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

[Polaris_Tae]

OCTOBER 12 - OCTOBER 18


Hello once again, Hallyuplussers, and welcome to another great week of news and updates. We welcome back another slew of great new releases along with some very interesting news from the Chinese idol industry—you will have to read on to learn just exactly what that could be. Now without further ado, let's jump into the article for this week!

BY POLARIS_TAE & BEEFY


MONDAY:
#1- We start the week off with a lot of music release announcements, and we are happy to see them! We start off with soloist Punch releasing a pre-release single titled "너의 목소리" on October 15th, ahead of her much anticipated first full album. The very next day Super Junior's Ryeowook released a new single "Calendar" as part of his new musical project Traveller. Then Youkyung, a former member of AOA, will be releasing her first single as a soloist titled "Connect" on October 19th. Crush is hot on her trail, as the R&B singer will be releasing a new mini-album on October 20th! We will start November off with Trot Queen Hong Jinyoung's new release on the 2nd. In the week that follows, GFRIEND will be releasing their third full album on November 9th titled 回: Walpurgis Night! Rookie boy group TREASURE will be making their comeback in December with a full-length album; it is stated that the group will be trying something different for this title track! Finally, J-POP legend Kumi Koda will be releasing two mini-albums on December 2nd as a celebration of her 20th anniversary; the albums are titled AngeL [MY NAME IS ...] and monsteR [MY NAME IS ...], which follow the theme of light and darkness, respectively! Which release(s) are you looking forward to the most?

#2- Now onto group debut announcements! Hitmakers Black Eyed Pilseung (BEP) will be debuting their new girl group STAYC on November 12th! The group consists of former JYP actress Park Sieun, former M trainee Bae Sumin, and Yoon Seeun!

#3- Much to everyone's surprise, F(X)'s Krystal has officially left SM to join the company H& Entertainment. She will be joining fellow entertainers Son Dam Bi, Jung Ryeo Won, and many more. We wish her luck with her new company!

#4- Big Hit Entertainment has shared that 993,000 tickets were sold for BTS' online concert "BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E" in 191 countries! The concert took place from October 10th through 11th. Shifting away from sales, following BTS' acceptance speech for the James A. Van Fleet Award, given by The Korea Society, they were awarded for contributing to the U.S. and South Korean relations. However, controversy has arisen over what leader RM stated, or did not, in his portion of the speech. Many c-netizens were angry to discover that China's role in the Korean War was not brought up at any point. Many took it to Weibo to express their distaste for the speech, and big-name companies like Samsung and FIFA also responded by taking down BTS related content. Do you feel that this controversy is warranted?

#5- Finally, NMB48 member Joinishi Rei will be releasing her first photobook on November 25th! The idol has expressed that she has always wanted to release one for a long time; she was able to shoot in many different locations around Japan, including her hometown. Make sure to check out the linked thread for more information!



TUESDAY:
#1- Some more great news in the world of music. Rookie soloist Natty will be making her first comeback in November, although we have no exact date as of now. DKB will be making their comeback on October 26th with a mini-album called Growth! Now onto debut news, MLD Entertainment, NHN Bugs, and Sony Music Music Korea have come together with a plan to debut a new boy group by the end of 2020. FNC's new boy group P1HARMONY's debut date has officially been announced—the group will debut with a mini-album titled DISHORMONY: STAND OUT on October 28th! We cannot wait to hear these releases!

#2- Sadly, Keyakizaka46 made their disbandment announcement on October 13th after many months of inactivity at their final concert “LAST LIVE.” Thankfully, the group was reborn on the same night as they made their official debut as Sakurazaka46, and performed their debut single “Nobody’s fault”, which will officially be released on December 9th! We are looking forward to the group's bright new future!

#3- Former ANGERME member Oota Haruka will be making her return to Hello!Project but not to her previous group. The idol was put on hiatus in March of 2020, following the revelation that she was leaking the group's confidential information to fans. In letters from the company and Oota Haruka herself, they apologize for the idol's actions and share that she has spent her hiatus in reflection. The linked thread contains the translated letters from both parties. How do you feel about the idol's return?

