the anonymous writer for making a false claim.

#2- In the midst of member Soojin's bullying scandal, (G)-IDLE's appearance on NAVER NOW's 'Gossip Idle' has been canceled a day before its airing date on February 22nd. How do you feel about the entire group subsequentially being affected by these accusations?

#3- WayV will be making their long-awaited comeback on March 10th with their third mini-album Kick Back. Then five days later, soloist WOODZ will be releasing his first single album "SET" on March 15th! Finally, DSP's upcoming boy group MIRAE will be making their debut on March 17th with the mini-album KILLA. We are looking forward to all these future releases!

#4- Nature's Aurora will be making her return to the group as of February 23rd! We are extremely happy to hear this and cannot wait to see her with the group again!

#5- Weki Meki's Doyeon will be playing the younger version of Jun Ji Hyun's role in TVN's Cliffhanger! Continuing with Doyeon-related news, Weki Meki, (G)-IDLE, and IZ*ONE had a special collaboration stage for Mnet's Storage M! Did you get to see the performance?

#6- Actress and model Lee Sung Kyung has been chosen to be the new model for clothing brand FRONTROW. Meanwhile, soloist BIBI has been selected as the model for LEVI STRAUSS KOREA. We congratulate both of these wonderful women on their new titles!

#7- The 'Sneaker Best Dresser Award 2021' was held on February 22nd, which is also known as "Sneaker Day" in Japan! Maeda Atsuko, THE RAMPAGE from EXILE, TRIBE's Kawamura Kazuma, Nukumi Meru, and Chocolate Planet's Matsuo Shun all took home awards in their respective categories, along with a special award for the Fukui Prefecture for encouraging exercise! We congratulate all of the winners!

#8- Son Dambi has opened her own personal YouTube Channel! Be sure to click the linked thread and go subscribe to her new channel ASAP!



WEDNESDAY:
#1- Shockingly, it has been revealed by Dispatch that G-Dragon and Blackpink's Jennie are in a relationship. However, YG Entertainment followed up with their own statement, saying that they cannot confirm the news as it involves their artists' personal lives. How do you feel about this new power couple?

#2- Former B.A.P member Himchan has been sentenced to ten months in prison for his 2018 case of sexual assault. Do you think his sentence was too light?

#3- Rising boy group ATEEZ will be releasing their first full-length Japanese album Into the A to Z on March 24th! We are looking forward to their future release!

#4- Seventeen is preparing for a new season of their hit show, GOING SEVENTEEN, which will start airing come March 3rd! It has also been shared that the group will be releasing their third Japanese single on April 21st! We are always excited for any new Seventeen content!

#5- SuperM has joined Global Citizen's charity campaign "RECOVERY PLAN FOR THE WORLD," which helps combat COVID-19. They will be joining fellow celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Coldplay, Hugh Jackman, Miley Cyrus, and Usher! We are happy to see them taking part in such a noble cause!

#6- Former AKB48 member and soloist Itano Tomoi have shared some pre-wedding photos on her Instagram account! Make sure to click the linked thread to see the beautiful pictures of the couple!



THURSDAY:
#1- We have learned of even more great upcoming releases on Thursday! CLC's Sorn will be making her solo debut next month in March. Also in March, former ANS member Bian is expected to be re-debuting in a six-member girl group, MAJORS, under ANS Entertainment. PENTAGON will be making their comeback on the 15th of March with their 11th mini-album LOVE or TAKE. Meanwhile, Jessi and Yukikia will both be making their comeback as well. Jessi will make her comeback on the 17th of March while Yukikia will be pre-releasing a single on the 17th of march titled "愛月". Which of these upcoming releases are you most excited about?

#2- Red Velvet's Seulgi has landed herself another exciting opportunity as the brand ambassador for the brand Salvatore Ferragamo. Congrats!



FRIDAY:
#1- The fallout between the school violence accusations continued on Friday. JYP has revealed that Stray Kids' Hyunjin had personally met and apologized to his former classmates. JYP would later announce that the idol would be taking an extended hiatus from public activities to reflect upon his actions. Meanwhile, SEVENTEEN's Mingyu has been caught up in even more allegations after a victim, who is undergoing therapy for an unrelated incident, accused the idol of further school violence including sexual harassment (in the form of lude jokes). What are your thoughts on these?

#2- We have learned of even more upcoming releases on Friday! DAY6 will be making their comeback with a new album in April. HIGHLIGHT's Yang Yoseob and APINK's Jung Eunji will be releasing a collaboration single on the 5th of March. While on the topic of APINK, the group will be releasing a fan song in order to celebrate the group's 10th anniversary on the 19th of April!

