
K-pop Fans Defend CRAVITY's Unique Concept Photos For Upcoming Album
Fans are always eagerly awaiting their favourite K-pop idol groups to make a comeback. As part of the promotional campaign, agencies often publish concept photos of the group members to tease fans about the overall theme of the album.
There have been many instances where a particular member's concept photos have broken the internet due to their visuals, but in CRAVITY (크래비티)'s case, it's for an entirely different reason. The group made waves online over the weekend, with K-pop fans divided over just how unusual their concept photos are. Full story here:
CRAVITY is currently preparing not only for a comeback but also for a rebrand. The group recently underwent a lineup change, with new leadership now consisting of the original members and Hyeongjun. As such, the concept photos for their upcoming album 'Dare to Crave' are expected to reflect the boy band's current journey.
On 14th June (Saturday), the group released the concept images, which depict each member, dressed in white, hatching and crawling out of an egg, covered in some sort of translucent fluid. As soon as the photos were published, many expressed shock and even disgust at the somewhat unsettling visuals. According to Allkpop, some fans have expressed disappointment with the creative team for portraying the idols in questionable poses and using unsettling imagery.
Fortunately, however, the majority of reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Many came to the group's defence, stating that the imagery of them hatching from eggs perfectly symbolises their rebranding — or in other words, their rebirth. Others argued that CRAVITY may have delivered one of the most interesting and creative concept photo sets by a K-pop idol group in recent years, especially given how similar most concept photos tend to be.
As for the members themselves, they too responded to fans' reactions to the photos. Minhee admitted that he was the most shocked about the whole thing and that he wanted to go home during the shoot. 'We would unintentionally shove the person next to us and say to each other, 'Oh, god, I am so sorry'. Then, it all became so funny that we basically thought of ourselves as human curling stones. (It's like we played curling with human bodies.) We tried to laugh it off as best we could. It was fun.'
Jungmo reassured that fans should look forward to the other concept photos, as they worked really hard on them. Taeyoung and Sungmin took the 'experimental' concept photos in stride, saying that they were happy to be involved in the process. What are your thoughts on the concept photos? Did you find them refreshing or disturbing?
Sources: Twitter, Allkpop
What's your Reaction?
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0
+1
0

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Suga is last BTS member to complete mandatory military service
FILE - Suga, a member of South Korean K-pop band BTS, poses for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single "Butter" in Seoul, South Korea on May 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File) SUGA (pic), a member of K-pop megaband BTS, has officially completed his mandatory military service, marking the full return of all seven members of the global supergroup from duty. South Korea's most lucrative musical act has been on a self- described 'hiatus' since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service required of all South Korean men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear- armed North. Suga is the last to complete his service, ahead of the group's widely-anticipated return to activities as a full unit. His final day concluded at 11.59.59pm last night, according to the band's agency Hybe and South Korea's Military Manpower Administration. The rapper, who served as a social service agent – an alternative form of military duty – effectively completed his service on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave, according to his label. 'Above all else, I wanted to sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time,' Suga told the group's fans – collectively known as Army on the platform Weverse. 'I've missed you so much.' Before entering military service, the megaband generated more than 5.5 trillion won in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Analysts expect Hybe's operating profit to jump next year, driven in part by BTS's anticipated return to large-scale touring, with some projections forecasting a 71% year-on-year increase. 'The importance of BTS's reunion to Hybe, K-pop and South Korea at large cannot be overstated. They are singular in their part of the Korean Wave,' Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, said. 'I think their next tour will be their biggest yet.' Since their release last week, band leader RM has appeared at Art Basel in Switzerland as the new global ambassador for Samsung's Art TV, while member V was spotted attending a piano recital in Seoul alongside Old Boy filmmaker Park Chan-wook. BTS has long been considered one of the best examples of South Korea's soft power reach, even making a White House visit in 2022. They have spoken candidly about mental health and anti-Asian crime and donated US$1mil to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2019, inspiring fans to contribute the same amount. K-pop's surging popularity has also helped break down barriers for Asian artistes, said Keung Yoon-bae, a Korean studies professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. 'Singers such as Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, have discussed before how they had to go to Korea because they felt attaining a music career in the US as an Asian felt impossible,' she said. 'Today, groups such as BTS and Blackpink seem to be breaking down that sense of impossibility.' Despite the widespread acclaim, Suga was fined 15 million won for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol last year. Last Saturday, he once again apologised for the incident in a message posted on Weverse. 'I'm sorry for the disappointment and concern I caused due to what happened last year. More than anything, knowing I caused pain to my fans broke my heart,' he said. 'I'll do my best to repay the love you've given me – now more than ever.' — AFP