#4- Soloist Ailee has announced that her nationwide concert tour "I AM: CONNECTED" will be held in December! She will be in Goyang on Dec 5th, Daegu on Dec 12th, Busan on Dec 25th, and Seoul on Dec 31st. Will you be attending any of these dates?

#5- It has been announced that Kang Daniel will be a special MC on MBN's Live a long Life - Somehow a Model—a show for senior citizens challenging the modeling world. We are looking forward to his appearance!

#6- Actor Kim Dong Wook has been appointed as the honorary ambassador for the Disabilities Film Festival! We congratulate him on such an honor!



WEDNESDAY:
#1- We start the day off with some more music release announcements. Soloist Paul Kim will be making his comeback with the song "너도 아는" on October 27th; then on the very next day (October 28th), the duo JBJ95 will be making their comeback! Kassy will be also be making her second comeback of the year at the end of this month—the date is currently unspecified. We are looking forward to these future releases!

#2- Following his controversy, Block B's Park Kyung will be enlisting in the military on October 19th; the idol was originally scheduled to leave in January but was held back due to his sajaegi case. While we are on military news, former kpop idol Yoo Seung Hoon has expressed anger at the Military Affairs Administration Cheif for his ongoing ban from entering South Korea. The idol was originally banned for 18 years from entering the country due to denouncing his Korean citizenship in order to avoid his mandatory military. Make sure to check out the linked thread for more details on Yoo Seung Hoon's case!

#3- Former Hello!Project and ANGERME's leader Ayaka Wada has come out! In an interview with QJWEB, the idol shares that she struggled with her sexuality, and came to understand herself and those around her better through her interactions at University studying Art. The linked thread contains a way to access the full interview. It is an extremely interesting read. We are very happy for Ayaka, and admire her bravery!

#4- It has been confirmed that CJSH's Stephanie has signed an exclusive contract with the company Artsro Entertainment. The company is home to artists such as JENYER (4minute's Jeon Jiyoon), Ji Sehee, Kim Jungwoon, Park Youngsoo, and Yeon Bora. We wish her all the best at her new company!

#5- Now onto variety news, it has been revealed that Twice and IZ*ONE will be appearing on KBS' Idol on Quiz! The two groups, unfortunately, will not be appearing on the show together; the lineup for the individual episodes includes Momo, Sana, Tzuyu, and Dahyun for Twice and Jang Wonyoung, Ahn Yujin, Miyawaki Sakura, and Choi Yena for IZ*ONE. We cannot wait to watch both of these episodes!

#6- If you did not think survival shows could get any more complicated, well, I have some news for you. CCTV has added an interesting twist to their upcoming survival show BRAVO Youngsters: the contestants will have to take a written exam on top of the usual antics! It may not be all that bad, though, because TFBOY's Jackson Yee will be appearing on the show as a special guest! Do you think written exams on survival shows will become a trend?

#7- The popular YouTuber "Gabiekook" has fallen under fire following a recent video. The video depicts Gabie violating strict COVID-19 guidelines by publicly celebrating her birthday rather than staying in self-quarantine. Her husband Josh, the Youtuber "Korean Englishman", takes full responsibility for this careless decision and releases an apology letter. In the letter, he states that his choice to invite some of his wife's friends over to drop off gifts was irresponsible and wrong and that he will be taking a break from content creating to reflect on his actions. Do you feel that the backlash against the couple is warranted?



THURSDAY:
#1- On Thursday, it is revealed that CIX will be coming back during the last week of October with their 3rd mini-album. Also set to come back in the latter half of October are Yezi and WINNER's Mino. Yezi will be making her comeback on the 22nd of October, whereas Mino will be making his solo comeback on the 30th of October. As for November comebacks, it is reported that Xia Junsu will be returning to grace our lives with a brand new mini-album this November. Also set to make their return in November are Ha Sungwoon and GIRLKIND. Ha Sungwoon is set to return during mid-November with a new album. Meanwhile, GIRLKIND has opened a makestar campaign searching for backers for their upcoming November comeback. As for OST News, the 1st OST line-up for the tvN drama Start-up has been announced! Red Velvet, Oh My Girl's Seunghee, Jiho, and Binnie, as well as 10cm and Davichi are set to lend their voices to the soundtracks of the drama. Which release(s) are you most looking forward to?

