TWICE’s Nayeon debuted as a solo artist
Kep1er and Loona returns back
by Ra Hwak Jin/ Joonha Yoo
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| ▲ A photo of K-pop group BTS, captured from its official Twitter account on June 19, 2022 (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ BTS 'Proof' topped music charts from all over the world
BTS' new album, "Proof," has topped the U.S. Billboard's main albums chart for this week, becoming the sixth chart-topper from the South Korean group, the chart's operator said.
The anthology album landed atop the Billboard 200 by earning 314,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending June 16.
The performance by the anthology album's main single, "Yet To Come," on the Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart will be unveiled Monday amid expectations that the K-pop septet will also likely rank high on the chart considering its large global fandom.
The song's music video reached 100 million views as of Monday, 10 days after it was uploaded on YouTube, becoming the 38th BTS music video to surpass 100 million views, according to the band's agency Big Hit Music.
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| ▲ A photo of K-pop group BTS, captured from its official Twitter account on June 19, 2022 (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
According to the latest chart unveiled Tuesday (U.S. time), "Yet To Come," the main track of the album, debuted at No. 13 and "Run BTS," also off the same album, at 73rd on the chart.
Including the two songs, a total of 25 BTS songs have charted on the Hot 100. Of them, "Dynamite," "Savage Love," "Life Goes On," "Butter," "Permission To Dance" and "My Universe," a collaborative single with British rock band Coldplay, have sat atop the chart.
South Korean K-pop giant BTS’s “Yet To Come” successfully held its place in UK’s official singles chart top 100 for two consecutive weeks.
Moreover, by receiving more than 546 thousand Oricon points during this week, BTS’s new album “Proof” has safely landed on top of the weekly Oricon chart in Japan.
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| ▲ This image provided by Big Hit Music shows BTS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ BTS vowed full support for Busan's World Expo bid
K-pop sensation BTS on Friday agreed to fully support Busan's bid to host the World Expo in 2030, including holding a global concert in the southern port city of Busan, the local government said.
Hybe, the entertainment company behind BTS, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Busan city government on Friday to cooperate on the city's promotional projects for the prestigious convention overseen by the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE).
Under the MOU, BTS will serve as a public relations ambassador for the bid and hold a global concert in Busan to wish for the city's success in the bid. The local government did not elaborate on the concert.
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| ▲This file photo shows BTS (Yonhap) |
Also, the septet 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.
Online promotional activities via social media are also included in BTS' to-do list for Busan.
Last week, BTS accepted the Busan city government's request to help the city host the World Expo, days after the K-pop sensation said it will suspend performing as a group and focus instead on solo projects to explore the growth of individual members.
The World Expo is one of the largest international festivals besides the World Cup and the Olympics. Hosting an expo is estimated to create economic effects worth 61 trillion won (US$49.1 billion), according to the Korean government.
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| ▲Nayeon, a member of TWICE, poses for the camera during a press conference for her first EP as a solo artist at a Seoul hotel on June 24, 2022. (Yonhap) |
◇ TWICE’s Nayeon debuted as solo artist
Nayeon said Friday her debut as a solo artist was never late, after nearly seven successful years as a member of K-pop girl group TWICE.
One of the most popular girl groups in Asia, TWICE has been a prolific group since its debut in October 2015. Most recently, it concluded a sold-out North American tour, only to return for two encore concerts in Los Angles.
The band's oldest member, however, confided she felt "fear" of becoming the first TWICE member to do a solo project.
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| ▲Nayeon, a member of TWICE, speaks during a press conference for her first EP as a solo artist at a Seoul hotel on June 24, 2022. (Yonhap) |
The EP's title has a double meaning, which is the singer's full Korean name, Im Na-yeon, and her confident declaration that "I'm Nayeon," according to the agency.
She said she cared very much about showing her new sides, on top of her image that has been building for nearly seven years as a TWICE member, with the new album. For this, she said she tried many new styles in hair, makeup and costume, among others.
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| ▲This photo, provided by WAKEONE and Swing Entertainment, shows Kep1er. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
◇ Kep1er and Loona returns back on same day with summer songs
K-pop girl group Kep1er returned to the K-pop scene with a refreshing summer song "UP!" on June 20.
The album includes a total of five songs, including the title song "UP!" and "LE VOYA9E," which depicts the voyage of the nine members together.
The group, which debuted through the Mnet's audition program "Girls Planet 999: The Girls Saga” last year, recorded 200,000 copies of sales in the first week with its first mini album in January and topped the music program. The music video for "WA DA DA" also exceeded 100 million views on YouTube.
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| ▲This photo, provided by Blockberry Creative, shows South Korean girl group LOONA. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
K-pop girl group LOONA released their special mini album “Flip That” on June 20 at 6 p.m. The group is challenging the title of summer queen with their latest song "Flip That" from the mini album.
The title song “Flip That” contains LOONA’s ambition to flip the world.
In addition, the album includes tracks with smooth and appealing vocal “Need U” and “Play Back,” which is based on the messages of LOONA’s Kim Lip, Yves, and Ha-seul sent to their fans.
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