K-News Weekly Headlines: 2019 ISAC, BTS’ V Breaks Records, EXO’s Lay Highlighted By Steve Aoki, “Sky Castle” Review

Trust us when we say how Korean entertainment news literally never sleeps.

A week of sabbatical away from K-Pop and K-Drama will make fans miss a lot of things that might have happened in the dynamic world of Hallyu. Hence, as we greeted the new Lunar Year, we are bringing back this weekly roundup special.

Catch up with the Korean entertainment news as we summarized what happened in this alternate world each week. Stay regularly updated with your favorite artists and bias by following this segment closely with us!

This weekly digest will cover K-Pop comebacks, album releases, and Korean drama news, reviews and updates. Relevant news on Korean entertainment such as celebrity buzz, film and box office information and concert tours and fan meetings will also be included.

*Covers Korean entertainment news from February 3 to 9.

Events

• 2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships Recap, Highlights & Winners

Anticipated every Lunar New Year celebration, the 2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships gathered active and well-loved K-Pop artists for a friendly sports competition.

• 2019 One K Concert Announcement

A loaded lineup of K-Pop stars will take the center stage at the 2019 One K Concert! The lineup was earlier announced to include ONF, ASTRO, SF9, April, Kim Johan, and Jung In. Ha Sung Woon also confirmed on February 2 that he will participate in the event, which is currently his first official schedule as a solo artist.

• The Boyz Fan-Con Tour Announcement

The Boyz will sweep The Bs off their feet as the boys tour Asia in June for their first fan-con in the region.

• Lovelyz Japan Promotion

A representative from Woollim Entertainment noted that their promotional events in Japan have been prompted by a high demand for the group.

K-Concert & K-Fan-meeting Recaps

• BLACKPINK In You Area in Manila Concert Recap

A sold-out 2019 World Tour BLACKPINK “In Your Area” in Manila greeted Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé, and Jennie on February 2 — a testament to their unyielding popularity in the country and their influence as one of the most in-demand K-Pop groups of their generation.

• SHINee’s Key Concert Series – Keyland

Key’s first domestic concert made the fans go wild with diversified music and performances showered on them.

• U-KISS’ Jun Phenomenal First Solo Showcase In Japan

Jun of U-KISS successfully completed his first solo showcase in Japan held at the Tsutaya O-east in Tokyo on February 4.

• Park Bo Gum Sold-Out Fan Meeting In Japan

An incredible mammoth crowd of 15,000 fans came to witness the “Nation’s Boyfriend” as he marked the second leg of his “Good Day” Asia tour at the Saitama Super Arena on February 3.

K-Pop News Corner

• YG Treasure Box Relay: Park Ji Hoon & Asahi
• Kim Jae Hwan Fandom name

Kim Jae Hwan shared the delightful news about the unveiling of his official fandom name on February 3.

• BTS Heads To Grammys as Guests

BTS is confirmed to be attending this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony!

• BTS’ V Breaks Multiple Records On SoundCloud With “Scenery”

BTS’ V is now the official titleholder for a total of four records on SoundCloud with his self-composed masterpiece “Scenery”!

• Yang Hyun Suk Confirms Debut Of New YG Boy Group Treasure 13

YG Entertainment’s Yang Hyun Suk personally confirmed earlier reports of the entertainment company’s plan to debut a 13-member boy group through its official blog, yg-life.com.

• TXT March Debut Announcement

Big Hit Entertainment finally confirmed the debut of its new boy group TXT by sharing more details on the upcoming activities of the boy group.

• GOT7 Tops Oricon Chart

GOT7 has proved to be one of the popular acts in Japan by placing its 3^rd mini album on top of the Oricon daily chart on the day of release (January 30) and Oricon weekly for the first time.

K-Pop Comeback News & Updates

• ONF ‘We Must Love’ Comeback Launch

When ONF announced comeback in romantic hues, they meant business in making the love month for their fans memorable.

• (G)I-DLE February Comeback Announcement

This will be (G)I-DLE’s latest comeback after six months when they released their first digital single on August 14, 2018.

