Dong Bang Shin Ki’s temporal Japanese promotion suspension a worry for the ‘new Kpop hallyu’ in Japan

There has been great concern in Korea after news went out that Dong Bang Shin Ki trio Micky YooChun, Hero JaeJoong and Xiah JunSu had left their Japanese agency.

The news came directly from the trio’s Japanese agency AVEX Trax on 16th September, announcing the temporal suspension of the trio’s Japanese activities. With that on 17th September, the trio’s representative responded on 17th September that the report is an one-sided report from AVEX Trax and have posed the trio with adverse conditions.

Even though this is for the trio’s Japanese activities, there has been great interests coming from Korea’s side as well. This is because currently, we are looking at the ‘new hallyu’ by singers who are promoting in Japanese currently like Big Bang, Supernova, KARA, So Nyeo Shi Dae etc.

So Nyeo Shi Dae up #4 on Oricon weekly chart, best results for debuting foreign female singers on the chart

So Nyeo Shi Dae has once again written a new history on Oricon chart.

According to Japanese music chart Oricon charts on 14th September, the girls are up #4 on the weekly chart. This is just 1 week into the official release of their Japanese debut single, which sold a record of 40~50K, surpassing the results achieved by KARA, achieving the best results any Korean idols have achieved with their debut single album.

Oricon chart wrote, “9-member Korean group So Nyeo Shi Dae’s debut Japanese single ‘Genie’ sold over 40~50 K copies in the first week of its release, went up to #4 on the weekly rankings in just 20 over days. This is the best results so far for any foreign female singers including KARA who released their debut single ‘Mister’ on 23rd August which went up to as high as #5 on the weekly chart.”

So Nyeo Shi Dae up #2 on Oricon daily singles chart, showing the power of Korea’s representative girlgroup

So Nyeo Shi Dae shows off their power as singers on the Oricon Chart.

The girls are up #2 on the Oricon daily singles chart on 11th September. And on the day of their single release on 8th September, the single went up to #5 directly on the daily singles chart.

This holds great meaning for the girls since they released their single in the same time period as some of Japanese biggest singers like Arashi and Gray. At #1 spot on the day’s chart is Japan’s representative boygroup Arashi.

Apart from So Nyeo Shi Dae, KARA is also showing the power of Korean girlgroups doing up well on Oricon chart.

KARA sets new record on Oricon chart – #1 on weekly chart, #11 on aggregate chart

With a successful debut in Japan, girlgroup KARA ‘Blu-ray Disc-KARA VACATION’ released on 1st September is up #1 on Oricon weekly ‘Blu-ray Disc’ idol image category.

Not only is ‘Blu-ray Disc KARA VACATION’ up #1 on Oricon weekly chart but also #11 in the overall chart, the highest an idol image disc has gone up on the chart.

According to officials, the highest an idol image disc has gone up on the aggregate chart is Haramiki Megumi ‘Beach Angels in Maui’ which went up to the #13 spot. ‘Blu-ray Disc-KARA VACATION’ includes a 90-minute footage of the girls’ CF shooting in Japan Okinawa and Guam in 2009 as well as a collections of images of the girls.

Diagnosed with spinal fractures, KARA Han SeungYeon to take temporary break from activites in Sep

Diagnosed with spinal fractures, KARA Han SeungYeon will be taking a temporary break in her promotions for the whole month of September.

According to DSP Media on 7th September, Han SeungYeon had injured herself while exercising. Han SeungYeon had complained of pain at her waist and went sent to the hospital for examination where she was diagnosed with spinal fractures and is currently receiving treatment for the injury.

Han SeungYeon will be required to receive treatment and recuperate for 4 weeks. And as for the confirmed schedule for the month of September, Han SeungYeon will not be participating in them after decisions by officials from her agency.

Too many similar faces amongst Kpop idols?

Too many similar faces amongst Kpop idols these days?

This was an observation by a Korean netizen who posted up a series of photos for comparison some of Kpop idols who look alike on an online portal community site recently. The post has attracted the attention of many other netizens.

There were many who agrees with this netizen while there were also many who disagree. What is your take? Go under the cut for more photos.

KARA re-enters top 10 rankings on Japanese Oricon chart with ‘Mister’

Girlgroup KARA is doing well up Japanese music chart Oricon chart and gaining popularity in Japan.

KARA’s first Japanese single title song ‘Mister’ is ranked #10 on Oricon daily chart on 5th September. It is just 5 days after the song first entered the chart top 10 rankings on 31st August. The girls have been climbing up the chart at a steady rate for about 1 month.

The girls were already given the green lights when they first entered the chart at #5 on the day ‘Mister’ was released which was on the 11th. Even though they had fallen down to the #29 rankings, with the great interests of Korean girlgroups, they have started climbing up the charts again.

4Minute and KARA show off their close friendship, “We frequent the ddeobboki village together”

Representative idol girlgroups KARA and 4Minute show off their close friendship.

The 2 groups were guest appearances on MBC youth variety show ‘Flower Bouquet’ aired on 5th September. On the show that day, the MCs asked 4Minute if they see KARA as their rivals since recently KARA has also joined the Kpop stars in their debut in the Japanese music scene. 4Minute youngest member SoHyun said, “We even went to eat ddeobboki with KARA. We frequent the ddeobboki village with KARA.”

HyunA also added, “Even though we advanced into the Japanese music scene first, but seeing KARA become famous in the Japanese music scene makes us happt too.”