Hello, readers and fans! Today, I am here to discuss my experience at the Just B tour in Denver. This tour was hosted and promoted by TheKstage. There’s a lot to talk about, and I’m really excited to get into it.
So, when I arrived, I would say the organization of getting into the venue was all over the place with a lot of delays in stuff for the VIP perks and benefits like how we were let in later than the time table that the organizer/promoter established via social media. But it was still nice to receive the benefits regardless. With my ticket, I was able to get a tote bag, a pre-signed album and poster, a tour photocard set of all 6 members, and a hi-touch experience.
For the first song of the night, they performed “Get Away” from their debut album, “Just Burn”. It was an incredible performance full of so much energy and passion. Each of the members really showcased themselves really well as they performed the opening number. I was impressed to hear a B-side track as an opening song as other concerts I have attended usually do a title track as the opener which was a really nice change and can expose newer fans to their amazing discography.
Shot from Get Away
The 2nd song the group performed was “Make It New” from their single album, “Just Begun.” This performance had hard-hitting choreography, strong rap and vocal performance, as well as strong stage presence which really impressed me throughout watching this performance in general.
Shot from Make it New
After the first two songs, the group went into a talking segment where they each introduced themselves to the audience and how excited they were to be in Denver. It was nice to hear the members talk about their excitement to perform and all, which just got me and everyone else excited for what was to come in the following performances.
JM of Just BGeonu of Just B
The third song they performed was “Re=Load,” the title track of their single album, “Just Begun.” This performance was EXPLOSIVE, colorful, smooth, and very powerful, just like the original music video. Each member honestly stood out in different moments of the performance, and seeing this song live was honestly a new and mind-blowing experience.
Shot from Re=Load
The fourth song they performed was “Try” from their single album, “Just Beat.” This performance was so magical live, the lyrics of this song are so emotional and have a story to them. Seeing this performance live was just insane, I honestly was speechless watching it, especially when the member Bain did the high note I was in awe. It’s one of those performances that you know you will never forget after the time you see it.
Shot from Try
The fifth song they performed was “Don’t Go Back” from their single album, “Just Begun.” Similarly to “Try, “I felt such a deep emotion while watching this performance. There seems to be a deep and heart-wrenching story behind this song as well that just really pulled at your heartstrings. This song, in particular, I felt really showed a really vulnerable side to the group and made me appreciate them a lot more.
Shot from Don’t Go Back
The sixth song they performed was “Damage,” which was the title track of their debut album, “Just Burn.” I will be honest before seeing it live, I didn’t really care much for the song, but I think seeing it live really changed my mind about the song overall. I was stunned and speechless by the impact of this performance, I literally had my mouth on the floor just seeing the group giving 137% into all the details of the choreography, especially in pre-chorus to chorus transitions. I honestly want to see it again.
Shot from Damage
After these three songs, the members took a second to drink some water before getting into a mini talent show of sorts doing different songs other than their own that they covered. The first one was Lim Jimin, Bain, and Geonu dancing to “Super Lady” by (G)-Idle, I was honestly so excited to see them do the iconic choreography but with so much sass and character, it gave me everything I needed.
After those three, Geonu, JM, and Sangwoo performed a cover of “Easy” by Le Sserafim, which was honestly so fun, and they really looked like they were enjoying themselves while they did the dance.
Then, DY, Lim Jimin, and JM did a performance of Taemin’s “Guilty.” As a HUGE fan of DY from the group, I was not prepared for what he was going to do, but when it got to the chorus choreography, he lifted his shirt and the whole audience roared with screams especially me. I was speechless. But it made me appreciate that DY wanted to do that for the fans.
After those three, Bain did a solo dance cover of Tyla’s “Water,” which honestly made me both laugh and happy just because I felt like he was the only member that I felt would do it in the goofiest way possible like he did that night.
Then, JM, Geonu, and DY did a dance performance of “Crazy Form” by ATEEZ, which made the audience go WILD. They really embodied the song so well, and it was so much fun to watch.
The last part of the talent show was Lim Jimin and Sangwoo dancing to “Don’t Go Insane” by DPR Ian, which again I was not expecting AT ALL. But the two of them just really made the performance so easy-going and effortless, which made it so fun to watch.
Moving into the next couple of performances were member solo performances. These performances I felt like really showed each members’ individual talent and personality through the performance they each gave and really showed you how each one of them shine in their own way.
The first solo member performance was DY doing a solo dance performance to “Wonder” by Shawn Mendes. I will be honest, I cried. It was the most beautiful performance I have ever seen from someone. The way he carried himself through each movement and the emotions behind the wordplay of his choreography took my breath away. It made me love him even more than I did before.
After DY was Lim Jimin, who did a solo dance to DPR Ian’s “Don’t Go Insane.” This performance was sexy and confident which really gave us a taste of Lim Jimin’s powerful presence on the stage. He really showed a new side of himself that really blew me away. I was so immersed in the performance that I couldn’t even remember where I was at one moment.
Lim Jimin of Just B during his solo performance
After Lim Jimin was Bain doing his solo performance of “Unholy” by Sam Smith and Kim Petras. When I say I was SHOOK, I generally mean it here because Bain’s performance was so unexpected and shocking. He showed himself in a different light for me performance-wise as he is normally a cute goofball, but here it was, like, Prepare to meet my alter ego. He blew the whole audience away with this performance, and by the end, everyone was just in awe of him.
Bain during his solo performance of UnholyGeonu and JM of Just B
After Bain’s solo stage, the members went into another talking segment where they discussed their performances with us. They were so silly and Goofy during this time, which just made me smile.
Shot from Perfect
The group then went into a cover of “Perfect” by One Direction. I loved seeing the cute side of the group after all the powerful and emotional sides that we got to witness. It was so heartfelt and comforting to hear the group perform this song.
Sangwoo and DY during Perfect
After “Perfect,” the group went into a performance of their song, “Coming Home (Acoustic version),” from their newest album, “÷ (Nanugi).” It was very relaxing to hear this song as it, really balanced out the energy of the concert. I felt really calm at that moment, and I think this version is definitely even better live.
After this song, the group went into their song, “Lights On,” from their single album, “Just Begun.” Similarly to “Coming Home, “I really enjoyed the calming and soothing atmosphere that “Lights On” gave. It felt like such an intimate moment with the group as they sang their hearts out to the lyrics and smiled at the audience. The performance was so refreshing, and it really made me love the song so much.
Shot from Me =Naneun
After this performance, the members said their goodbye messages and then got set up for the next performance, which was “Me =(Naneun)” from their album, “= (Neun).” I absolutely loved the rock element of this track and how the group really got the crowd involved with the performance as well. Seeing the choreography for this song live was also incredible.
After “Me=(Naneun),” the group went into an Unreleased song called “Daddy’s Girl,” which was so much fun to hear, and I honestly really loved it because the members were really getting into the full performance, rocking out and vibing with the audience.
Shot from Domino
After “Daddy’s Girl,” was their performance of “Domino” from “=(Neun).” I really loved how heavy the guitar was in the instrumentation when they performed the song because it made me think I was at more of a K-rock concert and showed me a newer side of them which was nice to hear. The members seemed to really enjoy themselves doing this song, which made me enjoy listening to it.
After “Domino,” the members did their goodbye messages again and said really sweet and heartfelt things about how thankful they were to the fans and that they would want to come back to Denver.
Lim Jimin of Just B shot during their goodbye messages
After these goodbye messages, they went backstage to prepare for the last 3 songs of the evening.
The next song was “Medusa” from their newest release, “÷(Nanugi)”. Honestly, this song live was so fun and charismatic, I really loved how the members just flowed so well together in the choreography moments and the way the song just fit well with the vibe of the whole concert.
Shot from Medusa
After “Medusa” was their song “Youth” also from the “÷(Nanugi)” album. I loved this performance a lot because of how cheerful and happy the members were performing the song as well as the heartfelt message from the lyrics. I feel like having this song in the setlist just made you feel so much closer to the group, almost like you were best friends with them, which I loved.
Shot from Youth
The last song of the night was “Paper Plane” from “÷(Nanugi)”. This part of the show is where the members were super energetic and started to throw water at the audience. It was honestly overwhelming, considering I got water on myself at least 5-6 times. It’s a really cute and very refreshing song that really just made me smile by the end of the night even though I really didn’t want the concert to end.
Shot from Paper Plane
After the concert was the hi-touch session and snapshot session. I didn’t get any snapshots, but I did have hi-touch. The order for the Denver Stop was Sangwoo, Lim Jimin, Bain, JM, Geonu, and DY. I was honestly super shy once I got here because they all looked so pretty in person. I had something to say to them, but all that could come out of my mouth was “Thank you” because I was speechless by each of their beauty in person.
If you guys ever get a chance to see Just B in concert or listen to their music, please do. They are one of the most talented, hard-working, smaller groups I have ever seen in person and I hope to get the opportunity to see them again in the future. I’ll see you in the next post!
Hello, readers and fans, today I wanted to discuss a little bit about what K-pop songs I first listened to and what really got me to follow the K-pop groups I do now or if I don’t anymore why.
So, I started listening to K-pop as a music genre back in 2018, it was at least 2-3am my time and I found myself looking at my YouTube home page and noticing the first K-pop video on my page. My first acknowledgment of K-pop was in middle school when PSY released “Gangnam Style” but I didn’t pursue it as a music genre until my first semester of college.
Side Note: Before listening to K-pop, I actually was listening to the typical American Hip-hop and Pop, and also a lot of heavy rock in multiple genres.
The very first song that got me started in K-pop was “Fire” by BTS. When I was starting to watch the music video, what I liked about it was the choreography, the bright colors, the attitude of the performers of the group, and the overall upbeat energy that K-pop had to offer. After watching that video, I ended up being in the BTS fandom for about a year until a negative experience made me leave the group completely.
The 2nd song that I found in K-pop was by the girl group Red Velvet called, “Bad Boy” and I immediately loved the catchy chorus, the music video concept, the gorgeous vocals and the rap delivery by the members, and how it showed a more smooth R&B pop side to the K-pop World. Red Velvet was also the first K-pop concert that I ever attended, so they will always have a special place in my heart. I also still continue to follow Red Velvet until this day.
The 3rd song that I listened to was NCT 127’s “Cherry Bomb”, I found this song after I first listened to Red Velvet and it introduced me to the insanity that is the units of NCT as a whole. What I liked about this song was the incredible hip-hop production, the hard-hitting and memorable choreography, the confidence-boosting lyrics, and how addictive the song in general was. NCT 127 was also my first boy group concert where I picked my first ultimate bias at the time, Moon Taeil, the main vocalist of the group.
The 4th song that I listened to when I got into K-pop was “Boombayah” by Blackpink. I remember liking the song because of the energetic, fun, and expressive choreography and production, the girl power element that the group brought at the time, and how it showed a very youthful energy to K-pop. I personally don’t really listen to Blackpink that often nowadays but they have really grown such a large audience since then.
The 5th song that I listened to was Verivery’s “Super Special”, I remember immediately falling in love with this group because of the synchronization in their choreography, the carefree attitude of the lyrics, the vocals and raps, etc. Verivery was the first group I followed before their debut with “Ring Ring Ring” and I still continue to support them now. One of the members, Yongseung is actually the reason I started to take dance classes and appreciate dance as a whole.
The 6th song I listened to was my introduction into the 2nd generation which was “Fantastic Baby” by Big Bang which was introduced to me by a friend that I met at a K-pop club night. I remember loving the early 2000s electronic dance club vibe, the addictive hook, the wild fashion that the group was wearing, and it really showed me a difference in that generation’s music compared to 2018’s style. BigBang’s music is timeless and classic, it will never get old and I will always support the members.
The 7th song that I listened to was another 2nd generation gem, SHINee’s “Replay”. I remember listening to this song because a friend recommended I listen to it and I fell in love with the early 90s R&B production, the smooth, fluid, vocals, the melodic raps, and how nostalgic of a sound it was. SHINee is still a group that I support and really appreciate their passion and dedication to music for the past 15 years.
The 8th song that I remember listening to was “Mirotic” by TVXQ! I remember listening to this song and just loving the vocals, the catchy raps, the very addictive chorus, and how fun the choreography was. TVXQ! will forever be an iconic 2nd generation group that took the K-pop world by storm.
The 9th song I remember listening to was Super Junior’s “Bonamana.” I remember I was looking for more 2nd generation groups to listen to and I came across this song. It reminded me a lot of early 90s club songs with the additive production, the simple yet fun chorus, and how it just got me addicted to the fun energy of Super Junior’s music.
