What do K-pop fans “enjoy” during Lunar New Year?

February is an important month for K-pop fans. Famous artists like BABYMONSTER and TWICE both choose the time that coincides with the Lunar New Year to release new music products. Besides, rookie group NCT WISH also debuted, this is a highly anticipated group in Japan.

Kicking off an exciting February is BABYMONSTER, a new girl group under K-pop giant YG Entertainment, the company that also represents A-list stars like Blackpink. The six-member band released their new single “Stuck in the Middle” on February 1. Before that, they had success with their debut song “Batter Up”.

The music video for “Batter Up” debuted on December 27, becoming the first music video for a K-pop debut single to amass 200 million views on YouTube, reaching the milestone 53 days following its release. According to YG, “Stuck in the Middle” has a contrasting feel to the hip-hop-oriented debut song.

What do K-pop fans “enjoy” during Lunar New Year?

Babymonster’s new song does not create a breakthrough. Photo: Kortimes.

“This is a single of a new genre that showcases the excellent vocals and unique voices of our members,” YG said, adding that the group also plans to release their first mini-album. first in April 2024.

However, with “Stuck in the Middle”, BABYMONSTER has not yet been able to break through. The gentle ballad song is indeed the opposite of the vibrant hip-hop mix “Batter Up”, but is still a safe, unimpressive choice. The highlight of this comeback is the voices of the 6 members. The hard training process and existing talent are fully shown off in a gentle vocal-centric composition.

Among them, the most surprising factor is Japanese member Asa. Despite being part of the group’s rap line, Asa is considered to have a powerful voice and handles emotional segments extremely smoothly. Building the MV based on a fairy-tale, uplifting and feminine concept, Stuck in the Middle is an effort to refresh the image of a girl group from YG. The beauty of the 6 rookie girls shines in each frame, matching their gentle and elegant designs.

Ahead of BABYMONSTER’s return, girl group TWICE released “I Got You” on February 5, a tune from the group’s upcoming mini-album, “With YOU-th.”

Characterized by simple drum patterns and ambient sounds, “I Got You” is an English song regarding the friendship and love of the TWICE members.

TWICE’s “I Got You” was well received. Photo: Kortimes.

In contrast to the group’s previous vibrant style, I Got You gives listeners a gentle, warm, healing atmosphere. The MV also emphasizes the friendship of 9 girls with a youthful spirit. One more special thing is that the members are tied together by a red thread as an affirmation of the nearly 10-year journey they have walked together.

TWICE, currently on their biggest world tour ever, will release “With YOU-th” on February 23. Details regarding the mini-album have not been specifically revealed.

On February 5, boy band P1HARMONY also released the music video for “Killin’ It”, the title song of the group’s first full-length album. The song entered the streaming charts on the same day, but the physical album will hit shelves in Korea and the US on February 7 and February 9, respectively. It took the group regarding 3 years to release a studio album since their debut in 2020.

P1HARMONY is generating buzz with their November single, “Fall In Love Again” in North America. The song remained in the Top 40 chart on MediaBase, which tracks radio airplay in the United States and Canada, for six consecutive weeks as of January 15, while remaining at on the Billboard Pop airplay chart for several weeks.

Boy band P1HARMONY. Photo: FNC Entertainment

P1HARMONY will also participate in The Governors Ball Music Festival 2024 in June, becoming the first K-pop boy group to participate in the annual music festival held in New York City. This year’s headliners include Post Malone, The Killers and SZA.

In addition, Wendy of girl group Red Velvet will release her second solo album in February although the exact comeback date is unknown. Ten members of boy band NCT will also be doing solo activities, with NCT WISH, NCT’s final subgroup, set to debut on February 21. NCT WISH consists of two Koreans – Sion and Jaehee and four Japanese – Riku, Yushi, Ryo and Sakuya.