#2- SEVENTEEN will be guesting on an upcoming episode of Knowing Bros as a full group.

#3- The first line-up for the 2020 Asia Artist Awards has been announced. The line-up includes NCT127, ITZY, CRAVITY, Kang Daniel, Stray Kids, and a few others. Meanwhile, Astro's Moonbin and SNSD's Tiffany have been appointed as the MC's for the ON:TACT 2020 Gangnam Festival KPOP Concert. Will you be tuning in to either of these events?

#4- It has been announced that CRAVITY will be the ambassadors for Gwangju K-pop Star Street this November. We congratulate them on this new and exciting opportunity!

#5- Weverse just keeps on expanding their artist roster more and more! On Thursday, we learn that Sunmi will be the newest artist joining the platform. Will you be signing up for the service?

#6- It has been reported that Im Youngmin, a former member of AB6IX, will be enlisting for mandatory military service during the first half of November.

#7- R1SE's Ren Hao found himself in a controversy when it came to light that he had been in a relationship with Chinese actress Zhao Wenrou from 2016 until Spring of 2020; this effectively confirms that they were in a relationship during his time as a contestant in Produce Camp 2019 and following his debut in R1SE. The following day, Chinese internet celebrity Sue Xiaozi claimed that she had also dated Ren Hao in the winter of 2020 while he was still in a relationship with Zhao Wenrou. In response to this, Ren Hao has issued an apology on Weibo stating that he is sorry for causing harm to his group and mishandling his personal affairs, stating that he will be taking a break from social media as a result.



FRIDAY:
#1- AB6IX will be returning next month to bless us with brand new music when they drop their 3rd mini-album on the 2nd of November. Meanwhile, it was reported that GOT7 is preparing to come back this November. As a response, JYPE has released a statement saying that they are in preparations but are yet to set a date. SNH48 will be releasing their 28th EP on the 19th of October. Meanwhile, Meng Meiqi has announced that she will be releasing her 2nd solo EP on the 30th of October. We cannot wait!

#2- K/DA has revealed their list of collaborators for their upcoming album release. The members of TWICE and (G)I-DLE along with Lexie Liu, Beekuh BOOM, and many more will all be lending their voices to songs in the upcoming EP.

#3- Dreamcatcher has announced that they will be holding an online concert on the 7th of November titled "Dystopia: Seven Spirits." It will have the participation of all seven group members following Handong's return to South Korea earlier this month.

#4- BLACKPINK tells us just how much they have missed the American late-night TV circuit when it is announced that they will be appearing again on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on the 20th of October!

#5- Great news for anyone who follows NCT, as it has been revealed that NCT's Doyoung and Jaemin have opened up brand new Instagram accounts to share even more of their daily lives with us. Be sure to follow them soon!

#6-Sadly, it has been announced that TWICE's Jeongyeon will not be participating in TWICE's "Shibuya Note Twice Special" on October 17 due to her feeling unwell. Meanwhile, Imaizumi Yui has announced that she will be temporarily suspending her activities due to being in poor health. We hope they both feel better soon!

#7- We will be saying goodbye to another idol as they go off to complete their mandatory military service. It has been revealed that Exo's Chen will be enlisting in the military on the 26th of October. We wish him a safe service!



SATURDAY:
#1- Following JYPE's previous announcement that Jeongyeon would not be participating in the group's upcoming "Shibuya Note TWICE Special" on the 17th of October, the company has released another statement to relay to fans that Jeongyeon will also be sitting out from upcoming promotions for TWICE's 2nd full album Eyes Wide Open due to anxiety. We wish her a steady recovery!

#2- Have you been missing Dreamcatcher's Handong as much as we have? Because it has been announced that, in addition to her participation in the groups' upcoming concert, she will also be releasing a brand new Chinese language solo single "First Light of Dawn" on the 20th of October. We cannot wait!

#3- It has been shared that MAMAMOO will be appearing in an upcoming episode of Idol Quiz. The recording is set to take place on the 28th of October. We cannot wait to see them grace our screens again!

