by Ra Hwak Jin/Joonha Yoo
 |
| ▲This photo, provided by Pledis Entertainment, shows group SEVENTEEN. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ Seventeen's fourth repackage album “Sector 17” is on a success streak
K-pop boy group Seventeen released their fourth repackage album “Sector 17” on July 18 at 6 p.m. through online music services, according to their agency Pledis Entertainment.
This album has 4 new songs “-WORLD,” “Circles,” “Fallin’ Flower,” and “CHEERS” including 9 songs from fourth full-lengh album “Face the Sun” released in last May.
Title song “_WORLD” is a funk and urban R&B genre song with a funky rhythm and melody.
Pledis Entertainment introduced this album, by saying, “We plan to introduce a new world that Seventeen has created by pioneering a place that no one has ever set a foot it”
 |
| ▲This photo, provided by Pledis Entertainment, shows group SEVENTEEN. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Seventeen's title track “_WORLD” from "Sector 17" the repackage album, topped iTunes “Top Song Chart” in 28 different countries, announced agency PLEDIS Entertainment on Tuesday.
The album topped one of the biggest Japanese music streaming service “Line Music”, and the title “World” topped “Top 100” in Line Music.
According to the data provided by Hanteo chart, sale of the physical album of “Sector 17” proved Seventeen’s popularity by recording over 935 thousand copies on the day of its release. Also the presales amount of their repackaged album exceeded over 1.2 million sales.
Also Seventeen successfully achieved their seventh consecutive title of the million-seller album by wining another one with the album “Sector 17.”
Starting with Seventeen’s third full-length album "An Ode" released in 2019, a total of seven albums, including the mini seventh album "Heng:garæ" and the special album "; [Semicolon]" achieved million-sellers.
 |
| ▲Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (2nd from L, front row) poses for a photo with K-pop sensation BTS (back row) during a ceremony to appoint the septet as the promotional ambassador to host the 2030 World Expo in the southern port city of Busan at Hybe in Seoul on July 19, 2022. (Yonhap) |
◇ BTS appointed as PR ambassador for Busan's World Expo bid
K-pop sensation BTS was formally appointed as a public relations ambassador for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in the southern port city of Busan, the prime minister's office said Tuesday
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, one of the co-chairs at the nation's committee for hosting the expo, attended an event to appoint the septet as a PR ambassador, the office said.
Han said the appointment of BTS as a PR ambassador "is expected to serve as an opportunity to focus the attention and support of people, and even the world."
 |
| ▲This photo, shows, members of BTS giving a speech during the ceremony. (Yonhap) |
Last month, Hybe, the entertainment company behind BTS, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Busan city government to cooperate on the city's promotional projects for the prestigious convention overseen by the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE).
Under the agreement, BTS will guide BIE officials during on-site inspections slated for next year, deliver presentations at a BIE general assembly and participate in the final assembly when the BIE announces the host city next year.
 |
| ▲ A photo of K-pop girl group STAYC, provided by Highup Entertainment on July 19, 2022 (Yonhap) |
◇ STAYC returns with new single "We Need Love"
K-pop girl group STAYC dropped their third single "We Need Love" on Tuesday, its agency Highup Entertainment said.
The single album came five months after it released its second EP "Young-Luv.com" led by "RUN2U" in February.
The sextet girl group debuted in November of 2020 with the song "So Bad" and has since grown to be one of the leading fourth-generation K-pop girl groups along with aespa and Ive, releasing hits such as "ASAP" and "Stereotype."
 |
| ▲ This photo, provided by Highup Entertainment, shows STAYC. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The third single album consists of four tracks -- the main single "Beautiful Monster," followed by "I Like It," "Love" and a remix of the band's previous hit song "RUN2U."
All the new songs have been written and composed by hitmakers Black Eyed Pilseung, who are also executives of Highup Entertainment; Jeon Goon, a frequent STAYC collaborator; and producers Rado and Flyt.
 |
| ▲This photo, provided by BE:LIFT L;AB, shows, ENHYPEN. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ K-pop idols are getting tested positive for COVID
Due to the wide spread of COVID-19 K-pop idols are getting tested positive with COVID-19 once again. K-pop boy group Enhypen’s member Jay tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time, announced agency Be:;Lift Lab on Friday.
Through fan community weverse, agency Be:Lift conveyed the news that ” Currently Jay is showing symptoms of light fever, and headache, therefore he is staying quarantined from other members and going through medical treatments.” Enhypen’s member Jay already contracted COVID-19 once in September of 2021.
Since Jay tested positive for COVID-19 Enhypen will continue on with their activities with six members.
 |
| ▲This photo, a captured image from official Twitter of Billie, shows Billie's Siyoon (left) and Suhyeon (right). (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
K-pop girl group Billlie’s Siyoon and Suhyeon have also tested positive for COVID-19, its agency Mystic Story said on Wednesday.
Mystic Story said, “Siyoon and Suhyeon have tested positive with the self-diagnosis kit this morning, so they immediately did a rapid antigen test and were confirmed.”
(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved
