BY POLARIS_TAE

MONDAY:
#1- We began the week with several comeback announcements! IU's pre-release single, whose music video was filmed late last year — to appropriately allow the participation of BTS member V, who recently made his military enlistment and will be acting as the male lead in the video — will be officially dropping on the 24th of January. The single will be titled 'Love Wins All', which was renamed following backlash from the single's original name, 'Love Wins', which is a slogan popularised by the LGBT community to rally support for marriage equality and similar LGBT issues. Then in February, we'll see two more artists making their return! Red Velvet's Wendy will be returning with new solo material, while the South Korean vocal group VROMANCE will also be making their comeback in February. VROMANCE will be back with a new single, 'Hello' on the 1st of February, while Red Velvet's Wendy will return with her second solo album during a currently unknown date during February or March. Then in March, we'll see the WACK alternative idol group, ExWHYZ — formerly known as EMPiRE — make their return with a new mini album, Dress To Kill, on the 20th of March. Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming releases?

#2- The American music and entertainment magazine, Billboard Magazine has shared that they have plans to expand into Asia — namely South Korea — with the release of Billboard K (Billboard Korea). The company has shared that Billboard Korea will act as a platform that "not only amplifies Korean artists’ visibility but also fosters cultural exchanges and appreciation on a global scale". The first issue of Billboard Korea will be out in June of this year. What are your thoughts on the company's expansion attempt into the Kpop industry?



TUESDAY:
#1- On Tuesday, we had a few announcements related to contracts. INFINITE's Lee Sungjong has shared that he will be taking action against his management company — SPK Entertainment — after learning that the company had not received payment for any of his activities — both as a soloist and his group schedules with Infinite — and will be seeking to terminate his contract as a result. Meanwhile, SISTAR's Bora has reportedly chosen to forgo contract renewal with Key East following the expiration of her contract thus making herself a free agent! We hope that Sungyeol can easily settle his contract dispute, and wish both of them the best of luck in each of their future endeavours.



WEDNESDAY:
#1- We received several debut announcements and updates to group line-ups on Wednesday! A new 5-member boy group, ASC2NT will be making their debut under the label NEWWAYS. The group will include the three remaining DGNA members Karam, Injun Jay in the group's lineup alongside the two new members, Reon Kyle. The group will officially make their debut in the first half of 2024. Also on Wednesday, we learned that LAYSHA's Sia had officially left the group. In addition to this, the group's management shared that a new member, Jian, would be joining the group as her replacement. Then on Thursday, Blade Music shared that they had plans to debut a new girl group during the first half of the year. The group will reportedly include former UNIVERSE TICKET participants Kim Sumin, Oh Daeun, Lee Suvin Kim Soobin. Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming groups?

#2- There were several concerts and events announced this week! On Wednesday IU shared the dates for her upcoming world tour. The soloist's 2024 world tour concert, H.E.R will officially kick off in Seoul in March where she will visit various countries across the globe including Japan, the United States, Singapore Germany. Also gearing up for a tour in early 2024 will be VCHA! The group's label, JYP Entertainment has shared that their global girl group will be joining TWICE in the Continental Americas as a special opening act for the latter's 5th world tour, 'Ready to Be' in Mexico City, São Paulo Las Vegas in February. Now moving on and the SMTOWN LIVE 2024 SMCU PALACE in Tokyo will take place on the 21st of February at Tokyo Dome. The label has also announced that NCT WISH, the final unit of NCT will be making their debut stage at the concert. Meanwhile, the Kpop artists gearing up to perform at Coachella this year have officially been announced! ATEEZ, LE SSERAFIM The Rose will be performing at the festival this April. Are you excited for Coachella this year?



THURSDAY:
#1- We had a few outcomes of some idol-associated court cases on Thursday. To start, the Seoul Central District Court has sentenced a 59-year-old woman accused of stalking APink's Eunji since 2020. The accused has received a 2-year probation on a suspended sentence — which will be upgraded to a one-year prison term if her probation conditions are broken — along with a 100 million KRW fine, 120 hours of community service and 40 hours of rehabilitation. Now moving on to IVE's Jang Wonyoung, and the idol has partially won a court case against the Korean YouTuber Sojang. She has successfully received 100 million KRW from the YouTuber in damages. The idol still has an ongoing suit against the YouTuber for defamation and libel. What are your thoughts on the outcomes of these cases?

#2- The resulting group from the SBS survival program UNIVERSE TICKET has officially revealed their group name! The group will officially go by the name UNIS and will consist of eight total members: Elisia, Bang Yunha, Nana, Gelhee Dangca, Lim Seowoon, Oh Yoona, Kotoko Jin Hyeonju born between the years of 2009 - 2011. Thus making the youngest member of the group only 12 at the time of writing. Are you looking forward to this upcoming group? Or does the prominent age gap turn you off?



FRIDAY:
#1- LIMELIGHT's management agency, 143 Entertainment has shared that they will be holding an upcoming survival show, 'ID143: Favorite Debut' to reportedly "select members of the next generation global girl group" and be "presented in a new combination by 143 Entertainment". Are you looking forward to this upcoming survival show?

#2- Following the idol's break-up with Dawn some time ago, Hyuna has gone public with a new relationship. On Friday the idol shared that she was currently seeing former BEAST/HIGHLIGHT member Yong Junhyung. Following this announcement, the idol has faced a wave of backlash due to the former idol's association with the Burning Sun incident. While not being an active participant in Burning Sun, the idol later admitted to being sent and consuming illegally filmed sex videos sent to him by Jung Jun-young, who was at the centre of the Burning Sun scandal. In particular, the idol has reportedly lost over 100K Instagram followers in the fallout of her relationship news. What are your thoughts on this situation?



SATURDAY:
#1- There were no relevant updates on Saturday.



SUNDAY:
#1- There were no relevant updates on Sunday.

Thanks for reading ~