#4- Nu'est has announced that they will be giving us even more great stages when they hold their upcoming online fan-meeting "L.O.Λ.E PAGE" on the 28th of November! Will you be tuning in to see them live?

#5- Everyone had been anxiously anticipating as to who would be crowned as this year's Golden Eagle Goddess in 2020 for the 13th China Golden Eagle TV Art Festival. We are delighted to learn that it will be none other than Victoria Song, who most recently starred in the drama Love Yourself and the hit modern drama Find Yourself as well as having a hit solo album under her belt—all only in 2020! We congratulate her on this amazing opportunity!



SUNDAY:
#1- The October individual girl group brand rankings have been released! BLACKPINK's Jennie, Oh My Girl's Arin, BLACKPINK's Jisoo, and T-ara's Jiyeon took over the top four positions. Did any of your biases make the list?

#2- WAJIJIWA Entertainment has responded to the dating news regarding R1SE members Ren Hao and Xia Zhiguang. The company releases a statement apologizing for taking up public resources (i.e. occupying the news and social media spotlight) and further claims that they respect their artists' rights to private life but that these rights should not violate principles of public customs. This comes following the dating (and possible chatting) accusations of R1SE's Ren Hao and the footage released of his bandmate Xia Zhiguang with his presumed girlfriend, Zhong Lili, a Bejing Film Academy student.

#3- In mere months before ARASHI is set to go on an indefinite hiatus, it has been revealed that the group's most popular show VS ARASHI will soon come to an end after 12 years on-air. The group's other variety, Arashi ni Shiyagare, will also end within the year. However, fear not! As there are new varieties starring the group members, Aiba Masaki and Sakurai Sho, are gearing up to replace the shows.

#4- It has been announced that Wu Xuanyi has become the Asia-Pacific spokesperson for MedSPA Laboratories. Meanwhile, Cheng Xiao has been announced as the newest brand ambassador for SOFINA. We congratulate them both on these new and exciting opportunities!

BY DRAGON OF THE WEST & POLARIS_TAE


#1. NCT U - MAKE A WISH (BIRTHDAY SONG)
NCT U has released "Make A Wish (Birthday Song)", the first of two title tracks from RESONANCE: Part 1, NCT's latest ambitious project. This NCT U unit is comprised of members Taeyong, Doyoung, Jaehyun, Jaemin, Lucas, Xiaojun, and Shotaro. The song follows the core NCT recipe—hip-hop focused, a little experimental, and incredibly catchy. "Make A Wish" draws influences equally from the mid-'90s and mid-2000s, while slotting neatly into SM’s established sound. The refrain has a nice sense of funk, underlined by a bouncy synth-and-percussion instrumental that is guaranteed to get your head nodding. "Make A Wish" manages to constantly surprise without being unwieldy or disorganized and its slinky pleasures are hard to resist.





#2. PENTAGON - DAISY
Pentagon has released their 10th mini-album WE:TH, with the title track "Daisy", making it their first Korean comeback since participating in Mnet's Road To Kingdom. This era is quite bittersweet for fans, as it is Pentagon's first comeback without Jinho (who enlisted in the military a few months ago), but it also marks the return of Yanan, who has not participated in their last few releases. The group'leader, Hui, is at the helm of "Daisy's" production; the song is a full-on, crying-in-the-rain emoto-thon. Your tolerance for this level of angst will likely color your opinion of the track. Pentagon pumps up the guitars and church-like synths during the chorus for maximum bombast. We can also appreciate the commitment to the sheer emotion of it all. Things become more compelling as the track moves into its chant-heavy climax and the instrumental conjures a satisfying stomp.





#3. THE COINLOCKERS - KEBYOU
In what comes as one of my favorite Jpop releases of 2020 is THE COINLOCKERS's most recent release, "Kebyou." THE COINLOCKERS is Yasushi Akimoto and Warner Music Japan's most recent collaboration in the form of an all-female band idol creation. The group debuted in 2019 and is back with a brand new single about faking an illness to the point that no one will believe in their lies anymore. This song may be relatable to anyone who has ever felt pressure at work or school and just wants to take a day off, away from all the pressure and responsibilities. The song itself is a soft-rock influenced release that borders between what it means to be a band or idol while bringing us a sweet-sounding track that anyone could find themselves both enjoying and relating to it.