#3- KCON:TACT 3 has announced its 3rd lineup! AB6IX, ATEEZ, Kang Daniel, Hyuna, and more are set to bless us with their amazing performances! Which performance are you looking forward to seeing?

#4- Rookie group BVNDIT has announced that they will be releasing their first solo reality show BVNDIT.ZIP on the 3rd of March on YouTube. Make sure to catch it when it premieres!

#5- BLACKPINK has gained another great opportunity this week! The group has been appointed as the goodwill ambassadors for the United Nations Assembly on Climate Change. Meanwhile, Meng Meiqi has been chosen as the spokesperson for Mistine Sunscreen. Congrats on gaining such exciting opportunities!

#6- Japanese model Hasegawa Jun has announced that she has got married. She revealed the news on Instagram stating, "I hope to build a family full of love and laughter. It would make me happy if you would warmly watch over our future." Meanwhile, actress Hirose Alice has reportedly broken up with her basketball player boyfriend Tanaka Daiki.

#7- SM Entertainment has announced that Exo's Chanyeol will be enlisting in the military on the 29th of March. We wish him a safe and happy service.



SATURDAY:
#1- The singer brand reputation rankings have been released for February! BTS takes the top position while IU and Im Youngwoong round out the top three positions. Did any of your biases manage to place this month?

#2- BLACKPINK's Jisoo will be collaborating with LINE FRIENDS to design new characters for their KartRider Rush+ series. We are looking forward to it!

#3- It has been announced that Lee Yubi has suffered from a torn ligament on the set of Joseon Exorcist. We hope she gets better soon.



SUNDAY:
#1- PLEDIS has announced that SEVENTEEN's Mingyu will be going on an extended hiatus following previous allegations of school violence against the idol.

BY BEEFY


#1- SUNMI - TAIL
Sunmi has made her first comeback of the year with the new single "Tail." We last heard about the album in August with her collaboration track "When We Disco"! For this release, Sunmi channels the sound of her earlier tracks and makes a return to a sexier concept. The verses are rather sparse instrumental-wise, other than the thumping addictive bass, but there is a constant gritty guitar that adds some nice flavor to the track. The chorus is astronomically catchy, especially during its second part with the mantra-like lines referring to how madly in love she is with her lover. It truly finds a way to get stuck in our head after just one listen. Sunmi's vocals also take on a listless and sultry tone for this release, which the singer has purposely done in order to channel her inner feline. Cats are a running theme throughout the release, from its title to its music video. The music video actually makes a reference to Tim Burton's Batman Returns as she takes on the role of Michelle Pfeiffer's iconic portrayal of Catwoman. The references to cats don't just stop there as the song's choreography is filled with movements mimicking a cat's tail. For this release, Sunmi personally sought out the choreographer Janelle Guinstra who worked on the choreography for Red Velvet - IRENE & SEULGI's "Monster." The ending result is a mesmerizing and complex choreography we cannot seem to look away from. Overall, "Tail" is an absolutely captivating single, and we are looking forward to her next release!





#2- SHINEE - DONT CALL ME
Legendary group SHINee has made their long-awaited comeback with "Don't Call Me" from their seventh full-length album of the same name. It has been a very long three years since their last album The Story of Light, as three of the group's members had to complete their mandatory military service. Now that they have reunited, we have been blessed once again by a stellar album. The leading track "Don't Call Me" has a completely new sound and concept from what we have previously seen from the group, as they now take on something that is leaning more hip-hop. The verses are composed of a combination of rap and vocals and are filled with plenty of attitude. SHINee still delivers in the vocal area, which can be heard in the lighter pre-chorus and SM-style vocally focused chorus. Speaking of the chorus, it is undeniably catchy with the repetition of "don't call me" and the later vocal-heavy section. During the bridge, we get a nice contrast from the song's beep and edgy instrumental with a brief piano breakdown. The song's lyrics are quite harsh as they warn an ex-lover to not call them and that their love is done. The line "Sick of all your trash" is one of the most iconic of the song. "Don't Call Me" is definitely a grower and you may find yourself humming it unconsciously. If you are craving SHINee's usual sound, fear not—you can find it throughout their album Don't Call Me. Some personal favorites from the album include the promoted track "Heart Attack," the catchy reggae track "Body Rhythm," and the upbeat "Attention"! Overall, this is an amazing comeback. If you are looking for that perfect way to tell someone to leave you alone, make sure to send them "Don't Call Me"!





