As summer heats up, the K-pop scene is looking hotter than ever. A range of 'million-seller' stars, from the global group EXO to BTS's Jungkook and NCT DREAM, are making their comebacks, while girl groups are stepping up to vie for the title of 'Summer Queen.' These artists, who are making waves both domestically and globally, are each bringing unique charms to the 'comeback war.'
A main point of interest is Jungkook from BTS. Taking a break from group activities to pursue solo work, Jungkook has showcased his versatility in vocals, dance, and rap, earning the nickname 'golden maknae.' His solo album is now the center of attention for fans worldwide.
Jungkook will launch his official solo activities with the release of the single 'Seven' on July 14th. Ahead of this, his self-composed songs 'Still With You' and 'My You' will be officially released on various music platforms on July 3rd. 'Still With You,' a track that Jungkook previously released on SoundCloud in 2020, was co-produced with Pdogg, who has created numerous hits for BTS. With other BTS members such as J-Hope, RM, Suga, and Jimin having already completed their solo activities, all eyes are on Jungkook to see if he can set another record in K-pop.
EXO's comeback is also drawing attention. Their 7th album 'EXIST' is set for release on July 10th, marking their return after over two years. The group garnered excitement with the announcement of their first full-group comeback in a while, though they faced some twists and turns with exclusive contract disputes among some members. Regardless, their commercial power remains strong. Their pre-release track 'Hear Me Out' has already topped the 'Top Songs Chart' in 37 countries worldwide on iTunes. It also reached the top spot on the Worldwide iTunes Song Chart and China's QQ Music and Kugou Music digital album sales chart.
Representatives of the 4th generation of K-pop, NCT DREAM, will present their 3rd album 'ISTJ' on July 17th. This new album comes about a year and two months after their 2nd album repackaged version 'Beatbox' was released last year.
NCT DREAM, who sold over 5.61 million copies of their albums in 2022, garnered attention as the 'Album Kings.' This time too, ahead of the album release, they will first release 'Broken Melodies' on July 9th, setting the stage to break their own album sales record.
When it comes to the summer season, the girl groups tend to dominate. From solo artists to girl groups, there's a string of comebacks featuring upbeat dance songs fitting for the summer. The chart battle among these returning girl groups will certainly be interesting to watch.
At the center of the 4th generation girl group phenomenon, NewJeans will release their second mini-album 'Get Up' on July 21st. They previously released the pre-release track 'Super Shy' on July 7th, opening the door to the heated summer market. Their new album will feature the triple title tracks 'Super Shy', 'ETA', and 'Cool With You,' along with 'New Jeans,' 'Get Up,' and 'ASAP.' The bold moves of producing music videos for all six songs and three title tracks showcase their confidence in this album.
ITZY is also returning with their new mini-album 'Kill My Doubt.' The album includes a total of six songs, including the title track 'Cake,' aiming to captivate their fans. They plan on an extensive promotional campaign, including the release of three music videos.
Not only that, but Sandara Park from 2NE1 is set to release her solo mini-album on July 12th, her first in six years, while 'Summer Queen' Hyolyn will also release a new song on the same day.
