Only one day left until G-Dragon is officially discharged from the military!

On October 25, YG Entertainment revealed, “G-Dragon will be discharged from Yongin instead of Cheorwon.”

As G-Dragon is currently completing his military service in Cheorwon which is located in Gangwon Province, he was originally supposed to be discharged there on October 26.

Previously, YG Entertainment asked fans not to visit BIGBANG members on their discharge dates due to safety reasons. The agency stated, “The military bases where G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung are serving are in border territory where the African swine fever (ASF) virus has been detected. In order to prevent further spread of the virus, the quarantine system is being strengthened, and not visiting this area is being recommended. Civil authorities have also requested extra caution, so we ask that fans refrain from visiting for their discharges in order to prevent spread of the virus and for the safety of fans.”

Despite the official request, it is anticipated that many fans will still come to see G-Dragon. Therefore, G-Dragon will be discharged from Yongin which is located in Gyeonggi Province.

Fans can look forward to G-Dragon’s return tomorrow. Taeyang and Daesung will be discharged in November.

Source (1)

On October 23, Hana Financial Investment Co., Ltd released their analysis of the state of YG Entertainment’s finances.

Earlier this year, YG’s founder, Yang Hyun Suk, stepped down from his position at the company after a series of scandals. His brother, the CEO, also resigned. After his resignation, Yang Hyun Suk became the subject of investigations regarding suspicions of prostitution mediation and illegal gambling. Despite the resignation, the company continued to be impacted by the public perception of scandal.

However, the Hana Financial Investment report was cautiously optimistic, suggesting that if BIGBANG renews their contract and TREASURE 13 can make their debut, the company has much potential for growth over the next year.

Lee Ki Hoon, a researcher at Hana Financial Investment, said, “BIGBANG’s contract renewal remains a big hurdle for the company, but the state of uncertainty is clearing up a little after the recent repayment of redeemable convertible preference shares, the conclusion of various tax audits and police investigations, and the BIGBANG members’ upcoming discharges from the military. If they can make BIGBANG’s promotions and TREASURE 13’s debut a reality, then their potential for growth will make them the biggest entertainment agency next year.”

The report also predicted that the third and fourth quarter sales of this year would be around 63.9 billion won (about $54.5 million), a 2 percent decrease from the same period last year. The operating loss was estimated to be around 1.3 billion won (about $1.1 million).

Lee Ki Hoon said, “But with AKMU’s digital sales, WINNER’s comeback, and BLACKPINK’s expected comeback, the fourth quarter will see a rise in the company’s original business.”

Nonetheless, the key focus of the report is on YG’s future. Lee Ki Hoon said, “The most important question after the BIGBANG members are discharged from the military is whether they’ll renew their contracts.”

He continued, “In the past five years, SM and YG held about 20-40 dome concerts per year combined. Of those, 40-50 percent were BIGBANG. If a Japanese dome tour can yield the expected results (about 800,000 to 1 million people per year), then the yearly business profits can easily go over 30 billion won (about 25.6 million).”

Lee Ki Hoon cautioned that TREASURE 13 must make their debut early next year, however, in order to contend with a highly competitive rookie market. He pointed out that SM Entertainment has talked about the possibility of debuting new groups next year, while Big Hit Entertainment already has a head start with TXT. He concluded, “But anticipation is still high [for TREASURE 13], with its member lineup, including four Japanese members, and its collaboration with YG producers.”

Source (1)

BIGBANG’s agency has asked fans not to visit G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung for their upcoming military discharges.

On October 23, YG Entertainment shared the following statement via BIGBANG’s website:

Hello, this is YG Entertainment.

This is a notice regarding the discharges of G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung in October and November.

The military bases where G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung are serving are in border territory where the African swine fever (ASF) virus has been detected. In order to prevent further spread of the virus, the quarantine system is being strengthened, and not visiting this area is being recommended.

Civil authorities have also requested extra caution, so we ask that fans refrain from visiting for their discharges in order to prevent spread of the virus and for the safety of fans.

We thank V.I.P who have been waiting for the discharges of G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, and we once again ask for fans to refrain from visiting.