The 10th song I remember listening to was EXO-K’s “Mama.” Now, when I was first listening to this, I kept thinking to myself, what kind of cult like beginning was this? Cause of the line, “Careless, careless, shoot anonymous, anonymous, no one will care about me.” But after that line, the song was very anthem-like to me, the powerhouse vocals of the members really blew me away, the guitar part really took me off guard especially with the little bit of a yell part towards the bridge section but it will forever be iconic to me.
The 11th song I remember listening to was Girl’s Generation’s “Gee,” I remember almost cringing at the line, “Listen, boy” but after going past that video, I remember just having the chorus and hook stuck in my head for MONTHS. The video itself was adorable and cute. I couldn’t help but love it.
The 12th song I remember listening to was Twice’s “What is Love?”. I remember loving the Melody and the cute outfits especially from the MV. The song had this innocence and charm about it that was so different from other typical female artists I had listened to prior, so it really showed me the cute side of k-pop other than “Gee” by Girls Generation.
The 13th song I remember listening to was “I Am The Best” by 2NE1. This song, in particular, was my exposure to the girl crush concept of K-pop with the powerful production, confident performance, the very androgynous fashion, and the empowering lyrics that really make you feel incredible.
The 14th song I remember listening to was “I’m Not Sorry” by Dean. Dean was my first exposure to independent solo artists and their music. I remember listening to this song and loving his beautiful vocals, the story that it told, and how it had this timeless, addictive production that really made me fall in love with him and the Korean R&B genre.
The 15th song I remember listening to was “Mommae” by Jay Park ft Ugly Duck. Jay Park was my first exposure to the Korean Hip-hop scene, I remember while listening to the song that I liked his cadence and flow, the party vibe, and the simple yet fun choreography. I also really enjoyed Ugly Duck’s bars as well because of his unique rap tone and personality as he rapped which also made me fall in love with him as a rapper as well.
The 16th song I remember listening to was “Red” by The Rose. The Rose was my first introduction to K- Indie rock. I remember listening to this song and loving the carefree energy of the song. The instruments were played with this fun energy and the vocals were so unique, compared to anything that I have ever heard from a band. I still follow the band to this day.
The 17th song that I remember listening to was “Free Somebody” by Luna. I remember listening to this song at a K-pop club night and dancing my worries away. I loved the almost 90s club vibe that really brought so many people together. The line, ” Cause I,I,I, I just wanna free somebody” would always be stuck in my head and it was so fun to play in the car.
The 18th song I remember listening to was “Hard Carry” by GOT7. I remember listening to this song just loving the upbeat tempo of the song, the confident raps, and the smooth vocals. The hard-hitting choreography was the standout for me and really made me appreciate how hard and detailed K-pop choreography can be.
The 19th song I remember listening to was “No Air” by The Boyz. The Boyz were my exposure to groups that are known for their HUGE performance value. I remember loving the bright and fun song with the almost tropical hip-hop beat that was so fun and unique. The music video itself really blew me away as well.
The 20th and last song I remember listening to was “favOrite” by Loona. I remember listening to this song and falling in love right away with gorgeous vocals delivered by the girls and how it carried this smooth and flowy vibe with the addition of the energetic chorus. It’s definitely an unforgettable song.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed knowing about my first K-pop songs and what I thought about them. It was really fun to go down memory lane and listen to these songs again. I hope you check these songs out yourself and I’ll see you in the next post.
Hello, readers and fans! Today, I wanted to talk to you about K-pop events in cities that are put on by fans like cup sleeves, buy, sell, trades, random dance plays, etc. These events are a big part of bringing the K-pop community together and letting fans of many walks of life come together to gush and support many vendors, businesses, and more.
These events are often put together by K-pop fans themselves and often take a lot of time, energy, money, and effort to make them memorable and fun for everyone attending. Now, these events don’t happen in every city or country, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a way to make it happen if you want it to happen. The fans that put together these events are dedicated, hard-working people who often are working adults who take the time out of their busy lives to make these events.
So, what are some of these events?
A Cupsleeve event is an event that is usually at a boba tea shop or K-pop store that supports a group or artist’s comeback release, anniversary, or birthday. If the event is at a boba shop, the host of the event will often ask the business to make a custom drink for the event that represents the group or artist whether it be named after a song or come back. If it is at a K-pop store, you will often get it if you purchase an album or merch from that artist, it will sometimes come with freebies that are handmade by the host or other fans attending.
A Buy, Sell, Trade event is an event that is held for fans to buy, sell, or trade photo cards, posters, albums, or other merch. A lot of fans benefit from these hosted events to maybe up or downsize their collections, meet new friends, get their daily dose of serotonin from a new purchase, etc.
A Random Dance Play or RDP for short, is an event that is usually hosted by a dance crew or other host to bring fans together to dance to a created mix of different K-pop songs. Fans can run in the circle and dance to the song or just watch from the side for an experience into the dance culture side of the K-pop world. This event is also a fun way to connect with many other fans of different fandoms and also to showcase your dance talent to others.
There are plenty of other events that happen and I decided to talk to 2 people that host events here in the Colorado area, The ColoradoKpopper and KonnectPop. These two hosts are often the hosts of some of the fun events that I talked about earlier in the Colorado area that work endlessly to provide events that bring K-pop fans together here in Colorado.
I decided to talk to both of them about their process on events in the area and how they feel they have made a difference in their community.
Here are both of their responses to the questions that I have asked.
When did you start doing these events and what inspired you to start?
ColoradoKpopper: “I originally started events at a smaller scale in 2016. My first being friendsgiving and then I hosted a series of smaller events like movie nights, spa nights, and dinner meet ups. I had started Cupsleeves in October of 2019. The inspiration behind me hosting was community. Meeting other fans around me and sharing the thing I loved with others. I didn’t really have a community of people who liked Kpop when I was growing up and I felt lonely – my only friends I could talk about it with were online. Once I had found Colorado Kpop Fans on Facebook I knew there were more people in Colorado and I wanted to find a way to bring them together so we can all fangirl and celebrate in person.”
KonnectPop: “Konnectpop started in 2016 but our main focus has not been cupsleeves, we are more focused on big events and dance events. Overall we just wanted to build and maintain relationships that we have with people through the love of Korean culture.”
2. How do you think these events and future ones impact the K-pop community?
ColoradoKpopper: “These events allow for people to come together in person and make new friendships as well as expand their knowledge and love of Kpop. Online communities are great but in person interaction always tends to have a higher impact.”
KonnectPop: ” It brings people together a great example is our DenVANNER movement which was the kick off to get more Kpop concerts here to Colorado. So overall the more people we can get together and bond over a shared interest the more likely that interest will take off and show promoters and artists that Colorado is a great place to include. “
3. What are your favorite events to go to or put on as a host and fan of K-pop?
ColoradoKpopper: “My favorite to host are Cupsleeves. Fun celebrations for anniversaries, comebacks, and birthdays. I like them because we celebrate a group, support a small business, support kpop creators, and bring large groups of fans together.”
KonnectPop: JL (member of the the KonnectPop Team) “JL – I love a rdp but the stuff I really enjoy is the panels and things we do at conventions and festivals. I also really like meeting the vendors and artists at B/s/t days.” MR (a member of the KonnectPop team) – “I really like going to stuff I don’t have to host, hosting does take a lot out of the event planning process so if someone else is doing something for a group I love then I will 100% be there. “
4. What is your process when creating these events and how much time do you give yourself to come up with ideas?
ColoradoKpopper: “Cupsleeves take me about 2 months to plan. It really is based around the date of the birthday or anniversary and then I go from there. It starts with the theme, whether there was a recent comeback or concept that caught my eye for who we are celebrating and then I have to pick what Items will be included. For freebies and most recently tier items. From there comes the designing portion and gathering of vendors (if there will be any) and then any extra things I want. You can do it in less time but it’s a scramble and often times much more expensive since getting items last minute costs more. “
KonnectPop: “It honestly varies about the event, ideally we would like to have 5-6 months preparation but if we are super excited about something then it can be from 4-10 weeks. For Konnectpop we start with an idea or a major event that we want to celebrate and then create an event around it. The best thing about Konnectpop is that all 5 admins have like minded interests and we can talk it out/create an event in one sitting. “
5. If you have one, what is your marketing strategy to convince fans to attend events that you are hosting?
ColoradoKpopper: “In my experience, it isn’t really about trying to convince people to come – if there is an event and people want to attend, they will. When I market, I try and give people enough time to be able to make arrangements to come as well as offer exciting themes/items that will make their visit more enjoyable.The biggest marketing strategy I have myself is just to market EVERYWHERE. I don’t stick to one platform, I market to them all because the more places I post, the more people are likely to see it.”
KonnectPop: “Konnectpop utilizes social media channels and our monthly newsletter to promote our events and others. We also post in the Colorado Kpop Fans facebook page and group chat to get the most eyes possible on our promotions.”
6. What do you think is the hardest or most difficult thing for you when it comes to hosting events?
ColoradoKpopper: “Honestly, it’s typically funding. What most don’t know is the hosts of these events do this for fun. We aren’t a business’ and we don’t get paid to host these events. Any funding raised through tier sales or tickets go strictly to paying for the event – but never in our pockets. The kpop fan events do not pay our bills unfortunately -but we have found ways to help elevate the financial burden, like pre orders and tabling fees.”
KonnectPop: “The cost and the location can be the most difficult aspects to setting up an event. Most events we do are funded by our own funds or with help from sponsors, which means we are sometimes limited in what we can do. Additionally, finding the right location, coordinating with venue owners, and having events in places where fans have access can be a lot to juggle, let alone cost. “
7. What do you think is the maximum or minimum budget that you spend on supplies for events like cup sleeves?
ColoradoKpopper: “If you do the bare minimum, you can probably pay about $150-$200 for a cupsleeve. This includes the cupsleeves themselves and freebies and decorations. But I do spend about $500 per event for various items to make the event bigger and more fun for all.”
KonnectPop: “Because we fund our own cupsleeves, there really isn’t a maximum budget; it’s highly dependent on what we want to include. We think the minimum budget for a cupsleeve could be between $100-$150.”
8. How do you personally reach out to businesses for opportunities for events at local boba shops or establishments for events?
ColoradoKpopper: “In person is always best in my opinion. Just introducing yourself and then explaining what you are doing is always the way to go. Have some examples up to show and in cases of cupsleeves, I always tell the owner that part of the deal is that people have to buy a drink to participate so they will be making money at the event, not just supporting extra people in their business. Coming with estimated numbers is also always helpful. If you can’t do it in person, phone calls are second best. “
KonnectPop: “Often we reach out via email or on social media. Finding out how businesses prefer to be contacted is very helpful. You can also go to a business to talk in person to an owner or get a business card to contact them.”
9. What is your favorite memory from hosting an event?
ColoradoKpopper: “A couple years back, a son and mother who would come to my events often came – and I can’t remember what event it was – but brought their grandmother to meet me. Simply because they wanted the grandma to know who I was, and the grandma was so kind and thanked me for giving them a safe place to be their selves and enjoy themselves and I will never forget that moment. It made me cry right then and there. “
KonnectPop: “Turn it up after the pandemic, we had so many new dance groups but also returning crews from all different states. Our show was sold out and we had some Korean media cover it. Our sponsors were everything and supported our vision and dreams.”
10. What advice would you want to give to other people in many areas of Colorado or other cities about making events in their city?
ColoradoKpopper: “I say just do it. If you want it near you or a specific group to be celebrated that other people aren’t hosting for, just do it. Anyone can host. You don’t need permission to do it, you just have to start and stick with it. Start small and slowly work to bigger events. Once you build a standing with your local community more people will come. “
KonnectPop: “Just do it. Make sure to do research, read up on what you want to put it together, and take it step by step. I also suggest asking others if they want to work with you or collaborate.”
11. If you had to turn back time from any past event that you hosted, would you change anything, if so, what would it be?
ColoradoKpopper: “Honestly, I don’t think there is any event I would turn back time to. Not every event will be successful. You live, and you learn through your mistakes, and you will never know something won’t work until you try it once.”
KonnectPop: “You don’t turn back time, you say it with your chest and go through with it. Only take the information you gathered and make future events better. “
12. How do you schedule each of the events you host with your busy schedules?
ColoradoKpopper: “Since I host cupsleeves it really depends on the anniversary or birthday date – I make it work the best I can. But if I can’t, then I just don’t host the event.”
KonnectPop: “Have a very detailed schedule so you know when you’re free and plan ahead.”
