MARCH 25 - MARCH 31

BY POLARIS_TAE


MONDAY:
#1- We received a few personal updates on Monday. Firstly, it was shared that TWCE's leader Jihyo and South Korean Olympian and Skeleton Racer, Yun Sung-bin are currently in a relationship, it was also revealed that the pair were able to keep their relationship under wraps for at least a year. Then the following day, South-Korean-based Japanese soloist YUKIKA took to Instagram to announce the birth of her first child, a daughter, with her husband & former MAP6 member Kim Min-hyuk. We congratulate the couple on the new addition to their family!

#2- BLOCKB's Zico had an exciting announcement to share on Monday! It's been revealed that the idol will be joining the KBS music variety, 'The Seasons' as their newest MC. Congrats!



TUESDAY:
#1- We had several comeback and debut announcements this week! For debuts, there will be a group making their debut in April, Big O!cean, the first sign-language group will be making their debut on the 20th of April with a remake of H.O.T's 'Glow'. Now as for comebacks and upcoming releases, BLACKPINK's Rose will sing the theme song for the upcoming m-net girl group formation program, ‘I-LAND 2: N/a’, while Lee Hyori released the full versions of her BOL4 & DAY6 covers — previously shared on her variety, 'The Seasons' — on the 31st of March. Then in May, we'll be seeing new music from both NewJeans and aespa! NewJeans will be returning with the first of two new double-singles on the 24th of May. The group will return with 'How Sweet' & 'Bubble Gum' in May, while they also plan to drop two more songs, 'Supernatural' & 'Right Now' a month later in June. Their management, ADOR has also shared that the group will be holding their first world tour later in 2025. As for aespa, the group will be making their return in May as they prepare to begin their 2nd world tour, '2024 SYNK: Parallel Line' in June. We also had a series of comebacks announced with no set date. Former IZ*ONE member and soloist, Kwon Eunbi has shared that she will be coming back with new music this Summer (June - August) following the positive reactions to her performance at the 2023 Waterbomb Festival. Meanwhile, rookie group mimirose will be making their return during the first half of 2024 with two new Japanese members set to join the group. Are you looking forward to any of these future releases?

#2- We had a few sponsorships and brand deals announced throughout the week! On Tuesday, 'Queen of Tears' star Kim Jiwon was announced as the newest brand model for the soju brand Chum Churum following the expiration of Han Sohee's contract with the brand. Then on Wednesday, LE SSERAFIM's Kazuha was announced as the new campaign model for the South Korean branch of LANCÔME. Later in the week, NewJeans' Hanni was announced as the brand ambassador of Gucci Beauty. We congratulate them on all of the new opportunities!

#3- We had a few entertainment-related updates on Tuesday. The Kang Han-na & Go Kyung-pyo led drama, 'No Secret' will reportedly air on the JTBC network in May. The series is a comedic melodrama and will reportedly centre around an announcer who has the inability to lie and their relationship with a passionate variety show writer. Moving on and the MBC music series, MBC Show! Music Core is reportedly undertaking preparations for their upcoming special half-year broadcast in June. The show will be held at the Belluna Dome in Japan. Then on Friday the 2024 Lovesome Festival announced their official performance line-up! Artists including WJSN's SeolA, INFINITE's Nam Woohyun, SHINee's Key, H1-KEY, NCT's Doyoung and more are set to perform. The festival will take place on the 27th & 28th of April at Olympic Park - 88 Garden and KSPO Dome.



WEDNESDAY:
#1- There was a series of contract updates throughout the week! Brown Eyed Girls' leader, JeA has signed a contract with AURA Entertainment. Now on the opposite side of the spectrum, several artists left their labels as well. After 10 years with the label, it was announced that the ballad duo DAVICHI would be leaving WAKE ONE following the expiration of their contract. Meanwhile, AOMG has been going through a rough patch lately as several artists have been consecutively departing from the label. On Thursday, it was shared that Gray, Woo Wonjae, Goosebumps & Lee Hi had left the label following the expiration of their contracts. Then the following day, it was officially confirmed that the artists had left the label. What are your thoughts on the potential impending collapse of the label?

#2- HYBE had an exciting update this week! The label shared that they had entered into a partnership with Universal Music Group that would include Universal's exclusive distribution rights to music by HYBE artists. In addition, it was shared that UMG artists such as Taylor Swift and more are expected to join the weverse fan communication platform.

#3- We're placing a content warning for this story for self-harm & Child ab*se. On Wednesday, it was shared that former T-ara member Areum had been hospitalized for self-harm after attempting to take her own life. This came directly following the news that she had fled her abusive ex-husband who had abused both Areum herself and their two young children during both their marriage and throughout their now ongoing divorce proceedings.



THURSDAY:
#1- We had a few updates for artists with THEBLACKLABEL on Thursday. To begin, Jeon Somi has announced that her new makeup brand, GLYF — inspired by ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs — will officially launch this April. Meanwhile, THEBLACKLABEL will be launching their first girl group later in the year and they have just filed for the copyright of the name, MÉOVV — the presumed name of the group — in preparation for it. What are your thoughts on Somi's new makeup label? And are you looking forward to a new girl group from THEBLACKLABEL?