G-Dragon enlisted in February 2018, while Taeyang and Daesung enlisted in March of the same year. G-Dragon is set to be discharged on October 26, and Taeyang and Daesung will be discharged in November.

Source (1)

Top Photo Credit: Xportsnews

Whenever a new K-pop bop is put out, fan-made releases from all over the world start taking over social media. Aside from the classic vocal covers that replicate our favorite songs, some artists go beyond the usual drill and come up with original creations (much to fans’ delight).

Here are, in no particular order, some of the most creative ways K-pop was reprised!

1. Piano: MAMAMOO – “Starry Night”

If you’re looking for a clean instrumental to sing to or to simply add to your chill playlist, piano covers are the go-to pick. The YouTube channel DooPiano has covered many K-pop songs, and this sweet rendition of MAMAMOO’s “Starry Night” is the perfect soundtrack to let yourself get lost in your thoughts and enjoy the hypnotizing melody.

2. Taekwondo: GFRIEND – “Me Gustas Tu”

Nothing kickstarts a performance like a taekwondo-based choreography brought to you by K-Tigers, one of the world’s leading taekwondo teams. GFRIEND’s dance moves are known to be sharp, and the fierce ladies in the video below know exactly how to deliver the dance routine while showing off their high kicks.

3. Acapella: (G)I-DLE – “Hann (Alone)”

There is something about an acapella arrangement that makes it just as fascinating as the original song that inspires it. A vivid example is this captivating take on (G)I-DLE’s “Hann” that gives you chills with every listen as the singer perfectly self-harmonizes throughout the song.

4. English lyrics: EXO – “Love Shot”

If you’re an international fan, you have probably wished at least once in your life for your favorite idols to release an English version of their best hits. Well, your wishes are other fans’ commands! Pairing eloquent English lyrics and mesmerizing vocals, this cover of EXO is simply a masterpiece that will have you wanting more!

5. Video games: BLACKPINK – “Kill This Love”

This is perhaps the best way to cover BLACKPINK’s latest hit, since the MV itself gives off major Lara Croft vibes and has us hoping for a video game release. If you had the same thought, then your prayers have been answered, sorta. Darnu-Pop releases videos of their game-like creations where idol groups venture into their MV-inspired worlds as they hit every note by jumping around and collecting coins.

6. Parodies: Red Velvet – “RBB (Really Bad Boy)”

Music video production costs a lot of money to bring their aesthetic visuals to life. This being said, an Indonesian dance group by the name of Iridescent managed to recreate one of Red Velvet’s title tracks with a low-budget parody that brilliantly includes all of the key sets and scenes from the MV. This is proof that when you’re dedicated, nothing can get in the way of you letting your passion shine bright.

7. Beatboxing: TWICE – “TT”

For those of you who are not familiar with our next creative artist, Lydia Paek is a Korean-American singer-songwriter who is mostly known for penning some of BIGBANG’s and 2NE1’s songs. Joined by her collaborator Kevin (KRNFX) and his amazing beatboxing skills, the two artists put their spin on one of TWICE’s hype songs and made it into a slow jam that will get you grooving to the rhythm.

8. Live bands: BTS – “Fake Love”

Don’t you just love it when BTS performs their songs with a live band in-concert? Well, KHS, Megan Lee, and Sam Tsui put their own twist on the 2018 bop by performing it with a band, and it is one for the books! The instruments have perfect synergy with the singers’ vocals as they add their own personal touch to the melody.

9. Medleys: Featuring Wonder Girls, BIGBANG, 2NE1, Girls’ Generation, and more

If there is one thing that all K-pop fans appreciate, it has to be the throwbacks. Reminiscing about the beginnings of K-pop is part of fan culture, and it’s always heartwarming to see how it evolved throughout the years. Medleys are always a fan favorite, and the clip below introduces a beautiful rendition brought to us by talented singers and dancers who entertain us as we take a trip down memory lane.

Which K-pop cover do you find most creative? Let us know in the comments below!

Esmee L. is a Moroccan lively dreamer, writer, and Hallyu enthusiast.