13. How do you deal with the negative backlash or comments about events that you have hosted?
ColoradoKpopper: “It’s been hard but I’ve had to learn just to let a lot of it go. But sometimes, if I do respond I’ve learned the best way is through honesty on the situation. I’ve had complaints about the groups I host for, but the answer is I host for who I like, simple as that. I’ve had complaints about location – but again, I host where I am based out of. Just like some don’t want to, or cant travel far to attend, it is hard for me to lug all my supplies to host. Most who give negative comments or backlash have come from a place of treating us like we are businesses and not fans and volunteers. We will never be able to make everyone happy and I have to host in the way that best works for me since it’s my event and ultimately my time and money going into it. If others aren’t happy with my events I always welcome them to host their own that I am happy to support. “
KonnectPop: “They didn’t pay for anything, they do not get a say in something I planned, paid and put effort towards. Our biggest feedback is self criticism and we change future events to make them better. “
14. What is an event that you have wanted to host but couldn’t figure out how to implement it?
ColoradoKpopper: “I don’t really have an event I wasn’t really sure how to implement. The main reason I don’t get an event done is time. I have to prioritize certain events over others. “
KonnectPop: “Kpop prom, it just hasn’t been the right timing because we wanted to host before the pandemic but then needed things to be safe. From then on it was difference in visions, costs and availability. “
15. Do you have any shoutouts or places that people can find you via social media or other platforms?
ColoradoKpopper: “People can find me on my website at Coloradokpopper.com, on Instagram at @thecoloradokpopper or any other social media platform at Coloradokpopper.”
KonnectPop: “Konnectpop on all platforms.
Konnectpop@gmail.com
Our website. Or even just events we host. “
Thank you to both the ColoradoKpopper and KonnectPop for taking the time to answer my questions about Kpop events. I hope that you guys know that what you do is amazing for the Kpop community here in Colorado and I’m excited for what you both will put on in the future!
Readers and fans, I hope you take some of the advice here from both of these amazing people and make events happen in your area!
Hello, readers and fans! Today, I wanted to talk about a fun topic in the K-pop world and that is artists’ songs being featured in International films and TV shows.
The K-pop world has been expanding and growing faster than ever especially in the recent years of the growth of the genre in America and other countries around the world. A lot of K-pop artists often get opportunities to have their songs featured in very popular films and TV shows, and it shows how accepting the film industry has been to the growing popular music genre and its influence on the world.
Here are some K-pop songs that you may have not known were featured in International films and TV shows.
1. “Rising Sun” by TVXQ!
This group is LEGENDARY and has been around for 20 years already. Their track “Rising Sun” was featured in the opening scene of Paul Walker’s character in “Fast & Furious.” This song was already super popular in South Korea back when it was released in 2005, but this track gained a lot of new love in 2009 when the film was released and it was even awarded at the Mnet KM Music Video Festival as “Most Popular Music Video.”
The song is a part of TVXQ!’s 2nd Studio album also called, “Rising Sun.” The lyrics of the song talk about the human nature of struggles, symbolizing how we are gradually losing our innocence as it is manipulated by the circumstances of life. The changes are compared by using the imagery of the fading sunset and the rising sun as the perseverance to break through those challenges.
Original MV
Scene from Fast & Furious that features “Rising Sun”
2. “Nobody” by Wonder Girls
This song is known as a K-pop timeless classic, it was released in 2008 on Wonder Girls first EP, “The Wonder Years: Trilogy”. This was the title track of that EP and was featured on the animated film, “Penguins of Madagascar” in 2014, since the story and the characters match perfectly to the mood of the film. The members of the Wonder Girls considered this to be a HUGE honor and a great opportunity to showcase their music not only to the world but to all Asian artists.
Original MV
Scene from Penguins of Madagascar
3. “Fantastic” by RM of BTS (Feat. Mandy Ventrice)
RM, the leader of BTS, also known as Kim Namjoon and previously Rap Monster, collaborated with the American singer Mandy Ventrice to create a track for the movie, “Fantastic Four”, specifically the reboot. It was released in South Korea as a part of promotion campaigns for the film. The song’s title matched well with the film’s theme, and its lyrics highlighted the challenges and struggles that the heroes may face in the film’s storyline.
Original MV
Scene where the Fantastic was featured
4. “As If It’s Your Last” by Blackpink
This track is a classic Blackpink mega-hit that really took them off in the international and in the South Korean music market. This song was featured in the film, “Justice League”, in 2017. It showed more of their brighter and energetic side, even though the lyrics are talking about love and loss. From being featured in the film, it gained HUGE popularity and was also featured in one episode of Disney Channel’s show, “Amphibia.”
Original MV
Scene from Justice League where the song is featured
Scene from Amphibia where the song is featured
5. “Hangover” by PSY (Feat Snopp Dogg)
A lot of K-pop fans may argue with this, but PSY was one of the first known South Korean artists to be known worldwide because of his mega-hit song, “Gangnam Style,” back in 2012. Two years later, he collaborated with American hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg on “Hangover.”” The energetic track got the attention of the movie, “Black Panther” and was featured in the scene in the busy casino in Busan in the film. The track got a lot of attention and was even premiered on the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show and featured K-pop superstars G-Dragon of Big Bang and CL of 2NE1.
Original MV
Scene where Hangover was featured
6. “Zimzalabim” by Red Velvet
This track by Red Velvet gained a lot of attention for its catchy hook and energetic, bright vibe. The song was featured in the animated film, “Trolls World Tour”, in 2020. In the Korean version of the film, the members of Red Velvet actually lend their voices to the characters that sing their song in the film. The song is a part of their 6th EP, “The ReVe Festival: Day 1,” with the lyrics having an encouraging message for the listener to pursue their biggest dreams.
Scene where the Zimzalabim is featured
7. “Russian Roulette” by Red Velvet
This track is a classic Red Velvet hit and is very popular both in South Korea and internationally. This song was featured in the animated film, “Trolls World Tour,” in 2020. The lively and bright concept of this track fits perfectly in the film’s mood. The song itself talks about using the Russian Roulette game to win someone’s heart in a very humorous and cute way. It was released back in 2016 as a part of their 3rd EP with the same title.
Original MV
Scene where Russian Roulette was featured
8. “Friends” by BTS
This track that BTS released as a sub-unit song with members Jimin and V, two of the original 7 members. The song is featured on their album, “Map of The Soul: 7” and is track number 15. The track was featured in the film, “Eternals” that was produced by Marvel and was Jimin of BTS’ first self-composed song back in 2021. It’s a song that talks about the beauty behind friendship. It explores themes such as trust and shared memories. But it’s extra special since it portrays both singers’ close bond.
Scene where Friends is featured
9. “Not Today” by BTS
The energetic track of “Not Today” was featured in the animated film, “Sing 2.” The song is not only catchy and powerful but has very meaningful lyrics about fighting injustice and corruption. The song was released on their album, “You Never Walk Alone,” back in 2017, and the choreography was inspired by The Lord of The Rings movies.
Original MV
Scene where Not Today was featured
10. “How You Like That?” By Blackpink
The high-energy, girl power, mega-hit track, “How You Like That?”was featured in the animated film, “Hotel Transylvania: Transformina, ” in 2022. The song featured on their studio album, “The Album” and combines different music styles of EDM, hip-hop, and pop, making it a great track for many music audiences.
Original MV
Trailer where How You Like That was featured
11. “Fantastic Baby” by Big Bang
This track is a K-pop classic, a timeless hit that almost every K-pop fan knows and loves. The song was featured in the film, “Pitch Perfect 2,” and used in the trailer for the film’s sequel in 2015. The track was a part of Big Bang’s 2012 album “Alive” that came out in 2012.
Original MV
Trailer where Fantastic Baby was featured
12. “Dynamite” by BTS
This track is a big hit from BTS that was a part of their album, “Be” that was released in 2020. The song was featured in the movie, “Clifford: The Big Red Dog,” which was a film based off of the children’s novel of the same name.
Original MV
Scene from Clifford: The Big Red Dog where Dynamite is featured
13. “Kill This Love” by Blackpink
The mega-smash hit, “Kill This Love,” by Blackpink, got to be featured in the Netflix series, “To All The Boys I Loved Before 2.” This song came out in 2019 from their single album of the same title.
Original MV
Scene where Kill This Love is featured
14. “Gee” by Girls Generation
This is a timeless, K-pop classic that Girls Generation released as their first single back in 2009. The song was featured in the rom-com series, “Into All The Boys Always and Forever,” and was a big surprise for K-pop fans that knew iconic track.
Original MV
Scene where Gee is featured
15. “Lucifer” by Shinee
This iconic, early Shinee track was featured in the series, “Lucifer” and the track itself was released back in 2010. It brought a very dance heavy and fun vibe to the dark series.
Original MV
Scene where Lucifer is featured
16. “I Am The Best” by 2NE1
This iconic, timeless hit by the girl group, 2NE1, was featured in the animated series, “South Park.” The song came out in 2011 and was a part of their 2nd mini album.
Original MV
Scene where I Am The Best is featured
17. “Jopping” by SuperM
This track was SuperM’s debut title track for their album, “SuperM-The 1st Mini Album,” it was featured on the American TV series, “All That” with the members as guest stars on the show.
Original MV
Scene where Jopping was featured
18. “Hero” by Monsta X
Monsta X’s most well-known track, “Hero” was featured on the Cartoon Network animated series, “We Bare Bears,” the show also featured the members as characters in the show. The song is on their EP, “Rush” that came out in 2015.
Original MV
Scene where Hero was featured
19. “Touch My Body” by Sistar
This timeless K-pop hit by Sistar came out in 2014 and was a part of their EP, “Touch N Move.” The song was featured in Family Guy as a part of an episode making K-pop fans jump for joy about it.
Original MV
Scene Where Touch My Body was featured
20. “Q&A” by Cherry Bullet
This track is Cherry Bullet’s debut single released in 2019 on their album, “Let’s Play Cherry Bullet.” The song was featured on the Netflix series, “To All The Boys: Always and Forever,” and was a great energetic track for the series.
Original MV
Series where Q & A is featured
I hope you enjoyed learning about some K-pop songs that were featured in TV Shows and Movies! I’ll see you in the next post.
With the Korean music scene having a variety of different genres, a lot of people have asked me, what are some of your favorite albums that you listen to? This question is usually a little hard for me to answer because I listen to so many artists and groups that it’s sometimes hard to pick just one.
So, in today’s post, I am going to share some of my favorite Korean music albums that I have gone back to time and time again. While seeing my selections, I hope you listen to the full albums yourself and see why I enjoyed that album. I will put when the album came out and how many songs there are so that you can prepare yourself for an expansion of new music in your library.
“WonderEgo” by Crush
Number of Songs: 19 songs
Genre: Korean R&B, Pop, Soul, Jazz Influences
Release Date: November 14th, 2023
Crush is an artist whose music has this timeless effect on the listener, especially long-time devoted fans. This album’s song selections are so incredibly diverse when it comes to how it tells a story throughout the full album as well. Crush’s vocals are truly unique and very recognizable with each song creating that intimacy factor with the listener that I really love. It’s personally an album that left me speechless by the end of listening to it.
Some songs off the album I recommend would be “Bad Habits” featuring artist LeeHi which has this smooth trap R&B sound with beautiful pianos that are goosebump-inducing, I still get chills listening to the song every time. “A Man Like Me” left me with a lot of nostalgia from old school 90s R&B from when I was a child like Boyz II Men, Ne-yo, Usher, etc which instantly put a smile on my face. The song itself has a lot of funk influences in it like the basses and keyboards, as well as saxophones that create this jazz club vibe.
“Dual” by The Rose
Number of Songs: 11
Genre: Korean Indie-Rock
Released Date: September 22nd, 2023
The Rose is a K-band that has truly made albums that have been life-changing for the people who listen. This album’s mood has so many different storylines and emotions that at some point had me in tears and another had me smiling from ear to ear. This album really had me feeling like I was on a journey with the band with how well each song was placed on the album. It’s honestly an unforgettable project that has truly been one I recommend to several friends.
Some songs that I recommend from the album are “You’re Beautiful”, this track in particular had me in tears at one point with how powerful the message on the track was talking about accepting yourself for all your flaws and everything about yourself which is great for people in all walks of life. “Lifeline” is a song that I immediately fell in love with because of the upbeat message and the party vibe that came with the production that just made me smile from ear to ear. It was in a way very comforting. Definitely, an album I recommend if you are a lover of indie-rock.
“Unlock My World” by Fromis_9
Number of songs: 10
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: June 5th, 2023
Fromis_9 is a group that I have been following for a long time and the girls have shown me that they are still so different and unique compared to many other girl groups that I have listened to in the past.
This album for me was definitely one I had to add to the list because it was an album that made me believe in myself in how far that I have come. The songs on the album are very beautiful and have very unique and fun productions that create a new vibe as you listen through each song on the album.
