Welcome to KWORLD NOW News, your one-stop weekly source for everything Korean Culture! Here are the highlights for the week of February 26, 2021!
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BIGHIT & UMG
On February 17th, two music giants – BigHit Entertainment and Universal Studios (UMG) – announced their exclusive collaboration with the goal of improving future artist opportunities. Along with BigHit’s successful strategies for connecting artists with fans, UMG will gain access to platforms such as Weverse. Many of UMG’s current artists have already joined.
The two companies are also planning to create a brand new “global” K-pop group with members being chosen through world-wide audition programs similar to shows like Produce 101 and I-LAND. This partnership is promising to further break the barriers of borders and language and bring K-pop further into the mainstream than ever before!
iKON
KPop group iKon is set to make their long anticipated comeback with their single ‘Why Why Why(왜왜왜)’ The new song is set to be released on March 3rd at 6PM KST(4AM EST.)This is their fourth comeback as a group. The teasers for the anticipated new song show the boys against a simple grey background along with a somber clip from the song.
According to a statement from YG Entertainment, group member Bobby will soon stop promotions for his solo release to fully focus on the group’s comeback and participation on the upcoming show ‘Kingdom: Legendary War.’ Kingdom, an Mnet survival show, will include other groups such as Stray Kids, ATEEZ, BTOB 4U and THE BOYZ and is scheduled to air in the beginning of April.
JENNIE & G-DRAGON
On Wednesday evening February 24th, news about BigBang’s G-Dragon and Blackpink’s Jennie secretly dating took many KPop fans by surprise.
According to Korean media outlet Dispatch, the two were spotted at G-dragon’s penthouse after Jennie was finished with Blackpink’s online concert on January 31st. They referred to G-Dragon’s home layout having a personal parking space and a private elevator which apparently Jennie would use without the need to verify her identity.
YG quickly issued a statement stating it couldn’t confirm the relationship between the two, but Dispatch said that, according to a source close to the couple, the two stars’ relationship is an open secret at YG Entertainment. Is it just a rumour? Only time will tell!
ACTORS/IDOLS
Following the bullying scandals rocking the Korean sports world, a surprising surge of bullying allegations have come out in the past couple of days. Several idols and actors from different agencies are being accused of being involved in so-called ‘iljin’ or school bully gangs.
Last week actor Jo Byung Kyu (조병규) dealt with the allegations from an anonymous netizen. His representatives quickly dealt with the rumours, stating they will not tolerante defamatory comments and will proceed with legal action.
Since then, claims about Seventeen’s Mingyu, (G)I-DLE’s Soojin, Stray Kid’s Hyunjin, actress Park Hye Soo and actor Kim Dong Hee have also surfaced. Netizens are waiting anxiously for further information on if these allegations are true.
NAVILLERA
Based on the popular webtoon published in 2016 – Navillera (나빌레라), ‘Like A Butterfly’ is a drama following the story of Duk Chool, a 70 year old man who begins taking ballet lessons, and 23-year-old Chae Rok, a ballerino who has a hard time succeeding and a dwindling passion for dance. Chae Rok’s life takes an unexpected turn when she meets the old but dedicated ballet student Duk Chool.
Starring Song Kang(송강) and Park In Hwan(박인환), the kdrama has already begun airing, and you can watch it on Mondays & Tuesdays at 21:00 KST on tvN.
A FOOL’S DREAM
From March 29th, the romantic drama titled ‘A Fool’s Dream (속아도 꿈결)’ starring Ham Eun-Jung (은정) and Lee Se-Na (이세나) will follow the story of two parents from different cultural backgrounds who decide to remarry. Together with their now adult children, they become one big family.
How will the family navigate their differences? You can find out more starting March 29 every Monday & Friday between 20:30 & 21:00 KST on KBS1.
IDOL BDAYS
Party hats on! It’s time to celebrate next week’s Idol Birthdays! Here are the names and dates to remember to wish your favorite idol a happy birthday.
–Wonho (Monsta X) 3/1/1993
– Chorong (APink) 3/3/1991
– Jangjun (Golden Child) 3/3/1997
– Yeri (Red Velvet) 3/5/1999
– Choa (AOA) 3/6/1990
KOREAN WORD OF THE DAY
Today’s word of the day is 문제 – problem.
When you want to say that a job looks easy, or that’s everything’s okay you can say ‘문제 없어요’ (No Problem!)