• Dreamcatcher Comeback Teasers

Newly unveiled teaser photos of Dreamcatcher definitely have gotten InSomnias waiting at the edge of their seats.

• MONSTA X Comeback Teasers

Proving that they are the kings of dark concepts, MONSTA X released the first and second parts of their teaser photos in seven deadly sins concept – and we are definitely sinning.

• ITZY Comeback Teasers

Revealing an electrifying and vibrant tracklist for their first single album IT’z Different on February 6, ITZY means serious business to delight their fans.

• Infinite Comeback Announcement

Woollim Entertainment has confirmed the return of INFINITE with the digital single “Clock” through a teaser photo uploaded on the boy group’s social media channels.

• Loona Comeback

LOONA’s comeback is right around the corner, and they are making sure everyone is waiting on their toes as they released the tracklist for their upcoming album, X X.

K-Drama News, Recaps & Reviews

• Romance is a Bonus Book Recaps: Premiere, Ep03, Ep04

For a man and a woman who have been friends for a while, there’s a thin line that separates familiarity and romance. That is so far the drawing point of Romance Is A Bonus Book as it goes to fulfill a love story despite age disparity and friendship.

• Sky Castle Review

Top-rating and phenomenal jTBC satire drama Sky Castle ended its run on a high note. Read our review HERE.

• Clean With Passion For Now Review

The love story of O Sol and Sun Gyeol in Clean With Passion For Now was anything but easy. It was a classic case of opposite attraction.

• Legal High Teasers

Jin Goo and Seo Eun Seo are teaming up for quirky jTBC courtroom drama Legal High set to premiere on February 8.

• Hot-blooded Priest Teaser

Playing the titular character, Kim Nam Gil is not your typical clergyman in the three stills released for SBS’ The Fiery Priest.

• Hellokpop K-Drama Picks: Love Second Chance Stories

Continuing our month-long celebration of love this February, we picked our favorite Korean dramas with themes of finding love again or giving an old flame a second chance.

• K-Drama Couch January 5th Week/Feb 1st Week

As one series ended on a high note, a few others are slowly getting their own fair share of the audience’s attention in the parade of 2019 Korean Dramas.

K-Celeb/Film News/Interviews

• Joo Won Completes Military Service

Despite the cold weather, Joo Won’s faithful fans gathered in front of the unit to celebrate his return to civilian life.

• Ji Sung And Lee Bo Young Welcome Their Second Child

Ji Sung posted on his Instagram account on February 5 to announce that his wife has given birth to their second child.

• Sandara Park New “Video Star” MC

2NE1’s Sandara Park shared her thoughts on being part of MBC Every1’s talk show Video Star following the airing of her first episode as a new cast member.

• Hoya’s Surprise Military Enlistment

Hoya personally made the announcement on February 5 about his looming military enlistment set on February 7.

• Rain Kicks Off Promotion Of New Film “The Cyclist King”

Prepping up for his upcoming film The Cyclist King, Rain visited Radio Star.

• Steve Aoki Says EXO’s Lay Can Make It Big In The US

American DJ and producer Steve Aoki believes EXO’s Lay has what it takes to successfully make a crossover to the United States.

• Ong Seong Wu Fan Cafe

Fantagio Entertainment has launched an official fan cafe via Daum for Ong Seong Wu on February 7!

K-Features

• K-Pop’s Ultimate Face Geniuses

Various K-Pop idols took the time to crown their own fellow idols in several categories, including K-Pop’s ultimate face geniuses.

• Music Quick Reviews: The Suites, Lolly, & Choyoung
• HallyuPopFest 2019, Ong Seong Wu, The Boyz, ONF & MAMAMOO Singapore K-Pop Events 2nd Qtr 2019

For the second quarter of this season, Singapore fans should prep themselves up with loads of performances by their favorite K-Pop artists.

• ATEEZ ‘HALA HALA’ MV Review + Album Insights

Anticipated performance video of “Hearts Awakened, Live Alive” dropped on February 7, making the world know the next level of their own standards.

• SF9’s Rowoon Interview About SF9 & Career Goals

Rising idol-actor Rowoon presented himself for an interview where he spoke about his experiences of being an actor and a fellow member of SF9.