Jeon Somi to return with digital single in July: report
Jeon Somi is poised to make a comeback with a digital single in July, local media reported Thursday.
Her agency The Black Label confirmed the news report on Friday, adding that she will put out the track 'Extra' on July 7. The label also unvieled a batch of black-and-white photographs of Jeon sporting a chin-length bob in platinum blonde.
The upcoming single comes a year after her summer anthem 'Ice Cream,' a summer special dance number from 2024.
On July 19, the performer will host a meet-and-greet in Seoul. She is planning a party-like event under the title 'Chaos.'
Separately, speculations are rising that her former group I.O.I may reunite in time to mark the 10th anniversary of its debut. The group debuted in 2016 with 11 finalists from the audition show 'Produce 101.' Jeon was the top contestant of the project group, which disbanded in 2017.
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Korea Herald
14 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Jeon Somi to return with digital single in July: report
Jeon Somi is poised to make a comeback with a digital single in July, local media reported Thursday. Her agency The Black Label confirmed the news report on Friday, adding that she will put out the track 'Extra' on July 7. The label also unvieled a batch of black-and-white photographs of Jeon sporting a chin-length bob in platinum blonde. The upcoming single comes a year after her summer anthem 'Ice Cream,' a summer special dance number from 2024. On July 19, the performer will host a meet-and-greet in Seoul. She is planning a party-like event under the title 'Chaos.' Separately, speculations are rising that her former group I.O.I may reunite in time to mark the 10th anniversary of its debut. The group debuted in 2016 with 11 finalists from the audition show 'Produce 101.' Jeon was the top contestant of the project group, which disbanded in 2017.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
Can coed K-pop make a comeback? Teddy's ‘Allday Project' stirs new hope
Industry insiders both skeptical and cautiously optimistic over Allday Project, a new coed K-pop group The Black Label, led by hitmaker and Blackpink producer Teddy Park, has sent ripples through the K-pop scene with the surprise announcement of its first coed group, Allday Project, due to debut June 23. The mixed-gender makeup of the label's second idol team is already generating a buzz — both skeptical and hopeful — before a single track has dropped. The concept may seem fresh in today's hyper-specialized K-pop market, but coed groups once thrived in the industry. In the 1990s and early 2000s, acts like Roo'Ra, Cool, Sharp and Turtles led the charge, becoming household names. But since the 2010s, coed teams have all but vanished from the mainstream. The K-pop scene has shifted toward gender-segregated acts, with agencies increasingly focused on either all-male or all-female groups optimized for fan-driven business models. Today, only a handful of coed teams remain. Koyote, which debuted in 1998, continues to perform with its original male-female lineup. Kard, launched by DSP Media in 2017, is the only other active coed idol group. That will change when Allday Project debuts, the first new mixed-gender K-pop act in eight years. Experts point to multiple structural reasons behind the genre's decline: fandom behavior, concept limitations and the demands of social media platforms. 'Coed groups peaked during the era of 1990s dance music,' said music critic Lim Hee-yun, Monday. 'At the time, public exposure relied heavily on domestic broadcast TV. On music and variety shows, it was common for men and women to perform together, rapping and singing in turns. It suited the shared viewing habits of Korean families at the time." 'But now, it's a multi-platform world where success hinges on passionate engagement through social media and short-form content,' Lim said. 'That works best when fans can hyper-focus on a single idol. That's why we see girl groups and boy groups, not coed.' That is not to say that there have been no attempts to break the mold. Sunny Hill debuted in 2007 as a five-member coed group but soon restructured into an all-girl team following the exit of its sole male member. Kard has carved out a niche by focusing on international markets, where mixed-gender acts are met with less resistance. Lim believes The Black Label might be tapping into that very niche. 'This could be a long-term play aimed at audiences who like K-pop performance and music — not necessarily those who just want to stan a particular idol. If they execute it well, it could spark a new conversation.' But there's no doubt Allday Project faces an uphill battle. The fan ecosystem of K-pop — largely split along gendered lines — makes the group's path inherently uncertain. Their success will hinge on whether they can transcend the limitations traditionally placed on coed formats and prove their mass appeal. The Black Label says it didn't set out to break barriers — it just followed the music. Allday Project was planned "without bias," like any other team, and its creative direction isn't confined by the framework of K-pop. An industry insider from one of the major agencies also expressed cautious optimism. 'It's not really about whether there have been coed groups or not,' the official said. 'These members, regardless of their debut year or gender, have strong individuality. That's what's interesting.' 'Sure, managing a coed group is hard, and fandoms can split. But maybe that's just because we haven't had a successful case yet,' the official added. 'Who's to say a mixed-gender group can't work now? It's been 30 years of K-pop -- bands are back. Maybe it's time for coed groups to shine again, too.'
Korea Herald
10-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Smilegate Unveils New Gameplay Trailer for Upcoming RPG, "Chaos Zero Nightmare": Pre-Registration Begins in July
SEOUL, South Korea, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday the 10th, Smilegate announced the release of a new promotional video titled "Embrace Despair," featuring actual gameplay from its upcoming RPG "Chaos Zero Nightmare" (henceforth CZN), developed by Super Creative. The trailer premiered globally at 03:00 on June 10 (UTC) via the official CZN YouTube channel and on X. As a follow-up to the first promotional video released last November, this second trailer highlights CZN's unique card-based battle system and unveils a host of monsters drawn from its corrupted universe. CZN is set in a dark fantasy universe corrupted and destroyed by a mysterious entity known as the "Chaos." To reflect this concept, its world is filled with eerie monsters rarely found in traditional anime-style RPGs. The video concluded with a notice that pre-registration is scheduled to begin in mid-July. To commemorate the new PV release, Smilegate is also hosting a Baemin (Baedal Minjok) mobile coupon giveaway via a draw on the social media platform "X" from June 10 to June 16. Users can participate by following the official CZN account on X and reposting the event post to their own accounts. CZN is Super Creative's next-generation IP, helmed by CEO Kim Hyung Suk, creator of Epic Seven, who also serves as the game's director. At the base of CZN is a collectible RPG where players can collect and upgrade their favorite characters. The game blends deck-building mechanics with features from multiple genres to create a fresh and distinctive experience. Kim Joo Hyung, Head of Business at Smilegate, stated, "With this PV, we aimed to capture the dark and heavy atmosphere that defines CZN's unique world. We look forward to sharing more updates about Chaos Zero Nightmare in the near future."
