1. BTS's new concept photos for their impending and sure-to-be-explosive album Map of the Soul: 7 stole ARMY's hearts and took the Twittersphere by storm.
2. NCT 127 announced the return of member Jungwoo and their second album Neo Zone.
- NEO ZONE - Crew #1 NCT 127 The 2nd Album 〖 NCT #127 Neo Zone 〗 ✔︎Pre-order ➫ 2020 02 14 NCT 127 〖 영웅 (英雄; Kick It) 〗 🎬Music Video ➫ 2020 03 05 💿Music Release ➫ 2020 03 06 #NCT127 #NeoZone #영웅 #英雄 #KickIt #NCT127_영웅_英雄 #NCT127_KickIt
NCTzens rejoice — Jungwoo has returned!
The vocalist, who took a hiatus in August last year to address health issues, is back and looks cooler than ever in the group's '90s hip-hop–inspired teaser for their second album, Neo Zone. The album is available for preorder on Feb. 14 and set for a March 6 release with the single "Kick It."
Welcome back, Jungwoo! We've missed you and your adorable personality!
3. Dive Studios teased and debuted their new Facebook Watch program, Hwaiting, with an amazing cast full of (almost all) American K-pop stars. Think Korean variety shows, but seven times more dope!
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The show has a star-studded cast of all of our favorite English-speaking and deeply hilarious K-pop idols, including BTOB's Peniel, Day6's Jae, Ladies' Code's Ashley, Amber Liu (did you catch her "30 Questions in Three Minutes" video yet?), Kard's BM, Eric Nam, and Jamie Park.
The first episode, which featured an interesting ~sensory~ game, aired on Feb. 12 — check it out here!
4. Monsta X released their first full-length English album, All About Luv, and performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
5. Starship Entertainment announced that they're debuting a new boy group sometime within the first half of this year featuring two former X1 members, Kang Min Hee and Song Hyeong Jun.
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This is the first new Starship boy group since Monsta X debuted in 2015, so it's a pretty big deal. We obviously don't know the final lineup yet, but this video with all of the Starship trainees who competed on Produce X 101 might be a pretty good hint. Keep your eyes peeled and ears open!
6. BTS sent their hearty congrats to the cast and crew of Parasite for their record-breaking and much-needed wins at the Oscars.
봉준호 감독님 정말정말정말 정말로 정말이지 정말 축하드립니다🎺📯 #우식씨눈물훔치는거잘봤어요
After a historic Oscars night on Feb. 9, BTS congratulated the cast and crew of Parasite for their four wins (including Best Picture!) by tweeting their congratulations. It reads, "Director Bong Joon Ho, I trulytrulytruly truly truly truly congratulate you."
Actor Choi Woo-shik (who plays Kim Ki-woo in Parasite) is BFFs with BTS's V (here's a cute video to prove it!), so it was especially adorable to see V pen the long-winded hashtag, "Choi Woo-shik, I saw you wipe away your tears."
But BTS wasn't the only K-pop act to come out in support of Parasite! Artists including EXO's Suho, Mamamoo's Solar, and Tiffany Young all chimed in to congratulate the film on its historic night.
And the K-pop connection doesn't stop there! A.C.E. made a special appearance at Parasite's afterparty to perform their own stuff, as well as covers of iconic K-pop songs.
7. And comeback season hit us in full force with artists like Pentagon, KARD, The Boyz, and Mamamoo's Moonbyul releasing new bops!
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My Spotify playlists have been thirsting for new material, and now they're quenched. Plus, I'm LIVING for all of these dark concepts. They just hit in all of the right spots.