#3- AINA THE END - DARE DARE DARE
BiSH's AiNA THE END is back with her new single "Dare Dare Dare," which will be used as the opening for episode 4 of the crime drama Anonymous: Keishicho ”Yubisatsujin” Taisakushitsu. This single comes a couple of weeks after the release of Aina's first full-length album as a soloist, THE END. "Dare Dare Dare" is an unconventional pop song that continues to put the artist's unique sound and artistry on full display. The song starts off with a delicate yet eerie piano melody before bringing in a grungier sound with a loud electric guitar and heart-pounding drums. One aspect of the song that really adds to its maddening nature is the screaming-like sounds that can be heard in its chorus. Aina's vocals are absolutely captivating as usual, switching between taunting and almost breathless vocals and ones filled with desperation. She even adds in periods of heavy breathing and other unique vocal choices, which greatly enhance the song's atmosphere. The music video is also an experience as we see different shots of mysterious hooded figures and Aina showing off her immaculate acting skills as she wanders through various dark settings in a deranged state. The director enlisted to create this amazingly eerie music video is Yamada Kento who is known for his works with Wednesday Campanella and yahyel. We really enjoyed this new release, and highly recommend you all to give it a listen, too!





#4- ONF - BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL
Rising boy group ONF has made their return with "Beautiful Beautiful" from their first full-length album ONF: My Name! The group's last comeback was in August of last year with the energetic "Sukhumvit Swimming." ONF continues to create a sound of their own as they carry on with the retro groove from their previous release, but amp up the energy and upbeatness by 100! We instantly know we are in for a fun listen as the song starts off with the lively chanting of "rum pum pum pum." Thanks to an absolutely funky bassline and retro synths being the main drivers in the instrumental and members' charismatic vocals and rap portions, the verses become incredibly refreshing in nature. The chorus is an absolute blast—both parts have extremely catchy lines like "I'm beautiful" and the infectious "rum pum pum pum" mentioned before. Another standout part of the song takes place during the bridge—after a Disney-esque breakdown, we are treated with a brief acapella version of the post-chorus! The lyrics carry an encouraging message about following the beat of our own drum despite what others may say, and they even encourage us to sing out the phrases "I'm wonderful" and "I'm beautiful"! The album ONF: My Name carries on the upbeat nature of "Beautiful Beautiful" and each track offers something different yet refreshing. The one song that especially stood out is their promoted sidetrack, "The Realist," which takes on the '80s synth-wave sound. Overall, this is yet another great comeback from the group and we cannot wait to see what else is in store for them!

BY NARA


#1- Brave Girls's "Rollin'" goes viral in Korea 4 years after its release and has eventually landed #5 on Melon's Hot Track Chart and #1 on Bugs! Congrats to this timeless bop, which is very well deserving of its newfound recognition!

#2- BTS's MV for "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" has surpassed 700 million YouTube views! Congrats to this incredible bop!

#3- Dreamcatcher's MV for "Odd Eye" has surpassed 20 million views! Congrats to the group and be sure to check out the MV if you haven't yet!

#4- BLACKPINK's "DDU-DU-DDU-DU" is the first K-pop MV ever to hit 1.5 billion views on YouTube! Congrats to the group for setting such an amazing record!

#5- EXO's MV for "Ko Ko Bop" has surpassed 300 million views on YouTube! Congrats to this bop for reaching this milestone!

BY POLARIS_TAE

The Events Team has announced the top ten monthly elite gamer rankings for January 2021. Lurkette took 1st place for January, while Chomiczewska and anh rounded out the top three positions. Did you manage to rank this month?

Shop+ fans, our Shop+ team has been busy again this month stocking our virtual shelves with even more great items for you to purchase! Here are the items that were added to our shop this week:

We have one translation update this week!

Our Japanese translator Lukette provided us with the lyrics for TEAM SHACHI's "I Heard."


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This brings us to the end of this week's ICYMI. We hope you enjoyed this week's update and look forward to seeing you all next week for even more great news. As always, make sure to drop a like or comment if you appreciate our work and we'll see you again at the same time next week!





GFX BY @yerm
PROOFREAD BY @Stannie
FEATURED ARTISTS: Aina The End (BiSH), G-Dragon, Sunmi, Key, Lee Sungkyung.​

 

[UMJI MOODS]

What a wild week.
Thank you for your summary as always.​

 

[MVSica]

Just a normal week everyone

 

[kimsguardian]

as always thank you for the updates!

 

[anh]

thank you for the updates!

 

[Happy]

Thank you for the updates!