#4. LEE SUHYUN - ALIEN
AKMU's Lee Suhyun has made her long-awaited debut—which should have happened a while ago—with the digital single titled "Alien." The song's dancefloor-ready sound is a departure from AKMU’s more folksy style. The instrumental of the song throbs with consistent bass. Much of its appeal hinges on various rhythm guitar loops and riffs, which gives the track a refreshingly old school appeal. There are modern touches here and there, but the production is quite simple and single-minded; this allows for focus on Suhyun’s performance, which really drives the track. The verses are especially pleasant, with a melody that peaks in a few well-placed high notes before delivering a groovier refrain. Suhyun has proven time and again that she can tackle any genre and make it exciting, so it is no surprise that she has also excelled here. She gives "Alien" a quirky style, transforming a rather standard disco throwback into something even more refreshing.





#5. WEEKLY - ZIGZAG
Following a quite successful debut with "Tag Me" a few months ago, rookie girl group Weeekly has made their first comeback with their second mini-album We Can and the title track "ZIg Zag." Weeekly’s signature sound is likely to include bright, bubblegum hooks, and bouncy pop guitar; that is a pretty good combination, and Zig Zag also takes advantage of these stylistic strengths. Right from the start, the track welcomes listeners with a fun burst of the guitar. The verses dial back for a more typical, keys-driven arrangement—they are not particularly catchy but still maintain the song’s sprightly energy; the pre-chorus pulls back even further, slowing the track to deliver an effective buildup. This is all in service to "Zig Zag"s chorus, which is really quite enjoyable. The guitars return in full force, supporting a refrain that feels as if it was ripped straight from K-pop’s second generation.





#6. VERIVERY - G.B.T.B
VERIVERY is back with the third and final installment of their FACE it trilogy in the form of their 5th mini-album FACE US and the title track "G.B.T.B", which stands for "Go Beyond the Barrier." The track's main selling point is its powerful and intense sound, as evidenced by the chorus. For the pre-choruses, the members bring a nice smoothness to the song, acting as the calm before the storm. The vocals return for the bridge and then it is followed up with an EDM-styled dance break, which could have done with a little more substance to it, as it felt a little too airy. The performance makes it evident that they have picked up on some refinement and powerful skills during Road To Kingdom and it is all paying off.





#7. MIYUNA - DEADROCK
It has been a little over a month since Miyuna's last single in September, but we are now blessed with yet another amazing track from the young power vocalist. This new release along with her previous singles will be apart of her upcoming mini-album Reply which will be released on October 28th! For this particular release, Miyuna focuses on the feelings she has experienced throughout the pandemic, which is expressed through both the lyrics and music video of the song. The singer continues with her dreamy sound, this time pushing the feeling of repetition until the pre-chorus. During the pre-chorus, the dreamy sound takes center stage, as the repetitive guitar rift and abrupt drum beat are swapped out with fluid and melancholic instrumental. Then the song fully explodes in the chorus, Miyuna's powerful vocals and intentional voice crack further drive in its intensity. The unique music video helps the viewer to understand the isolated feeling Miyuna sings about, as the figures in creepy animal masks prevent her from leaving the house. All parts of the song come hand in hand to create the perfect song for this period of time we are all going through.





#8. LAST IDOL - NANJIN (NANBITO) MO
Last Idol does plan on staying true to their name by wiping out every one of the competitions with their katanas in their latest release, "Nanjin (Nanbito) Mo." It is an upbeat release where they have the challenge of striking down all of their adversaries to save their groupmates. Furthermore, the group goes on to show just why no one can give them a challenge by "wetting their swords" with their blood, sweat, and tears to learn an entire choreography based around dancing with swords! Overall, Last Idol's "Nanjin (Nanbito) Mo" will take you on a high-energy ride that you will never regret, as you help them become the Last Idol by slaying all the competition and climbing up to that #1 spot to become your most played track in 2020 even though there are only three months left in the year!





