JULY 1 - JULY 7
Hello and welcome to another great new edition of In Case You Missed It! This week, we saw new releases from artists such as Hitsujibungaku, Kiss of Life & more! Additionally, we received some updates stating that WM Entertainment would be cutting ties with their US touring agency, J&B Entertainment following a series of gross mismanagement & illegal activity. Meanwhile, we also received various comeback updates from WayV, NCT127, B.A.P & more. Now, with all that said, let's jump into In Case You Missed It for another week!
BY POLARIS_TAE
MONDAY:
#1- We had a series of contract updates on Monday. Former BB Girls Yujeong signed a contract with RND Company, while Moon Ga-young signed with Peak J Company. Meanwhile, it was announced that Zion.T had officially departed from THEBLACKLABEL following the expiration of his contract.
TUESDAY:
#1- Now we have a slew of upcoming comebacks and new music releases to announce! Four artists — DKB, NCT127, Youha & MINIMANI's Yu Soohyun — have marked a date in July for their comeback! MINIMANI's Yu Soohyun will be returning on the 7th of July with her second solo album, I'll Pay. Then a few days later on the 9th, Youha will make her comeback with 'We'll Kiss Again'. Then later in the month both NCT127 & DKB will both drop new music. NCT127 will be back on the 15th of July with their 6th LP, WALK, while DKB will be dropping their new EP in mid-July. As for August, we'll be seeing new releases from B.A.P & Global Girls (formerly known as PoshGirls). B.A.P will be making their return during August as 4 members — due to Zelo's current military hiatus — as 'BANG&JUNG&YOO&MOON'. Then on the 1st of August Global Girls will be making their comeback for the first time under their new name with their 1st album, Drama. We also have three new debuts to share this week! ASTRO's Yoon Sanha will be making his solo debut early next month in August. Meanwhile, the SM-associated Cpop group, WayV will be making their Japanese debut this September. The group will be releasing their first Japanese-language mini album, The Highest on the 25th. As for upcoming groups, Mystic Story, which is the label behind Billlie & the band LUCY, have announced that the label is planning to debut their first male idol-group in mid-August. Are you looking forwards to this new group? Plus which new comeback are you most anticipating?
#2- Two idols found themselves booked and busy this week! BTS' Jin had some exciting news to share with us this week! The idol will be participating in the Olympic Torch Relay for the 2024 Paris Olympics as a torchbearer representing South Korea. As for Purple Kiss, the RBW idol group will be the opening act for Dreamcatcher at the 2024 Istanbul Kpop Festival in Türkiye. Are you excited to see Jin in Paris?
WEDNESDAY:
#1- The webtoon-based drama adaptation of My Girl Is A Man is reportedly in discussions with Chuu, Astro's Yoon Sanha & Oh My Girls' Arin. Will you be adding this series to you to-watch list?
THURSDAY:
#1- We have some updates for a few hosting opportunities this week! The 3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards will be taking place this July at Incheon with SNSD's Yoona & South Korean host/announcer Jun Hyun-moo acting as hosts for the ceremony. Meanwhile, SHINee's Taemin will be joining the cast of Road To Kingdom 2 as both the host, a well as one of the program's official judges & mentors. Are you looking forward to seeing the Kingdom series return for another year?
#2- Dreamcatcher also had some updates to share this month. The group will be embarking on their 2024 world tour, Luck Inside 7 Doors, at the end of the year and have just announced the initial stops for the US leg of the tour. The group will be stopping at a total of ten stops beginning in New York in early November. Meanwhile, it's been shared that Dreamcatcher's Siyeon will be sitting out of promotions for the groups' 10th EP, VirtuouS due to poor health and anxiety. We wish her our best.
FRIDAY:
#1- On Friday it was announced that Pink Fantasy would sadly be disbanding. This comes directly following an earlier announcement that they would be taking an indefinite hiatus. After continued discussions with the groups members, it was ultimately decided that the group would be disbanding instead. Are you sad to see them go?
#2- We also have some legal updates to share with our readers for Friday. First, it was reported that prosecutors were looking to summon the chairman of Kakao for questioning in relation to the conglomerate's activity in regards to the alleged stock manipulation in the lead up to their purchase of SM Entertainment in 2023. Also on Friday, Kwon Eunbi's label — Woolim Entetainment — shared that they had officially filed several complaints with the relevant authorities following the coalition of evidence related to sexual harassment, defamation and more against the idol. What are your thoughts on these situations?
SATURDAY:
#1- On Saturday WM Entertainment took to social media to announce that they had officially cut ties with the US touring agency J&B Entertainment. Who was the body responsible for managing ONF's US promotional activities. It was reported that the CEO had allegedly created a secret group chat for a select number of ONF fans (FUSEs) in order to leak future activities & allow fans within the group chat to freely purchase VVIP & premium tickets without limits. The sensitive information that the touring agency CEO reportedly shared includes (but is not limited to) leaking data about their upcoming North American tour, hotel information, and their future comeback plans. WM Entertainment later approached J&B Entertainment for clarification on the situation after a fan reached out — via e-mail — to WM to accuse the ticketing agency of illegal activities. WM Entertainment later shared evidence of their correspondence with the fan to J&B Entertainment directly causing the agency's CEO to directly confront and threaten several FUSEs in the group chat. Alongside this incident, the CEO of J&B also criticised the ONF members' poor English skills, sold the t-shirts that ONF wore on the tour labelling them as "sweat-soaked t-shirts" & more. Aside from ONF, the touring agency is currently in contact with 82MAJOR, ASC2NT, AB6IX and JUST B. On Saturday, WM Entertainment shared that they had officially ended their collaboration with J&B Entertainment. Stating that: "We have been repeatedly voicing our opposition and demanding improvements on their arbitrary operating decisions" while also sharing that "Although the agency has belatedly apologised to the artists and fans and expressed their willingness to improve, we have decided to terminate the contract with them and cancel the tour visits in Taiwan and Hong Kong." As for the group's North American tour in August, the label shared that they would be updating fans at a later date once they are able to accurately assess the situation. In the final paragraph, WM shared that they would "like to apologise once again for causing disappointment to the fans who have always showed their love and support for the artists." What are your thoughts on the overall handling of this situation?
SUNDAY:
#1- Ryan Reynolds & Hugh Jackman took some time off the regular press junket for their upcoming film, Deadpool & Wolverine in order to appear in the most recent episode of the Inkigayo! The duo appeared alongside Inkigayo host Moon Sung-hyun to announce the nominees for this week's #1. Did you manage to catch them live?
#2- Chanmina had some exciting news to share with us this week! The Japanese-Korean rapper shared via her Instagram that she had tied the knot with South Korean rapper Ash Island. Additionally, it ws shared that the couple are expecting their first child together. We congratulate the couple on the upcoming addition to their family.
BY POLARIS_TAE
#1. Jimin's pre-release track, 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band' made its debut at #13 on the Spotify Global Weekly Chart. This makes it the highest charting debut for a Kpop act in 2024. Congrats!
Thanks for reading ~~