Some songs that I recommend from the album are “#menow”, this track is the title track of the project and it has a great message of saying “look at where I am now, I’m better than I was then and I am a better person because of how I feel now”. The song’s production is very bright and fun with this very relaxed R&B vibe about it that makes it great to enjoy in any setting. “Eye Contact”, this song has a cute message of how powerful of a connection someone feels when making eye contact with someone that you are attracted to. I really love the very 2010s K-pop feel about the song with the addition of the electric guitars adding this very grudge rock vibe to it.
“Chill Kill” by Red Velvet
Number of songs: 10
Genre: K-Pop, Korean R&B
Release Date: November 13th, 2023
Red Velvet is one of the first K-pop girl groups that I ever followed when I first got into K-pop and they truly have shown me time and time again how they effortlessly show a new side of themselves through each release.
This album is truly a masterpiece in my opinion, from the diversity of the album’s tracks, the stories, and how each track flows into each other so well, it truly showcases a really mature side to the group and that they are open to experimenting with different styles throughout the project. During so many songs in the project, I found myself immersed in the song’s energy and emotions, I even closed my eyes at some points.
Some songs from the album that I recommend are “Underwater” and “Iced Coffee”. “Underwater” is the third track on the album that has a powerful trap pop production that really left me with so many goosebumps just from the first few notes and had this sensual vibe about it that was very different for the group that I really enjoyed.
“Iced Coffee” is a really bright and calming love song using the representation of Iced Coffee to symbolize falling in love with how they feel fascinated and infatuated with someone comparing it to the feeling of drinking iced coffee. The song was definitely one that I listened to often while driving or writing.
“New DNA” by XG
Number of songs: 6
Genre: K-pop, Korean Hip-hop, Korean R&B
Release Date: September 27th, 2023
XG is a girl group that has taken my heart with how creative and innovative they have been with their releases since they debuted. This project I feel really showcased their encouraging message that they try to include in all of their music and is really motivating for everyone who listens.
This album is definitely one that took me by surprise and each track really had such a unique sound about it that really showed you new sides to the group. Each song on the project had its own character and energy about it that really got me fired up for all the girls’ future projects.
Some songs I recommend from this album are “Puppet Show” and “TGIF”. “TGIF” is definitely a self-love anthem, the production has a very cultured voguing beat about it that makes it so much fun and energetic, getting you hyped up about life. “Puppet Show” is a very bright and colorful dance-pop track that has this almost electronic dance production with fun R&B elements that was very different for the group from previous tracks on the album. The bridge section was definitely one of my favorite parts. It’s definitely a great album to listen to when you need a pick-me-up.
“B: Complete” by AB6IX
Number of songs: 7
Genre: K-pop, Korean Hip-hop, Korean R&B
Release Date: May 22nd, 2019
AB6IX is one of those groups that is a hidden gem and their music really represents how they want to showcase themselves to the world. I feel that they are often overlooked and not always taken a look at, I have been a fan of the group since this album came out and I’m always excited for their releases.
This album was a showstopper, it has so many great songs that showcase each member’s personality and how strong their individuality shines on every song on this album. The songs each have a very diverse production and sound that really makes the group stand out. This album really made me look deeper into the group as well as appreciate lesser-known artists.
Some songs that I recommend from this album are, “Absolute” and “Friendzone”. “Absolute” showcases a lot of the powerful strong hip-hop side of AB6IX with the hard-hitting production and raps to the beautiful and fluid vocals. ”Friendzone” showcases AB6IX’s bright and youthful side with a very colorful and radiant production with relaxed vocals and playful raps. It’s definitely an unforgettable album.
“Don’t Mess Up My Tempo” by EXO
Number of songs: 11
Genre: K-pop, Korean Hip-hop, Korean R&B
Release Date: November 2nd, 2018
EXO similarly to Shinee is a group that has a very timeless, beautiful, incredible discography. They were one of the many first K-pop groups that was of the 2nd generation that I got into immediately.
This album in particular was just outstanding from the beginning to the end of the album. There were so many great mixtures of genres throughout this album with each track providing an album that was honestly made for everyone who chose to listen. From the sexy b-sides to the energetic title track “Tempo”, there was absolutely nothing but satisfaction that I got from listening to the album.
Some songs that I recommend from the album are, “Sign”, “Damage”, and “Smile On My Face”. “Smile on My Face” is towards the end of the album and I often still listen to this song when I need comfort. It’s a beautiful reminder of all the things that you tried to do with a smile on your face even though you may have not felt like smiling at the moment which is such a beautiful message. “Damage” is a strong hip-hop track on the album that I really love because of the beautiful vocals, the insane music production, and the incredibly confident raps. And lastly, “Sign” was a track that really surprised me upon the first listen, I honestly was blown away by the vocals especially, on this track with the very electronic dance-pop production. It was a track that I still replay all the time.
“Cherry Wish” by Cherry Bullet
Number of songs: 5
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: March 2nd, 2022
Cherry Bullet is a girl group that I feel is so underappreciated for how hard they work for their discography. I found them right before their debut with “Q&A” and immediately fell in love.
This album in particular of theirs is one that I remember playing on repeat when it came out. The girls made this album like a utopian escape for the listener with all the unique productions, especially in the title track “Love in Space”. I think that this album really showcases Cherry Bullet’s full potential the best and made me realize how much I love them.
Songs that I recommend from this album are, “Love in Space” and “My Boo”. “My Boo” definitely shows off a new side to the girls with the dance-pop production with some colorful vocals and the boost of serotonin that the song itself gives you. “Love in Space” was definitely a great title track for the album, I think it created a whole new experience for new and current fans of the group, it was definitely one that I have stuck in my head a lot.
“Percent” by Apink
Number of songs: 6
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: January 7th, 2019
Apink is a girl group that to me has always had some of the most catchy and fun tracks in their discography. I remember falling in love with them from their song “Mr. Chu” and just immediately loving them.
This album in particular is very addictive and full of so many good productions. The vocals were very impressive throughout the album and really created that early 90s pop vibe that I liked growing up.
Songs on the album that I recommend are, “Hug Me” and the title track “%% (Eung Eung)”. “Hug Me” has this almost Mariah Carey feel about it that has that smooth R&B factor with some fun pop elements with gorgeous vocals. “%% (Eung Eung)” is a very dance-pop track that has a lot of really cool open space in the production that draws you into the drop to the chorus that I really love.
“Veri-able” by Verivery
Number of songs: 5
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: April 24th, 2019
Verivery is a group that I have personally been following since pre-debut. Every album that they have put out always blows me away with how incredible and authentic it sounds every time.
This album in particular is a timeless classic for Verivery with all the songs written by the members and how it really brought a lot of people to them after their very successful debut album. I constantly listen to this album all the time and always recommend anyone getting into Verivery to listen to it.
Songs from the album that I recommend are, “All I Do”, “Light Up”, and the title track “From Now”. “Light Up” is a very laidback tropical house pop track on the album that just always makes me smile especially the line “You light up my life”. “All I Do” is definitely an unforgettable track for me, I love to listen to this song when I want to relax or just need comfort. It’s a personal favorite. “From Now” is a very bright, upbeat track on the album with some fun pianos and drums that make the track very addictive.
“Devil” by Changmin of TVXQ!
Number of songs: 6
Genre: Korean R&B/Soul, K-pop
Release Date: January 13th, 2022
Changmin is one of the first 2nd generation idols I fell in love with especially when watching TVXQ!’s music videos. His voice is so passionate yet graceful, it really draws you into his performance.
This album in particular, was mouth-dropping, when I heard it for the first time, I felt this dark story behind it that Changmin was trying to say through each song on the album but also includes some light at the end of the tunnel with some of the brighter songs on the album as well. It’s definitely an album that will pull at your heartstrings.
Some songs from the album that I recommend are, the title track “Devil” and “Maniac”. “Maniac” is definitely a soul-pop track on the album that has a very quirky side to it similar to the track below it “Alien” that showed a new side to Changmin that I really enjoyed. “Devil” is a very powerful soul R&B track on the album, it has this powerful story of being stuck in difficult situations and hardships, with the internal struggle of choosing the harder path in life and trying to find a way out. The devil represents the feeling of fear and negative emotions that someone would feel during those times which is so relatable to many people.
“Limitless” by NCT 127
Number of songs: 6
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: January 6th, 2017
NCT 127 was the first boy group that I ever saw in concert and had my first ever ultimate bias Moon Taeil. I have loved how diverse and full their sound has always been, it always brings me back to so many great memories in my first years of being a K-pop fan.
This album in particular, is what they call an oldie but a goodie, so many great tracks full of tons of passion and emotions that just make you feel alive. I always have this album in my head as one of the greatest releases from NCT 127.
Songs from this album that I recommend are, “Back 2 U (AM 01: 27)” and the title track “Limitless”. “Back 2 U (AM 01: 27)” is a gorgeous R&B track on this album with a very relaxed vibe with a very powerful and emotional story behind it that I really enjoy. “Limitless” is a very strong dance-pop track on the album that just always brings a smile to my face and is so fun to listen to anywhere at any time.
“Sherlock” by Shinee
Number of songs: 7
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: March 21st, 2012
Shinee is one of the most timeless groups in the K-pop music scene being a group that has been together since 2008, they still continue to amaze me with their dedication and passion for music.
This album in particular is what they call a K-pop classic, one that will never get old no matter how many times you listen to it. The album has many incredibly diverse tracks with addictive and fun early 2000s pop productions that just bring you back to the Golden Age of K-pop.
Songs I recommend from this album are, “Stranger (Korean Version)” and the title track “Sherlock (Clue + Note)”. “Stranger (Korean Version)” has a Japanese version and it is a throwback early 2000s dance-pop track that just gets you up and dancing and honestly puts a smile on my face every time that I hear it. “Sherlock (Clue + Note)” is one of many popular title tracks that has an addictive hook, a catchy chorus, and a really fun dance if you watch the music video. “Let’s give it up for SHINEEEE!”
“Nature World: Code M” by Nature
Number of songs: 3
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: June 17th, 2020
Nature is currently disbanded but when they did make music, the music was so experimental and very different from a lot of the girl groups that came out during the time that they were together.
This single album that Nature put out was probably one of the most empowering and beautiful albums that the girls ever put out. I was immediately drawn to this album in particular because of the title track music video “Girls” which was actually inspired by the horror movie “Carrie” which was an incredible reference to a classic movie.
Songs from this single album that I recommend are, “Dive” and the title track “Girls”. “Dive” is a dance-pop track with tropical EDM influences that are so bright and colorful, the vocals are absolutely stunning, and create such an amazing mood and atmosphere for the album. “Girls” is a strong R&B pop title track, the very dark and mysterious production really drew me into the song itself. It’s one of those tracks that I will never forget.
“Kai-The 1st Mini Album” by Kai of EXO
Number of songs: 6
Genre: K-pop, Korean R&B
Release Date: November 30th, 2020
Kai is one of the members of EXO that, not only stands out visually and dance wise but has a gorgeous vocal tone that is so full and fluid that I always enjoy in EXO’s music projects, he really showcases himself well.
This album in particular I really loved because you really got to see a new vulnerable side to Kai throughout each song on this album. I felt like he was telling his story throughout listening and it was really beautiful. I personally have thought of Kai as a great dancer but listening to this album really showed me how great of an overall performer he really is.
Songs from this album that I recommend are, “Ride or Die”, “Amnesia”, and “Nothing On Me”. “Nothing on Me” is a sensual trap R&B track on the album that really shows off Kai’s sexy side, this track in particular, is very similar in mood to the title track “MMMH” and shows off Kai’s strong charisma which was very enjoyable. “Amnesia” is a goosebump-including pop R&B track on this album, I felt this track really had so many great qualities in both the vocals and the production, I honestly had it on repeat while listening to the album for the first time. “Ride or Die” is a soft pop-funk track on the album with some R&B elements, Kai really expresses himself the best I think from this track on the album, I felt so much of his emotion through the track which made it super replay worthy.
“Bambi” by Baekhyun
Number of Songs: 6
Genre: Korean R&B/Soul, Jazz Influences
Release Date: March 30th, 2021
Baekhyun is one of the members of EXO that I fell in love with for his voice and personality. His range and stability is actually insane with every solo and EXO release that he is a part of.
This album in particular, really showed me Baekhyun’s more emotional and powerful side to himself. He really showcased himself in a new light compared to his first two albums “City Lights” and “Delight”. This project is very mature and full of so much passion, so many times I had goosebumps while listening and I listened to this project a lot.
Songs from this album that I recommend are, “All I Got”, “Cry For Love”, and the title track “Bambi”. “All I Got” is a soul R&B track on the album that really shows off Baekhyun’s vocal range the best out of all the songs he has put out in general. I also get chills every time this track comes on, it just really takes you to a new place when you listen to it. “Bambi” is a sensual R&B track on the album that I feel really showed Baekhyun’s more mature side of him as a performer, he has a lot of full and stable vocals that carry this track to a new destination. “Cry For Love” is a very emotional R&B track on the album that I think showed Baekhyun’s vulnerable side, similar to “All I Got”, I got immediate chills from the vocals and production, Baekhyun’s vocal range here is also INSANE.