The Star
14 hours ago
- The Star
Last member of K-pop megaband BTS to finish military service
K-pop band BTS members RM (left) and V react after being discharged from a mandatory military service in Chuncheon, South Korea, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. -- AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon SEOUL (AFP): SUGA, a member of the K-pop megaband BTS, will officially complete his mandatory military service on Saturday, marking the full return of all seven members of the global supergroup from duty. South Korea's most lucrative musical act has been on a self-described "hiatus" since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service required of all South Korean men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. SUGA will be the last to complete his service, ahead of the group's widely anticipated return to activities as a full unit. His final day concludes at 11:59:59 pm, according to the band's agency HYBE and South Korea's Military Manpower Administration. The rapper, who served as a social service agent -- an alternative form of military duty -- effectively completed his service on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave, according to his label. "Above all else, I wanted to .... sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time," SUGA told the group's fans -- collectively known as ARMY -- on the platform Weverse. "I've missed you so much." Before entering military service, the megaband generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Analysts expect HYBE's operating profit to jump next year, driven in part by BTS's anticipated return to large-scale touring, with some projections forecasting a 71 percent year-on-year increase. "The importance of BTS's reunion to HYBE, K-pop and South Korea at large cannot be overstated. They are singular in their part of the Korean Wave," Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, told AFP. "I think their next tour will be their biggest yet." Since their release last week, band leader RM has appeared at Art Basel in Switzerland as the new global ambassador for Samsung's Art TV, while member V was spotted attending a piano recital in Seoul alongside "Old Boy" filmmaker Park Chan-wook. - Soft power - BTS has long been considered one of the best examples of South Korea's soft power reach, even making a White House visit in 2022. They have spoken candidly about mental health and anti-Asian crime and donated $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2019, inspiring fans to contribute the same amount. K-pop's surging popularity has also helped break down barriers for Asian artists, said Keung Yoon Bae, a Korean studies professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. "Singers such as Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, have discussed before how they had to go to Korea because they felt that attaining a music career in the US as an Asian felt impossible," she said. "Today, groups such as BTS and Blackpink seem to be breaking down that sense of impossibility." Despite the widespread acclaim, SUGA was fined 15 million won ($10,933) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol last year. On Saturday, he once again apologised for the incident in a message posted on Weverse. "I'm sorry for the disappointment and concern I caused due to what happened last year. More than anything, knowing I caused pain to my fans broke my heart," he said. "I'll do my best to repay the love you've given me - now more than ever." - BTS


New Straits Times
19 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#Showbiz: Last member of K-pop megaband BTS to finish military service
SEOUL: SUGA, a member of the K-pop megaband BTS, will officially complete his mandatory military service on Saturday, marking the full return of all seven members of the global supergroup from duty. South Korea's most lucrative musical act has been on a self-described "hiatus" since 2022 as its members undertook the mandatory service required of all South Korean men under 30 due to tensions with the nuclear-armed North. SUGA will be the last to complete his service, ahead of the group's widely anticipated return to activities as a full unit. His final day concludes at 11:59:59 pm, according to the band's agency HYBE and South Korea's Military Manpower Administration. The rapper, who served as a social service agent – an alternative form of military duty – effectively completed his service on Wednesday after using up his remaining leave, according to his label. "Above all else, I wanted to... sincerely thank our fans who waited for me all this time," SUGA told the group's fans – collectively known as ARMY – on the platform Weverse. "I've missed you so much." Before entering military service, the megaband generated more than 5.5 trillion won (US$4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Analysts expect HYBE's operating profit to jump next year, driven in part by BTS's anticipated return to large-scale touring, with some projections forecasting a 71 per cent year-on-year increase. "The importance of BTS's reunion to HYBE, K-pop and South Korea at large cannot be overstated. They are singular in their part of the Korean Wave," Grace Kao, a sociology professor at Yale University, told AFP. "I think their next tour will be their biggest yet." Since their release last week, band leader RM has appeared at Art Basel in Switzerland as the new global ambassador for Samsung's Art TV, while member V was spotted attending a piano recital in Seoul alongside "Old Boy" filmmaker Park Chan-wook. BTS has long been considered one of the best examples of South Korea's soft power reach, even making a White House visit in 2022. They have spoken candidly about mental health and anti-Asian crime and donated US$1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2019, inspiring fans to contribute the same amount. K-pop's surging popularity has also helped break down barriers for Asian artists, said Keung Yoon Bae, a Korean studies professor at Georgia Institute of Technology. "Singers such as Eric Nam, born and raised in Atlanta, have discussed before how they had to go to Korea because they felt that attaining a music career in the US as an Asian felt impossible," she said. "Today, groups such as BTS and Blackpink seem to be breaking down that sense of impossibility." Despite the widespread acclaim, SUGA was fined 15 million won (US$10,933) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol last year. On Saturday, he once again apologised for the incident in a message posted on Weverse. "I'm sorry for the disappointment and concern I caused due to what happened last year. More than anything, knowing I caused pain to my fans broke my heart," he said.