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Tamar Herman

There’s never a dull moment in K-pop. Just look at this week, which saw new releases from none other than BTS and Loona, the return of Shinee, and more controversy over the Produce 101 television series.
Here’s what you need to know about the last few days in the K-pop realm.
Produce 101 line-up controversy
South Korean broadcaster Mnet’s competition series Produce 101 spawned acts such as I.O.I, Wanna One, IZ*One, and X1. IZ*One are the only ﻿one currently active. Legal proceedings concerning the Produce 101 series – previously revealed to have been rigged – revealed which popular competitors’ lives and careers had been altered by back-room conspiring.

New platform Universe expands
A new social media platform, Universe, launched recently and has seen K-pop acts including Monsta X, Ateez, and WJSN join it.

2020 MINHO'S BACK!
SHINee의 불꽃 카리스마 MINHO의 전역을 축하 합니다!
지금 바로 MINHO의 메시지를 확인 하세요!https://t.co/kVx0p6fVcA#민호 #MINHO #샤이니 #SHINee #빛나는샤이니 #MINHOisBACK #2020_SHINeeisBACK pic.twitter.com/Uva3mBZn04
— SHINee (@SHINee) November 15, 2020

Shinee’s back
Military enlistments often disrupt the careers of South Korean boy bands, but Shinee’s Minho returned this week as the third of four of the group’s members to have completed his military service.
With only youngest member Taemin left to enlist, the four were reunited, and social media erupted as they rapidly returned to being their chaotic selves. The hashtag “Shinee’s back” trended, a reference to the phrase made famous by their 2012 hit “Sherlock”.

Cnblue, Akmu, and Henry make their returns
Pop band Cnblue, sibling duo Akmu, and soloist Henry made long-awaited returns this week with new music, after gaps in their careers because of various military enlistments, the departure of band members, and career changes.
Aespa debut
The high-profile girl group from K-pop company SM Entertainment arrived with the release of their first single, Black Mamba .

CL postpones album
After recently making her return with a pair of singles, former 2NE1 member announced she would be pushing back the launch of her long-awaited album.
BTS release BE
The septet returned on Friday with their album dedicated to the Covid-19 era experience. They’ll perform their single Life Goes On at the 2020 American Music Awards on Sunday.

Loona release MV for English-language track Star
The girl group released an euphoric music video for their song, shared last month on their (12:00) album. It was the English version of the B-side Voice.
Big Hit Entertainment Acquires Zico’s KOZ
Big Hit, home to BTS, has been rapidly acquiring other music labels, and this week’s big news was its acquisition of Koz Entertainment, which is headed by rapper-producer Zico, considered one of the biggest hitmakers in South Korea today.


Blame Timothée Chalamet. A lookalike contest for BTS’ Jungkook keeps the viral trend going

K-pop’s NewJeans split from label Ador, citing ‘mistreatment’ and lack of respect

5 of the best shows in Hong Kong this weekend November 29-December 1, Clockenflap included

APT by Rosé and Bruno Mars rewrites K-pop playbook by turning it into mainstream pop music

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

BTS release BE, Minho of Shinee returns, CL postpones album, Aespa make their debut: this week’s K-pop news

BTS this week released their album BE about life during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Handout

***ONE TIME USE ONLY, PLEASE CLEAR THE COPYRIGHTS BEFORE RE-USE - OTUO*** Picture for Features, 48HRs, Music. CL of 2NE1, the four-member South Korean girl group. Promotional Image for All Or Nothing Hong Kong Tour 2014. [27FEB2014 48HRs MUSIC]

K-pop boy band Monsta X. Credit: Starship Entertainment

Korean pop star Henry (right) performing at the Hong Kong Dome Festival at the Kai Tak Development Site. 01JUL13

***PLEASE CLEAR COPYRIGHT BEFORE REUSE*** K-pop girl group Loona. Credit: Blockberry Creative

BTS members release new album BE, a ‘message of hope’ for fans and the K-pop band’s second Korean album drop of 2020

Each BTS member took on a specific role in the production of “BE”, their second album drop this year after February’s “Map of the Soul: 7”. Photo: courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

BTS' BE Global Press Conference.[FEATURES] Photo / Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

K-pop’s BtoB 4U ask us to Show Your Love as they readapt to civilian life with new mini-album Inside – military service has left the new subunit out of practice and missing the other three members

BtoB 4U – from left, Peniel, Changsub, Minhyuk and Eunkwang – who have released a mini-album, Inside, after finishing their military service. Photo: Cube Entertainment

BTOB group photo with all the members. Photo: Cube Entertainment/ Handout

Eunkwang. Photo: Cube Entertainment

Minhyuk. Photo: Cube Entertainment

BTOB 4U. Photo: Cube Entertainment/ Handout

Peniel. Photo: Cube Entertainment

Chang-sub. Photo: Cube Entertainment

Will K-pop’s BTS or Blackpink get Grammy nominations finally? Boys’ single, Dynamite, and girls’ debut album ought to help

The impact and popularity of BTS (pictured) and Blackpink have been felt worldwide for years, but the US market has been lagging in recent years in recognising either act. Photo: Big Hit Entertainment

BTS 2019 promo pic. Credit: Big Hit Entertainment

INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been processed using digital filters.) Blackpink perform at Sahara Tent during the 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 19, 2019 in Indio, California. Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella/AFP

K-pop boy band SuperM. Credit: SM Entertainment

Lifestyle

K-Pop

News

Entertainment

BTS released the album BE, their reflection on the Covid-19 era, and will perform their single Life Goes On at Sunday’s 2020 American Music Awards
Shinee were reunited when Minho completed his military service, Cnblue returned, and Aespa dropped their first single, Black Mamba


This week BTS released their album BE, about life during Covid-19, Minho of Shinee finished his military service, and girl group Aespa made their debut.


Monsta X

Shinee

Aespa

BTS release BE, Minho of Shinee returns, CL postpones album, Aespa make their debut: this week’s K-pop news

BTS released the album BE, their reflection on the Covid-19 era, and will perform their single Life Goes On at Sunday’s 2020 American Music Awards Shinee were reunited when Minho completed his military service, Cnblue returned, and Aespa dropped their first single, Black Mamba

Produce 101 line-up controversy

New platform Universe expands

BTS released the album BE, their reflection on the Covid-19 era, and will perform their single Life Goes On at Sunday’s 2020 American Music Awards

Shinee were reunited when Minho completed his military service, Cnblue returned, and Aespa dropped their first single, Black Mamba