“Catch The Young: Fragments of Youth” by Catch the Young
Number of songs: 7
Genre: K-Rock
Release Date: November 1st, 2023
Catch the Young is a newly debuted K-rock band that has really taken my heart recently. Their overall sound and vibe as a band really has made me appreciate K-rock music again especially, with their experimental sound.
This debut album really blew me away, I honestly never thought that I could fall so hard for K-band album so quickly but this album really impressed with all the different styles of rock that were influenced on this album and how well each track flowed together to create this flawless masterpiece.
Songs from this album that I would recommend are, The title tracks “YOUTH!!” and “Cactus Boy”, and also “Talking to Myself”. “Talking to Myself” is a very 70s rock-inspired track on this album, the track has a lot of fun elements like the synths and keyboards, with the very bright drums and guitars. The vocals are absolutely stunning on this track as well. “Cactus Boy” is the 2nd title track of this debut album it is very anthem-like with a touch of softness that creates this very intimate vibe for the track that I really enjoy that reminded me a lot of early 2000s rock. “YOUTH!!” is the first title track on this album and is a very bright 60s rock-inspired track on the album that is a boost of serotonin and a great way to showcase the band’s overall performance value. It’s definitely a song I had on repeat when it came out.
“Fairyforest: Temptation” by PIXY
Number of songs: 9
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: October 7th, 2021
PIXY is a girl group that I have always been impressed with since their debut song “Wings” and they are a group that I will continue to support until their disbandment.
This album in particular, is one that I listen to a lot, the album has so much character, mystery, and a lot of gorgeous vocals with very confident raps. I really felt the mood of this album really captured PIXY’s concept really well. Each of the songs really had its own flavor that really showcased PIXY’s style that I really loved. I continuously listen to this album all the time and will always love it.
Songs that I recommend from this album are, “Bewitched” and “Addicted”. “Addicted” has this dark, sexy, and eery vibe about it that really draws you into the mood of the album, I really enjoyed the way this track has this story and also keeps you on your toes. “Bewitched” was the title track of this album and I really loved this track because of the intimate softness it has with the vocals. The production has this empty space with a really cool electronic dance-pop element that really surprised me that I liked a lot.
“Fame” by Han Seungwoo of Victon
Number of songs: 6
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: August 10th, 2020
Han Seungwoo is an artist that I have been supporting since he first appeared on Produce 101 for X1. His voice and his personality really drew me in and kept me as a loyal fan of him in Victon and as a solo artist.
This album in particular, I really got to see Han Seungwoo’s individual artistry shine and radiate throughout this entire project. He showcased his style and vocals super well with how he carried the mood and vibe of this album, he really made me realize the reason that I decided to follow him as an artist.
Songs from this album that I recommend are, “I Just Want Love”, “Reply”, and the title track “Sacrifice”. “Reply” is a very bright and upbeat pop track on the album with some playful R&B elements that I think showcase Seungwoo’s fun and youthful side which was honestly a great track for him. ” I Just Want Love” is a smooth pop R&B track on the album that also showcased Seungwoo’s more mature side of him with the overwhelming charisma and swagger that he carried through the track. He also did some melodic rapping on here which was a really great addition. “Sacrifice”, the title track of the album is a very sexy pop track on the album with some R&B elements. This track in particular showed a more vulnerable side to Seungwoo in terms of the lyrics and the track has a super addictive chorus and hook that will get stuck in your head.
“Alpha” by CL of 2NE1
Number of songs: 11
Genre: Korean Hip-Hop, K-pop
Release Date: October 20th, 2021
CL is one of the most legendary Korean female Hip-hop artists of all time in my opinion. She has always dedicated herself to creating incredible music since she was in the group 2NE1 which debuted in 2009.
This album in particular really showed CL’s powerful energy that she gives off in all her albums and singles like “The Baddest Female”. She also showed a more vulnerable side of herself on some of the soft songs on this album that I really loved seeing from her.
Songs from this album I recommend are, “Tie A Cherry”, “Lover Like Me”, and the title track “Spicy”. “Tie A Cherry” is a pop hip-hop track on the album that CL released to celebrate individuality and self-confidence, the lyrics really show how she carries strength in faces of doubt and darkness with perseverance to overcome all the obstacles in her way. “Spicy”, the title track of the album is another self-confidence-boosting track on the album with a strong trap hip-hop production and really showcases her rap style the best. “Lover Like Me” shows CL’s vocal style really well and how she carries a vulnerable story with this track honestly blew me away while listening.
“Growth” by DKB
Number of Songs: 5
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: October 26th, 2020
DKB is a group that I have been following since their debut, they are a group with many talents and really show you their individuality and diversity through their music and performances.
This album in particular, is my favorite because of how flowy and charismatic it is. The songs all have their own attitude and the vibe about them really grabs the listener right away. The raps are so carefree and fun with the beautiful vocals that really show so much passion and strength.
Songs I recommend from this album are, the title track “Work Hard” and “Take Care”. “Take Care” is a pop R&B track with some hip-hop elements, it has this gorgeous airy feeling with the very relaxed production. The vocals are stunning and really pull at your heartstrings. The raps are very charismatic and confident which with the vocals shows something like two sides of a conversation which really makes you pay attention to the words. “Work Hard” is a pop R&B track on the album, it has this smoothness about it that really makes you feel calm but the lyrics give you this warm and cozy feeling which I loved.
“Be Awake” by The Boyz
Number of Songs: 6
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: February 20th, 2023
The Boyz is a group that I have been following since 2019, I have really enjoyed their projects. They really have showed me time and time again how much love and care that they put into each album.
This album in particular showed me a very mature and sensual side that the group hasn’t really done in a long time and it honestly blew me away with how much this album showed how much the group is open to experimenting with different music styles. Both the vocals and raps really blew me away with how they expressed every attitude and emotion that each track brought to the table.
Songs from this album I recommend are, “Awake” and “Savior”. “Savior” is a gorgeous trap R&B track on the album with absolutely stunning vocals and confident raps that showcase the group’s overall performance value. “Awake” is a very dark and mysterious pop R&B track with hip-hop elements. The track itself has this addictive hook and chorus that draws you into the track’s storyline and the overall mood of the album itself which really made me very curious when I first listened to the album at its release.
“V” by Vanner
Number of songs: 17
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: February 14th, 2019
Vanner is a group that I got into during the pandemic in 2020. I have really loved seeing their growth and perseverance to continue making music despite the difficulties that they have faced in the past.
This album in particular, their debut album, was one that really drew me into Vanner’s group dynamic and sound. I really fell in love with how they tried to include many genres and attitudes through each track on this album.
Songs from this album I would recommend are, “Better Do Better” and “Trampoline”. “Trampoline” is a really energetic dance-pop track on their debut album. It has a lot of charisma and passion with an addictive beat that will get you up and dancing. “Better Do Better” is the title track of this album is a very vibrant and youthful track that really shows off Vanner’s charms, it’s definitely a great track to listen to while driving or with friends.
“into the ICE AGE” by MCND
MCND is a group that I have been following since the release of their pre-debut track “Top Gang”. Their music has really been incredible to see the growth of since the beginning and I’m always excited for their releases.
This debut album was honestly one of the best debut albums that I have heard from a lesser-known group. The songs are vibrant, fun, carefree, and full of so many colors that really showcase MCND’s charms and energy to the world. It’s one of their albums that is honestly unforgettable especially, for long-time fans.
Songs I recommend from the album are, “Top Gang” and “Hey You”. “Top Gang” is a very strong hip-hop track on their album that really embodies the confident attitude that MCND has in their performance and what they bring to the table in general. “Hey You” is a track that shows off MCND’s cuter and more youthful side to them. The vocals are absolutely stunning and blew me away while listening and the raps are so carefree and charismatic.
“Harmony: All In” by P1harmony
Number of songs: 6
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: June 8th, 2023
P1harmony is a group that I have been following since their debut. I have always been blown away by every project that they have released and I am always excited for what they have to bring to the table every year.
This album in particular is honestly an album that I felt really helped me see how unique and diverse P1harmony really is with how they experiment with their vocals, raps, and productions. It was an album to me that was life-changing in every regard.
Songs I recommend from this album are, “I Am You” and “Heartbeat Drum”. “I Am You” is a gorgeous R&B ballad on this album that to me is very comforting and honestly made me super emotional when I first listened to it. This track showed a very vulnerable side to the group that I honestly did not expect at all. “Heartbeat Drum” is a very energetic and anthem-like track on their album. The raps are very confident and show off the individual talents of the rap line of the group and the vocals are beautiful, stable, and clear providing a great balance to the track.
“ZERO: FEVER Part. 2” by ATEEZ
Number of Songs: 7
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: March 1st, 2021
ATEEZ is a group that I have been following since their debut and they are a group that has truly changed the game for the quality of music in the K-pop music scene.
This album in particular is honestly one of the best albums of 2021, period. I think the way this album truly changed so many peoples’ lives and really gave them that extra edge in the international music market. They gave 137% to this masterpiece.
Songs I recommend from this album are, “Take Me Home” and “Fireworks (I’m The One)”. “Fireworks (I’m The One)” is a very addictive and fiery title track that honestly took me by surprise when I first listened to it. It’s still a track that I am obsessed with to this day. “Take Me Home” is a track to me that is like a breath of fresh air and I thought was a great addition to the album after a few of the energetic tracks it really helped the mood of the album and to balance it out.
“The Beginning: 始作” by ATBO
Number of Songs: 6
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: October 26th, 2022
ATBO is a group that I feel like is super underrated, their music is incredibly diverse and full of so many colors. I have been following them since their formation and I am always excited for their releases.
This album in particular I believe was their peak into the K-pop music scene. It has a great variety of tracks that really showcase ATBO’s charms and diverse music choices. They have this radiant energy that really shines throughout the full album that I really enjoyed while listening.
Songs that I recommend from this album are, “MAGIC” and “Good Vibes Only”. “Good Vibes Only” is a very soothing and gorgeous pop track on the album. From listening I could picture a music video in a park setting with the birds flying out and just enjoying the sunshine. “MAGIC” is a very upbeat tropical pop track on the album, this track had me smiling from ear to ear, and just made me feel at I was at the beach dancing with the group.
“HJZM: The Butterfly Phantasy” by A.C.E
Number of Songs: 5
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: September 2nd, 2020
A.C.E is a group that I have been following since 2019 and they are such a great group of men that truly carry themselves so well in every release dedicating so much time and effort into their craft that I really just can’t help but fall in love with.
This album in particular took my breath away with every song that is featured on the album. It has this amazing connection to the listener with how each song tells its own individual story from top to bottom. I just can’t help but just say how incredibly talented each member is on this album and how much it deserves all the love in the world.
Songs from this album that I would recommend are, “Golden Goose” and “Baby Tonight”. “Baby Tonight” is a gorgeous pop R&B track on the album that is full of A.C.E’s talents and charms, its production just puts you in a great mood and gets you excited for the next track. “Golden Goose” is an upbeat dance hip-hop pop track on the album. The track really showcases A.C.E’s more energetic and performance side which has great raps and vocals.
“History of Kingdom: Pt. III. Ivan” by Kingdom
Number of Songs: 7
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: October 21st, 2021
Kingdom is a group that I have been following since their debut. Kingdom is a criminally underrated royal concept group that has truly one of the most unique music styles that makes you feel that you are in a cinematic masterpiece.
This album in particular, is an album that really took you into a fantasy war movie, the music is so unique and full of visuals that you can really picture everything that is happening as you listen. I also got so many goosebumps while listening to this album.
Songs from this album that I recommend are, “Fallen Star” and “Black Crown”. “Fallen Star” is a very peaceful soft pop track with gorgeous vocals and smooth, melodic raps that really creates this visual of a beautiful night sky with your favorite person. “Black Crown” is this epic fantasy pop track on the album, this track has this beauty about it but also a strong performance aspect to it similar to what you would see in a war fantasy movie. The vocals were really the star of the show for me with how powerful and clear they were. The raps were very charismatic and strong which made the song even better.
“HELLO Chapter 3: Hello, Strange Time” by CIX
Number of Songs: 5
Genre: K-pop
Release Date: October 27th, 2020
CIX is one of those groups that I don’t hear many people talking about. I have been following them since their debut and they have had nothing but hit after hit in all their releases.
This album in particular, really showed me CIX’s star quality and how they interpret music in so many different ways. I was blown away by how much emotion and passion was used in every track on this album. I was honestly speechless by the end of the album.