#9. ZHANG ZINING - SUSIES WORLD (THE LOVELY BONES)
In what comes as a surprise, the OP's favorite soloist Zhang Zining has returned with her latest single "Susie's World (The Lovely Bones)" from her debut solo EP; it is a sweet and sorrowful ballad that perfectly highlights the strength of her vocal ability, giving us a song that only Zhang Zining could pull off! When commenting on this release, Zining explained that she was thinking of the movie of the same name, with the central theme revolves around the concept of hopelessness and loss, about not having someone to lean on, and how no one ever gets over their loss. It is through her voice and her music and lyrics that you will find a shoulder to lean on even in the toughest times. As she supports you in the best way she can—through her music, just as much as Zining recommends the American movie, The Lovely Bones, she also recommends her song "Susie's World (The Lovely Bones)" and hopes that you too may find the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to grief and loss.

BY DRAGON OF THE WEST


#1. BLACKPINK carries on with even more achievements in what has been a remarkable year for the group. Their latest release The Album debuted at 2nd place on the Billboard 200 chart with 110,000 unit sales, making it the highest-selling debut sales by a girl group in the US in the 2010s. It also managed to attain 689,066 sales on Hanteo in its first week. The music video for "BOOMBAYAH" has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, making it the first music video for a debut song to reach this milestone. The dance practice video for "Kill This Love" has surpassed 300 million views on YouTube.


#2. The latest project group, Refund Sisters, has achieved a Perfect All-Kill on Korean streaming charts with their debut single "Don't Touch Me". The single has since gone on to achieve over 100 hourly PAKs, making it the first track by a girl group to do so.


#3. NCT's latest physical album RESONANCE Pt.1 has recorded 1.12 million pre-orders, making it the highest recorded pre-orders for an SM artist. The album has also managed to sell 644,711 copies in its first week.


#4. SEVENTEEN has recorded 1.1 million stock pre-orders with their upcoming special mini-album Semicolon. This will bring them up to 7.5 million in cumulative sales across Gaon and Oricon, making them the 6th best selling K-pop group.


#5. BTS has managed to occupy the top 2 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated October 17th, as "Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat)" and "Dynamite" took 1st and 2nd place, respectively.


#6. Oh My Girl's "Dolphin" is now the b-side by a girl group with most weeks on Gaon Digital Chart Top 10 history after having crossed 10 weeks in the top 10 recently.


#7. NiziU's pre-debut single "Make You Happy" has exceeded 100 Million streams in just 15 weeks. According to Billboard Japan, this makes them the fastest female artists to achieve this milestone.

BY POLARIS_TAE

Here are all the awards that were added to the system this week! You can request them here (don't forget to follow the instructions in the OP)!

We welcomed three new Junior Moderators—heidzee!, with*one, and Drew—to the team this week. Meanwhile, Golden earned herself a promotion and is now a full-fledged moderator! Congrats to all!

There was one article published this week!

Polaris_Tae gave us their thoughts on the Chinese film Better Days.

The translations team has given us one song translation this week!

Lurkette blessed us with the lyrics for THE CONLOCKER's "Fake Sick."


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Hallyu+ is actively recruiting for staff. If you would like to contribute to the forum's growth and join one of our amazing teams, 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. It is also the week where we have to say goodbye to our long-time staff, Dragon of the West, who will be leaving us after having contributed to both the Charts & Releases portion of ICYMI for an extended period of time. We wish him luck with school and hope that he knows we will gladly have an open position for him should he ever have spare time again and wish to return. With that said, we are hiring again for ICYMI. See you all for another great week of news, updates, and more at the same time next week!





GFX BY @yerm
PROOFREAD BY @Stannie ​

 

[UMJI MOODS]

As always a nice summary of the week gone by.
Good luck to DOTW.​

 

[fleur de lune]

thank you for this!
wish nothing but the best for dragon of the west

 

[Bobo]

thank you for this week's update​

 

[MVSica]

gl @Dragon of the West always enjoy your posts/threads Thanks for updates!

 

[demasta]

Thanks for the updates!

 

[kimsguardian]

as expected a complete recap from amazing team, thanks for your hard work! :yagotit:

 

[Jibang]

Such a detailed round up!

 

[anh]

thanks for the updates!

 

[grainy]

you spelt weeekly wrong