#2- On Thursday, it was announced that SNSD's Yuri will be showing up in a new tvN drama! The idol will be making a cameo in the tvN series, 'Lovely Runner'. We congratulate her on the exciting new opportunity!



FRIDAY:
#1- We had a few relationship updates this week. To begin, we have some wedding news between SUPER JUNIOR's Ryeowook & TAHITI's Ari. The pair will be tying the knot later this year in May. The pair officially went public with their relationship all the way back in September 2020. We congratulate the pair on their upcoming nuptials.

We had a breakup announcement this week as well. Han So-hee and Ryu Jun-yeol officially called it quits on Saturday following a tumultuous two weeks in the spotlight. This came following several lengthy Instagram statements where Han had vaguely shaded either Hyeri or her ex — Ryu Jun-yeol — for staying silent throughout the 'transit-love' controversy. She has categorically denied ever being involved in a transit-love romance despite the suspicious timelines between Ryu's break-up with Hyeri, and his relationship confirmation with Han So-hee.

#2- The March edition of the idol brand reputation rankings was revealed on Friday! For the latest edition, ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo took the top spot, while SNSD's Taeyeon & BLACKPINK's Jennie rounded out the top three. Did any of your biases manage to rank this month?

#3- We're placing a content warning for this story for SA & the ab*se of minors. CEO of SMILE-UP — formerly known as Jonny & Associates — has shared with the BBC that he believes that the scandal related to the sexual abuse of minors at the company goes much further than initially anticipated. The former idol and current CEO of the label told the news agency that he believes that there are at least two more perpetrators — not including the now-deceased Kitagawa himself — still residing at the company. Following the internal investigation of SMILE-UP, Higashiyama told the BBC that the company had concluded that at least two more people at the label were believed to have sexually abused talent. He revealed that, as of the time of writing, he had not contacted the local authorities regarding the matter. Stating that: "From a legal standpoint, I don't think we have the authority to do that," but that "If those involved file a criminal complaint, I imagine we would co-operate as much as possible." Victims of Kitagawa's abuse have criticised the label for their opaque compensation process, for failure to act quickly enough to engage with them and a lack of a definite timeline. What are your thoughts on this issue?



SATURDAY:
#1- BoA took to Instagram this week to address the various malicious comments related to her appearance over this past week. In the post, she shared — translations provided via @readybutterfly — that "If I don't take care of myself, you criticise me, and if I do, you criticize me for doing so. You tell me I've lost too much weight, so I should gain some. If I gain some, you tell me I look like a pig. Also, I don't know about your faces, but don't waste your lives and time like that. Sorry, but I'm BoA". Do you think she was right to address the commentators, or is she just feeding the trolls?

#2- VVUP took to their official Twitter this Saturday to share the name of their official fandom. From Saturday, VVUP fans will now go by the name VVINIE. The group further elaborated that the name contains the meaning of VVUP & VVINIE with the two V's forming a 'W', and as such they will always be together, just like the two V's in VVUP come together to form the 'W' in win. What are your thoughts on this fandom name?



SUNDAY:
#1- We had a few more comeback announcements at the end of the week as well. On Saturday, it was shared via Red Velvet's official Weibo that the group would be making their return in the second quarter of 2024. Then later, it was revealed that the group's leader, Irene was preparing to make her solo debut with an album later in the year. As of now, it is unknown what format (LP, EP, Maxi-single, etc.) the release will consist of, but regardless, we can't wait! We had two more comeback announcements from two former YG soloists! Firstly, it was reported that BLACKPINK's Jennie was preparing for the release of her new solo album in June. The idol's solo agency, ODD ATELIER responded that while the BLACKPINK member is currently working on her album, no official release schedule has been finalised. Meanwhile, BIGBANG's leader G-Dragon is currently preparing for his comeback! His agency, Galaxy Corp. has shared that the current goal for release is the 2nd half of 2024. They also shared that the idol aims to hold a world tour very soon, with the final stop of the tour planned to be the Vegas Sphere in 2025. Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming comebacks, and will you be buying tickets to GD's upcoming world tour?

BY POLARIS_TAE


#1. Following last week's news that BTS' V's new single, 'FRI(END)S' had debuted at #16 on the official UK Singles Chart, we finally discovered just where on the US Billboard charts the idol had managed to rank! Following a week's worth of tracking, the BTS member managed to take 65th place on the Billboard Hot 100 with almost zero natural promotion. We congratulate the idol on another successful achievement!

#2. Now moving back to Korea and (G)I-DLE has done the impossible this week by managing to not just chart a B-side all the way up to the top of the Korean real-time charts, but also attaining a Perfect All-Kill in the process! This also marks the group's 4th consecutive all-kill following 'Tomboy', 'NXDE', 'QUEENCARD' & 'Fate'. Congrats!

Thanks for reading ~