Songs I recommend from this album are, “Rebel” and “Jungle”. “Jungle” is the title track of this album and is a powerful pop R&B track on the album. The production with the organs and simple synths brings forward a lot of vulnerable emotions that the members portray so well through the vocals and raps. I got automatic chills while listening to this track especially, towards the bridge section of the track. “Rebel” is a beautiful R&B track towards the end of the album. The echoing vocals with the very smooth production really brought together a great ending for the album.
Thank you for reading my selections, I hope that you check out these albums for yourself and I am happy that I can expose you to any albums you may have never heard of. See you in the next post!
Hello, readers and fans, Today, I am here to talk about how to volunteer for a K-pop concert from the perspective of a volunteer. As most of you know K-pop concerts have a variety of staff from the staging, sound, etc. So, a lot of the time, these tours will often ask for people to help them out on the tour whether they are a part of that company’s staff or local people in the area.
I personally have worked with MC Entertainment in the past with their volunteer staff for Omega X in San Antonio during their Connect Tour, and I worked with Powerhouse Entertainment for the Born Pink Blackpink tour in Houston, which I worked on in 2022. Now, both of these situations were definitely different in terms of the flow of how things were organized, the tasks, the times to go to the venue, etc.
The volunteer I would like to mention is my good friend Jessica Muhihu who has a lot of good information and experience working multiple shows and events for the past few years.
What is your personal experience working with different companies?
Jessica: “So, initially, working in live events with a focus on the live music industry was supposed to start off as a hobby (it still is a hobby but I’m a lot more into it than intended). I’ve worked with many different companies since I’ve started and there are definitely positives and negatives to all of them (some that I would also not work for again). Mainly working in music, a lot of companies have a street team to start off with so that they can see your dedication.
For those who aren’t familiar with a street team, it can vary from getting physical posters and putting them up in your city or using your SNS platforms to promote a show. I started off with a street team and by the end there could be either no reward at all or the biggest one leading up to either comp tickets for the show or getting to work the show itself.
Every company is different and doesn’t all work the same with the street team. Since then, it’s been opportunity after opportunity getting to work shows. “
How did you get these opportunities to these shows?
Jessica: “The way to build up more opportunities is much based on networking because there will always be people with more experience and influence in the industry that can help you gain more opportunities. Depending on what you do with one company, for example being a runner, you can then roll over and work for a different company and offer up that you have experience in that certain position which then can rollover and benefit you with a different company as well. All in all, there are many eyes so, professionalism is a MAJOR thing when on the clock.
Moreover, when they make it far enough to work a show to be RIDICIOUSLY professional. Pertaining to my initial message, there are many eyes and people who have a lot of experience. If we see you acting like a fan while working, it won’t take much from those of us with a standing to tell the representative about the way you’re acting. I’ve seen it plenty of times and after a small report like that, it’s hard to recover. If that company doesn’t rehire you, but we see you volunteer for a different opportunity the guests will still be up. It’s sad that that’s the way it has to go, but it’s a safety risk and can cause a lot of issues between a promoter company and the artist company.”
What should people look for in the volunteer form in regards to what the companies look for?
Jessica: “All forms I’ve seen have specified “live events/concerts” when asking about experience. Apart from that, everything has been straight forward.”
How can you tell if the opportunity is paid or not?
Jessica: “Bigger promotional companies will almost always pay. If an opportunity arises to work a show, it will most definitely say if it’s paid or not and if it is the rate for the night. Smaller companies have very little to zero paid opportunities and such would be volunteering. If there’s any confusion someone has, I definitely encourage them to reach to the poster of the form if the poster is the poster is the representative itself.
I will add that gaining whatever experience you can is very important whether it’s paid or not, but personally for me, if it’s at an arena or stadium tour, it had to be paid. If the person themself is okay with volunteering that’s perfectly fine, but to deal with that capacity of people honestly shouldn’t be for free.”
If someone travels to volunteer at multiple shows, how do they look at someone versus someone who would only do a show locally?
Jessica: “Truthfully and unfortunately, someone who’s able to travel will look more appealing than someone who just works locally. That doesn’t count in the fact of if the person who only works locally lives in one of the big main cities where tours always pass through. In my opinion, being able to travel for shows dedication and resourcefulness. Given that my state has very little opportunity, I have to travel to get a lot of the opportunities.”
How often do you personally travel to work shows?
Jessica: “At this point it’s almost every week or every other week but I’m fortunate in the stance that I have people I can stay with so hotel money isn’t an issue for me. Even if I’m only working a show, the day of the show (no airport assistance, no hotel set up) I still get to chill out and enjoy my time being out of town.”
The next volunteer I would like to bring up is Kiki, who has experience working many concerts from 2006-2017 for local bands at a young age and recently started going again in May 2023. She has also worked doing merch, tour management, and marketing prior to this May.
What brings you the most joy when you volunteer?
Kiki: “For me, the thing that brings me the most joy is seeing how happy people are seeing their favorite artist live and being part of that experience. It may seem insignificant to some people, seeing some idol or singer- but for others it’s a moment of pure happiness, and seeing that brings me a lot of joy.
If any, what are your pet peeves when it comes to your past volunteer experiences?
Kiki: “The lack of communication leading up to events can be very frustrating. Sometimes, we don’t find out until the day of or a few days before, in which case you have to be willing to rearrange your schedule, and if you work another job, find appropriate coverage.”
How do you incorporate volunteering for shows into your daily life?
Kiki: “For me, it’s become a habit to check the places where opportunities are posted daily. Managing my schedule and time to allow for these opportunities can be difficult at times, but it is very much worth it.”
How would you encourage or motivate others to volunteer who have never done it in the past?
Kiki: “If you have a passion for music & live events, or even just want to see what it’s like- go for it! You never know until you try, right? My very first opportunity after having not worked in live events since pre-COVID was driving to Phoenix and jumping right in by volunteering to work for Mamamoo. I was terrified! But it was so much fun, and seeing so many fans be so happy and excited gave me a lot of energy and happiness. It’s where I met the woman who took me under her wing, changed my life, and put me on a path that brings joy to my life when I was in a really dark place.”
How do you deal with difficult situations with other concert staff or goers?
Kiki: “I think every crowd will always have someone who will be difficult, but part of the job is helping that person who’s being difficult have a better day and be less difficult. More often than not, what I’ve found is that if someone is being disrespectful, it’s because of some need of theirs isn’t being met, or an expectation they had wasn’t met. It’s part of our jobs on the hospitality end to make them happy and get those needs and expectations met to the best of our abilities.”
What do you think is crucial for people to have or know when in the process for volunteering?
Kiki: “It’s something that takes a lot of work and dedication, for very little financial gain. Not every opportunity will be paid, especially not in K-pop, because right now, a lot of the tour companies aren’t big enough to pay staffers the way major companies do. Even though we have huge international acts like BTS and Blackpink, K-pop still isn’t “mainstream” enough for many paid opportunities. If you’re in it for the money, you’re not going to get very far. Also, if you are in it to just meet idols or whatever, that’s also not the reality of the job. However, if you have a passion for music and making people happy, you’ll likely do well!”
Thank you to these two incredible women for giving me their time to talk about their volunteering experience and to answer some of my questions. If you are looking to volunteer for a concert of any kind, please take in all the advice given here by these two women, and I hope you decide to volunteer in the future!
Hello, readers and fans! Today, I am here to discuss some groups that have debuted in 2023. This year of K-pop has honestly been INSANE with drops from current artists but some of these newer ones are just now starting their journey and I wanted to introduce to you a couple of them and their debut songs, or if they haven’t debuted yet their pre-debut releases.
WHIB
Formerly known as M.I.C, is an 8-member boy group under CjeS Entertainment. The members consist of Jayder, Haseung, Jinbeom, Ugeon, Leejeong, Jaeha, Inhong, and Wonjun.
Their name is a compound word of the two opposite colors “white” and “black” meaning that they will show a variety of charms. They made their official debut with their single album “Cut Out” with the title track, “Bang!” on October 23rd, 2023.
2. X:IN
A 5-member multinational girl group under Escrow Entertainment. The members include E.Sha, Nizz, Nova, Hannah, and Aria. The group originally had 7 members with the last two members Chi.u and Roa, who left the group for personal reasons.
Before they debuted they released 2 pre-debut singles, “Who Am I” March 12th, 2023, and “Keeping the Fire” on April 11th, 2023.
The group made their official debut on August 30th, 2023, with their first mini album, “Synchronicity” with the title track, “Synchronize”.
3. ZeroBaseOne
A boy group formed through Mnet’s reality competition show, “Boys Planet” this year. They are currently managed by WakeOne Entertainment. The group has 9-members which are Kim Jiwoong, Zhang Hao, Sung Hanbin, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, Park Gunwook, and Han Yujin.
The name ZeroBaseone represents the journey of the nine trainees to be completed as one after their debut. It refers to the glorious beginning of the nine members, starting from zero and ending with one. It implies the members’ commitment to share with their fans the unfinished journey of their group from zero to one.
The group made their official debut on July 10th, 2023 with the EP, “Youth in the Shade” with the title track, “In Bloom”.
4. Kiss of Life
A 4-member girl group under S2 Entertainment. The members consist of Julie, Natty, Belle, and Haneul.
One of the members, Julie, explains the group’s name, meaning like this “KISS OF LIFE,” which is our group’s name, and the title of our debut EP, refers to the mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration method. Like the name, we plan on revitalizing and bringing fresh life to the K-pop scene.”
The group made their official debut on July 5th, 2023, with their debut mini-album, “Kiss of Life”, with the title track, “SHH.”
5. TOZ
A 4-member group under YY Entertainment. The members include Anthonny, Hart, Yuto, and Takuto. The group members are former survival show participants from Boys Planet, Produce 101 Japan Season 2, and LOUD. Their group name means To Our Zone.
Anthonny was on Produce 101 Japan ranking 18th place. Hart was a contestant on Loud until the 4th round where he was eliminated. Yuto and Takuto, along with Hart and Anthonny all competed on Boys Planet.
The group debuted on September 27th, 2023 with their debut mini album, “Flare” with the title track, “Magic Hour.”
6. EL7Z UP
A project female supergroup formed through the Mnet reality competition show “Queendom Puzzle.” The group is managed by Apple Monster and DG Entertainment and is composed of seven members: Kei from Lovelyz, Yeeun from CLC, Yeoreum from WJSN, Yeonhee from Rocket Punch, Nana from Woo!ah!, Hwiseo from H1-Key, and Yuki from Purple Kiss.
The group’s name EL7Z UP is the word “Puzzle” spelled backwards, with the number 7 representing the number of members in the group and replacing one of the “z”. The name represents “the best seven members the audience puzzled out.
The group made their official debut on September 14th, 2023 with their EP, “7+UP” with the title track, “Cheeky.”
7. POW
A 5-member group under GRID Entertainment, the members include Yorch, Hyunbin, Jungbin, Dongyeon, and Hong. Their group name means that they wish to blow up the scene as well as make people’s heart race.
Before they debuted, POW had a pre-release single that was released on September 13th, 2023, called “Favorite.”
The group made their official debut on October 11th, 2023,with their EP “Favorite” which came with MV releases for “Dazzling” and one of the b-sides “Amazing”.
8. VCha
An upcoming 6-member girl group under JYP Entertainment formed through JYP Entertainment and Republic Records reality survival show, “A2K.” Their group name VCHA means to illuminate, to give shine to fans around the world.
They currently only have pre-debut singles, the first being “SeVit (NEW LIGHT)” with the title track “Y.O.Universe” that was released on September 22nd, 2023, and their 2nd pre-debut single, “Ready for the World” released on December 1st, 2023. Their official debut is still unknown.
9. BXB
A 5-member boy group under Wolfburn Entertainment. The members include Jihun, Hamin, Hyunwoo, Siwoo, and June. June is currently on hiatus due to health issues.
The group’s name means Boy By Brush holds the meaning of drawing the youth as they express various chapters of youth with music of various genres.
The group made their official debut on January 30th, 2023, with the single, “Fly Away.”
10. BabyMonster
A pre-debut girl group under YG Entertainment, including members Ruka, Pharita, Asa, Ahyeon, Rami, Rora, and Chiquita. They released their pre-debut single ‘DREAM‘ on May 14th, 2023.
They will make their long-awaited debut on November 27th, 2023, as a 6-member group, excluding member Ahyeon, who’s temporarily on hiatus due to health reasons.
10. TIOT (Time Is Our Turn)
A pre-debut boy group under Red Start ENM currently consists of 4 members, which are Kim Minseoung, Kum Junhyeon, Hong Keonhee, and Choi Woojin.
They released a pre-debut album, “Frame the Blueprint : Prelude to Possibilities,” on August 23rd, 2023 with the title track, “Starlight” . The group is set to debut in 2024.
11. Young Posse
A 5-member girl group under DSP Media along with Beats Entertainment. The members include Sunhye, Yeonjung, Jiana, Doeun, and Jieun. They debuted on October 18th, 2023, with the EP “MACARONI CHEESE” with the title track, “MACARONI CHEESE.”
12. The7
A 7-member Korean-Thai group under Ganada Entertainment, consisting of: Opp, Pa, Yongkwon, Yunmin, Woochul, Peanut, and Yoyo. The 4 Thai members were picked through the Thai survival show; SEVEN STARS.
They made their debut on January 29th, 2023, with the single, “GET LOOSE“.
13. Lun8
An 8-member boy group under Fantagio Entertainment (the label that holds Astro), the members include Jinsu, Chael, Takuma, Junwoo, Dohyun, Ian, Ji Eunho, and Eunseop. The group made their official debut on June 15th, 2023, with their mini album “Continue?” with the title track, “Wild Heart.”
On November 22nd, 2023, LUN8 made their 1st sub-unit debut with LUN8wave which includes Lun8 members Takuma, Junwoo, Dohyun, Ji Eunho, and Eunseop with the debut song, “Playground.”
14. EVNNE
A 7-member project South Korean boy group formed by Jellyfish Entertainment. The members consist of Keita, Park Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yoo Seungeon, Ji Yunseo, Mun Junghyun, and Park Jihoo. The group is a fan project that consists of members who previously participated in BOYS PLANET.
EVNNE made their debut on September 19th, 2023, with the mini album, “Target: ME,” with the title track, “Trouble.”
15. Xodiac
A 9-member boy group under One Cool Jacso. The group currently consists of Lex, Hyunsik, Zayyan, Beomsoo, Gyumin, Wain, Sing, Davin, and Leo. They made their debut on April 25th, 2023, with “Throw A Dice”.
16. n.SSign
A 10 member K-pop global boy group under n.CH Entertainment formed through Channel A and Abema’s survival show, Stars Awakening. Since the idol team won against the singer-songwriter and vocal team, they debuted a boy group. They were originally a project group but later turned into a permanent one on July 1st, 2023. The group consists of Kazuta, Hyun, Eddie, Doha, Sungyun, Junhyeok, Robin, Hanjun, Laurence, and Huiwon.
They made their debut on August 9th, 2023 with the album “BIRTH OF COSMO.”
17. The Wind
A 7 member boy group under WithUs Entertainment (subsidiary of Around Us Entertainment). The group currently consists of Shin Jaewon, Thanatorn, Park Hayuchan, Kim Heesoo, Choi Hanbin, An Chanwon, and Jang Hyounjoon.
The Wind released their pre-debut single “빛을 담아 너에게 줄게(Sirius)” on April 23rd, 2023, and they debuted on May 15th, 2023 with “ISLAND”.
18. One Pact
A 5-member South Korean boy group under Armada Entertainment, consisting of: Jongwoo (formerly ZE:U of Black Level), Jay, Seongmin (formerly Jerome from TO1), TAG (formerly from Ciipher), and Yedam.
The name “One Pact” is a combination of the words “One” (Together) + “Pact” (Impact), which means “Together to make a Big Impact”.
One Pact currently has 2 pre-debut performance videos for “G.O.A.T” and “Hot Stuff”. One Pact made their official debut on November 30th, 2023 with their 1st Mini Album titled “[MOMENT]” with the title track, “Must Be Nice”.
19. Ampers&One
A seven-member boy group under FNC Entertainment. The group consists of Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell, and Seungmo.
They made their debut on November 15th, 2023, with the single album, “AMPERSAND ONE” with title track “On and On.”
20. 82Major
A 6-member boy group under Great M Entertainment. The group consists of: Seongil, Yechan, Seongmo, Seongbin, Seokjoon, and Dogyun. They released a pre-debut single “Sure Thing” on October 5th, 2023.
They made their debut on October 11th, 2023, with the single album “ON” with the title track, “First Class.”
21. Xikers
A 10-member boy group under KQ Entertainment. The group consists of Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Hunter, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, and Yechan. They released the pre-debut song “Geek” on September 17th, 2022. xikers officially debuted on March 30th, 2023, with the mini album “HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing” with the title track, “Tricky House”.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed learning about some groups that have debuted in 2023 or set to debut next year!
Hello, Readers and fans, Today, I am here to talk about a topic that is often the question of many K-pop fans lately, and that is why are K-pop concerts so expensive nowadays?
With the rise of K-pop as a genre internationally, the many solo artists and groups that are debuting, a lot of companies have been setting out on a lot of tours this year alone, and there have been a HUGE amount of artists coming to the U.S. and other countries outside of Korea recently. The prices for many of these shows have left fans both frustrated and hurt financially by the cost of some of these tickets and their inclusions.
In the last few years, K-pop concert ticket prices have risen 60% over the past 10 years, and it seems like they are continuing to skyrocket. Depending on the promoter (Ex: Studio PAV, LiveNation, LeoPresents, etc) the company that does their ticketing (LiveNation, Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, etc) the prices can vary based on how the tour is promoted, and the expenses that are needed to accommodate to that tour’s overall success.
To start off with let’s talk about the base ticket price, that price goes towards renting the venue, marketing for the tour, and production costs (setting up lights, sounds, staging, etc). With how much money many venues lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, these base-level prices have doubled or even tripled since the start of live concerts in 2022-2023. The production costs are higher than ever because they have to pay extra for staffing for the trucks that deliver all the equipment, gas, etc to accommodate both the act themselves and their additional support.
After that base level price is paid for, that money is divided between the artist and the promoter for the tour with the artist taking 85% of those profits and the promoter for the tour getting 15% of that money. 10 years ago, when tours were happening, the promoter often got the higher percentage of that base level price money from the tickets and the artist got the smaller portion.
A decade later, with streaming rising in popularity, artists started to make less money in record sales and have become more reliable in their tour sales. As a result of this, artists have raised the price of their concert ticket prices and now take a higher percentage of their base level ticket money that they earn.
So, now the question is, “How does the promoter make money if they only get that small percentage?” So, that’s where the service order and processing fees come in that you often see for many concerts. Sometimes even the artist’s management can, even make additional money if there are other added-on fees for the concert or the venue is making extra money through what is called “facility charges”.
The big thing about why tickets are so expensive than what they were 10 years ago is that promoters have more tools at their disposal to maximize the revenue, whether it’s the verified fan or platinum pricing, and now they really have a more precise way to understand what the demand for these tickets look like and adjust those prices accordingly.
Then, there is dynamic pricing, Dynamic pricing is driven by the demand like that of airline flights or hotels. Dynamic prices keep tickets from ending up on the second marketplaces like Stubhub or Seatgeek and give more money to the artist. But the real question is, “Are artists really able to sell tickets at these ridiculous prices?”
The answer to that question is absolutely. People really want to go and see an ATEEZ show or a Blackpink show because they haven’t had the opportunity to see their favorite artist in a few years due to the pandemic or other reasons and some are willing to pay whatever price they can if that means that they can afford it and see their artist up close and in person. The dynamic pricing also puts less pressure on the artist to sell out their venue quickly because they are making the most money from their higher tier tickets that are in parts of the venue that are closer to the stage. Concert tickets typically cost the most on the day of release and the demand for that show is high.
The average K-pop ticket price 10 years ago of a K-pop concert ticket was very reasonable. A good example would be Big Bang’s “Alive” Tour back in 2012 which had U.S stops in both Los Angeles, California, and Newark, New Jersey. The prices ranged from the cheapest ticket being $50-90 which was for a seat in the nose-bleeds which was with those fees I mentioned earlier already added on with no inclusions. The most expensive tickets for that tour ranged from $160-300 with those fees with the $300 ticket for the VIP package which included early entry, access to the group’s soundcheck, a specially designed gift bag, a specially designed tour t-shirt, A Big Bang Lightstick, and a Big Bang tour laminated lanyard.
Comparing that to ticket prices in the 2020s for K-pop, those prices have gone up DRAMATICALLY since those concerts back in the early 2010s. The average K-pop ticket in 2023 ranges from the cheapest being $50-$300 per ticket without the inclusion of all the fees that come in addition to that set price for that tour and the most expensive tickets, typically the VIP tickets, ranging from $500-$1,000+. Keep in mind a lot of these prices nowadays have lately been a result of the popularity of that K-pop artist or group, the venue, and the location of where the concert is being held.
For two examples, When Blackpink went on their Born Pink tour back in 2022, the price of a general admission ticket was $79.50 per ticket for a seat that is in the high nosebleeds and with no inclusions. The most expensive ticket for this tour was $1,200 which included early entry, an exclusive check-in queue, The VIP lounge with complimentary food and drinks, soundcheck, a gift bag with tour exclusive merch, a VIP laminate lanyard, crowd-free merchandise shopping opportunity, and a photo opportunity on the stage.
The 2nd example is The Rose’s Dawn to Dusk Tour in 2023, The prices for regular tickets ranged from $39.50 -$115 for the cheapest tickets which were standing general admission tickets towards the back of the concert and no inclusions or anything. The most expensive tickets from this tour ranged from $249.50-$1,500 and that was before the fees for both price ranges, for the most expensive tickets with all the fees are close to $2,000 which was literally most people’s cost for rent. The perks for the highest VIP package were the earliest entry to the venue, a signed poster, a VVIP merch package, an exclusive VVVIP merch item gift, a solo photo with The Rose, a green room experience, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a concert for The Rose.
This amount doesn’t even take into account K-pop fans that travel to different states or countries to see their favorite groups perform if they aren’t performing in their area. With hotel rooms in places averaging $224+ a night and flights averaging at $382 in 2023. K-pop fans that also don’t get included merchandise in their concert packages also often buy K-pop concert merchandise with the average amount of merchandise purchased being 4 items being at least $145 if not more depending on the distributor of the merchandise.
So, from the prices of this year’s concerts alone, the Korean music industry has made millions of dollars in the international market. But the prices and the announcements of these concerts have often made fans very frustrated as well because it doesn’t give them enough time to save up money for the shows that they want to attend especially when some of these shows are often days or weeks too close to one another.
Just this year, we have already had 44+ K-pop concerts happen in the U.S and other countries with music genre ranges from Hip-hop, R&B, Rock, Pop, EDM, etc and many other tours are already being set up for 2024 for a lot of different groups such as VAV, IVE, NCT 127, Seventeen, Onlyoneof, Chuu etc, that are already coming next year.
My current question that I’m thinking to myself is “Will these prices increase any more than they already are or will they stay how they are currently?” It’s honestly up in the air for now until we see where K-pop is in 2024 and how it grows in the international market in that year.
So, what are your predictions?, let me know in the comments below!
Hello, readers and fans! Today, I wanted to share some of my favorite Korean music songs that I feel showcase the fall season and vibe the best.
Side Note: These songs are my opinion, I’m sure that there are definitely a ton of others and a lot of the artists you may not know, so if you like the song make sure to check out that artist’s music.
#1: “Autumn Leaves” by June ft Cheeze
For me, this song truly carries the energy and feeling of being in the fall weather with the calm and romantic vocals of both June and Cheeze. My favorite lyrics are “When our eyes meet it’s like autumn leaves”.
#2: “If I Could Reach” by Roydo- Roydo’s music is a style of music that can transport you to a new place in time. This song reminds me of the lonely feeling you can sometimes feel in the fall season. Roydo’s gorgeous vocals and emotion as he sings this song are a lot of the reason this song is also a personal favorite. I also interviewed him in August and I am excited for his new music.
#3: “Game” by Unfair- Unfair is an artist that is very much a hidden gem in the Korean R&B music world. His music has a lot of emotions, unique beats, and moods that create a very unique atmosphere which is why I think this song shows the intimate side of the fall season.
#4: “You’re Beautiful” by The Rose- This song I feel like showcases the serene and beauty of the fall season with the incredible vocals and soft instrumentation with the band. The lyrics are also very sentimental and create almost that escape like feeling when you listen to it.
#5: “So Gravity” by Verivery- As a long time Verrer (Verivery Fan), I feel like out of their discography this song really shows the fall season really well with the intimate sweet vocals from the members and the comforting melodic raps that really give you that homey feeling.
#6: “Humble” by Moti- This song is a personal favorite, Moti’s music always talks about his very humble beginnings and also a lot of his strengths as well and I think that this song really shows you how to be calm during those harsh times which I think shows how far you can come like during the fall.
#7: “Color” by Jung Jinwoo- This song I think really shows the fall season with how the leaves change color and the feeling you feel during the start of fall.
#8: “Autumn Dream” by N.Flying- This song is a very upbeat song that is perfect for those happy moments that happen during the fall season. The playful instrumentation and the carefree, fun vocals and raps really show this fun side of fall that I love.
#9: “Fallen Star” by Kingdom- To me, this song I feel shows the fall season especially during the night time with that calming, love-filled feeling during this time of the year where you feel grateful for the little things.
#10: “24/7” by DKB- This song is a very laid back hip-hop R&B song that I feel like is perfect for the fall season for how relaxing and fun the song is.
#11: “Back 2 U (AM 01:27)” by NCT 127-This song to me shows the fall season in a very laidback and intimate way which makes the song very good to listen to during this time of the year.
#12: “Blind Love” by Greatguys- This song to me shows the dark and mysterious side of the fall season with the very sinster sounding instrumentals and the very strong powerful vocals and raps from the members.
#13: “Memory” by MustB-When it comes to this song, I think it reminds you of all the memories that you have towards the fall season from the year and reflecting on that beautifully.
#14: “Liar” by Kang Daniel- This song to me showcases those surreal moments that you see during the fall season that you feel like may not be real. The production with the deep house basses with the guitars and drums create such a unique sound just like the fall season is.
#15: “Peanut Butter and Tears” by DPR Ian- The vibe of the song is very much that cool fall weather type of song. The lyrics are very powerful with the addition of the gorgeously made music video.
#16: “Preparation for a Journey” by Gaho- This song is a great representation for the fall season with the lyrics talking about the journey you go on for self-discovery and the incredible string instrumentals that play in the track.
#17: “INVU” by Taeyeon of Girls Generation- This song I think really shows the concept of being envious of a love that you can’t have. I feel like in the fall season a lot of people are in their single era. So, this song is perfect for that.
#18: “Stand by You” by A.C.E- This song I feel contains the comforting and loving feeling you can feel during the fall season. The very relaxing and calming instrumental with the beautiful vocals from the members is absolutely stunning.
#19: “Ordinary Day” with Kyuhyun of Super Junior, Onew of Shinee, and Taeil of NCT- This song really captures the intimate and warm feeling of the fall season. The vocals of these artists honestly blow me away everytime I hear them.
#20: “Breathe” by LeeHi- This song I think is a beautiful representation of the fall season and it representing the moments that we forget to live in the moment and truly take a deep breath. LeeHi’s vocals are gorgeous as well.
#21: “1974 Live” by DeVita- Devita’s vocals on this song I feel like capture the feeling of growth that you feel during the fall season and also recalling different memories.
#22: “Lover” by Yella- The vibe of this song reminds me of sitting in a coffee shop enjoying the view of falling leaves. The vocals are absolutely stunning and carry so much passion which made me fall in love with the song.
#23: “Jogging” by Lucy- I think that this song shows off the quirky and fun side of the fall season. The fun rock instrumentals with the violin creates such a fun atmosphere.
#24: “Free to Fly 2021” by Kangta- Kangta is a very underrated soloist under SM Entertainment and has a voice that creates that warm comforting feeling by a campfire that you roast smores and vibe with friends which I feel is great for the fall season.
#25: “Square (2017)” by Yerin Baek- Anytime I listen to this song I think of the calm vibes of the fall season. Her beautiful vocals with the acoustic guitar and backing vocals absolutely amaze me.
#26: “It’s Alright” by Leenzy- I think this song captures the fall season during the rainy days with soft and subtle instrumentation with the smooth vocals.
#27: “Purple” by Solhee and Taeil of NCT- This song has a very unique and fun vibe about it with a lot of Soul and R&B influences. I think Solhee and Taeil’s vocals sound incredible together in this song creating the vibe of being together like you are during the fall season.
#28: “A Piece of Work” by Villain- The intimate and goosebump-filling vocals really carry that very subtle subconscious feeling you may feel during the fall season. Villain’s vocal range is honestly insane to me and always impresses me with every release.
#29: “Savior” by Vanner- This song is a fan song for fans of Vanner (VVS) and the beautiful lyrics with the soft instrumentation makes me feel like this song is perfect for the fall season because it makes you feel appreciation for the little things around you.
#30: “Love Lee” by AKMU-AKMU’s music is very diverse and full of color just like the fall season and I think that this song showcases the bright and fun side of the fall season.
Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed my fall song selection. I hope you check out some of these songs and enjoy your fall!
Hello, readers and fans! Today, I wanted to share with you some K-dramas that feature some incredibly talented K-pop stars and where you can watch them. This is my list of some that I really enjoyed and I hope that you check them out as well. This list is a combination of both long and shorter series for people that can binge watch to just the casual watcher.
1. “Semantic Error” which is a boy love drama (BL) that stars K-Pop sensations Park Seo Ham of KNK and Jae Chan of the K-pop boy group DKZ. The story follows Jae Chan’s character “Chu Sangwoo” who is a computer science major that follows rules, praises reason, and has a rigid sense of mind. His character is then met with Park Seo Ham’s character “Jang Jae Young” who is a design major that is Jae Chan’s character’s complete opposite, his character is stylish, popular, and fun-loving. Seo Ham’s character has to reach out to Sangwoo (Jae Chan’s Character) to help him with his studies but an attraction starts to develop between them as they are together.
This series is actually based off of the webtoon with the same name.
You can watch the series on Viki for free and there are 8 episodes total.
2. 100 Days My Prince- This series is a historical drama that stars K-pop icon D.O from the k-pop group EXO. The story goes as such, D.O’s character “Yul” is the King’s Nephew who prefers to spend his days playing instead of studying and becoming an ambitious future crown prince. In the show, his character loses his memory and ends up becoming a part of the common people and experiences an unforgettable love as the “husband” to the oldest bachlorette in Joseon.
The series is 16 episodes long and you can watch the series on Viki or Netflix.
3. Business Proposal-This drama series stars the incredibly gorgeous and talented former member of I.O.I and Gugudan Ha-ri as well as Ahn Hyo-seop from the project group “One O One”, and also Choi Byung-Chan of Victon. The story is about Ha-ri’s character who goes on a blind date in replacement of her friend. Things don’t go as planned, however, when her dates turns out to be the handsome CEO of her company, she doesn’t know how she will keep up with her act.
The series is available to stream on Netflix and it has 12 episodes.
4. While You Were Sleeping- This K-drama stars the incredible soloist Bae Suzy. The story starts off with Jae Chan played by actor Lee Jong Suk (One of my personal favorite actors), a prosecutor that decides to interfere with the course of events and ends up saving the lives of both Hong Joo (Played by Suzy) and Woo Tak (Played by actor Jung Hae In) . When the three of them start having dreams about one another, they realize that their lives are somehow connected.
You can watch this drama series on Viki and it has 16 episodes total.
5. The King’s Affection- This K-drama stars Rowoon of the incredible K-pop boy group SF9 and also has Choi Byung-chan of Victon as a support character. The story of this series is one about a pair of royal twins, one male and one female. Although the sister is initially abandoned for being female, she later disguises herself as a man to become the crown prince when her brother dies & develops feelings for her teacher who is played by Rowoon.
You can watch this series on Netflix and it has 20 episodes.
6. Tinted With You- This K-drama stars the incredibly talented member Jun of the K-Pop boy group A.C.E. This series is a boy love drama (BL) that starts off in the Korean feudal past with Jun’s second lead actor Yoo Hyun Woo who plays the deposed Crown Prince that ends up being forced into an exile by his cruel older brother who is trying to get the throne and he fears in every moment that his brother will kill him. Meanwhile in the modern times, Jun’s character (Eun Ho) is a high school student that loves paintings. In fact, art is his whole world. And when he is tasked with completing a mysterious painting, he is unexpectedly drawn back into the distant past where he meets Lee Heon. The two characters start to develop a relationship and Eun Ho (Jun) realizes that he may be the Crown Prince’s only chance at survival.
The series is available to stream for free on Viki and has 8 episodes.
7. Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung- This series stars K-pop star Cha Eun Woo from the K-pop boy group Astro. This is a historical drama that showcases two storylines. One of them occurs in a “nowadays” placed in the early 19th century of Joseon. The other occurred twenty years earlier (white horse year, 1810). The story follows actress Shin Se-kyung who is a free-spirited female villeger that becomes a historian for Prince Dowoon (Played by Cha Eunwoo) who is secretly an underground romance novelist.
You can watch this series on Netflix and it has 20 episodes.
8. Cherry Blossoms Over Winter- This series is a Korean boy love drama series (BL) that stars Korean trot singer Ok Jin Uk who is a part of the all-male trot group SUPERFIVE. The story talks about Ok Jin Uk’s character (Seo Hae Bom) who tragically loses his parents in a car accident and moves in with an adoptive family who have a young son who is the same age named Jo Tae Sung (Played by Model Kang Hee). Hae Bom is in awe of Tae Sung and considers him to be the boy who has everything that he isn’t: Tall, caring, handsome, popular, and worthy of love and attention. The two end up in the same class where they develop a brotherly relationship that turns into a unexpected love story between the two.
The series is based off of a webtoon with the same title.
You can watch the series on Viki for free and it has 8 episodes.
9. All Of Us Are Dead- This series stars Yoon Chan-young who was a temporary member of the K-pop group Astro and has mentioned he has a lot of fond memories with them as a part-time trainee. This story follows a group of high schoolers that are trying to survive a zombie virus outbreak as they are trapped in their ground zero and are trying to find way out or turn into one of the very rabid infected. This series is actually going to be 2 seasons with the second season coming out sometime next year.
You can watch the first season of this amazing series on Netflix and it has 12 episodes for the first season.
10. Under The Queen’s Umbrella- This series is a historical drama that stars the handsome, incredibly talented member Chani of the K-pop group SF9. This story talks about the queen’s son who gets sick and the king’s other sons have to prove themselves to make themselves worthy of the throne.
You can watch this series on Netflix and it has 16 episodes.
11. Twenty Twenty- This K-drama series stars K-pop soloist and former X1 member Kim Wooseok as well as Chan from A.C.E and former member of UNB and his fellow member Jun of A.C.E who makes a cameo appearance later on. The story follows the character Chae Da Hee (Played by actress Han Sungmin) who spent her whole life being miserable trying to deal with her overbearing mother. As she is struggling to find a way out she meets Lee Hyun Jin (Kim Wooseok) a sympathetic classmate that dreams of being a music producer. Chan plays Son Bo Hyun a very vibrant, funny, and outgoing best friend character to Kim Wooseok’s character.
You can watch this series in its entirety on both YouTube and Viki.
12. A Shoulder To Cry On- This series stars two members of the K-pop boy group Omega X which are members Jaehan and Yechan who play the leads in this boy love series (BL). The story follows Jaehan’s character Lee Dae Yeol who spends most of his time living as an outsider and his only real joy comes from his time spent at the archery club. He stumbles upon Yechan’s character Jo Tae Hyun who has always enjoyed a level a freedom being able to get away with anything that he wants. The two develop this enemies-to -lovers relationship that flows really well.
You can watch the full series on Viki and it has 7 episodes.
13. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth- This historical k-drama series stars K-pop stars Park Hyun-sik of the boy group ZE:A (also in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon), Choi Minho of the K-pop boy group Shinee, and Kim Taehyung (V) of the K-pop boy group BTS. The story follows the lives of elite warriors in the Silla dynasty who are trained to protect their King and their country. But everyone in the Hwarang is not who they seem; some of them are there for vengeance, some are there to hide from their enemies,, and some are there to claim the throne.
You can watch this series on Viki and it has 20 episodes.
14. Vincenzo-This series stars the iconic and legendary member of 2PM Ok Taec-yeon. The series is about the son of a very powerful mafia family in Italy. He returns to South Korea to take care of some unfinished business but gets into an ongoing lawsuit between a pharmaceutical giant and a small building complex.
You can watch this series on Netflix and it has 20 episodes.
15. Flower of Evil- This thriller-suspense series stars soloist Lee Joong-gi. The story talks about Baek Hee Sung (Played by Lee Joong-gi) who looks like the ideal husband. A hard-working craftsman, his metal-working studio has met with its fair share of success. Able to provide a good life for his wife and daughter, he’s an exemplary example of what a husband should be. But his accolades don’t stop there, as comfortable working around the house as he is working in his studio, Hee Sung can as easily fill the roles of father and husband as he can business owner and craftsman. But this perfect exterior hides some very dark secrets. Secrets he would rather his detective wife, Cha Ji Won (Moon Chae Won), never learn.
You can watch this series on both Viki and Netflix, and it has 16 episodes.
Thanks for reading, I hope that you take the opportunity to watch some of these in your free time and let me know what you think of them. I enjoyed watching all of the ones listed and I hope that you do as well!
Kpopisforeveryone 