[Today’s K-pop] Seventeen sets record with 3rd Japanese single

Seventeen ranked No. 1 on Oricon’s weekly singles chart with hits third Japanese single “Hitorijyanai” last week.

The single sold over 314,000 units in the first week of sales, repeating the feat of its second Japanese single from last year that also topped the weekly tally and sold over 300,000 units in seven days.

“Hitorijyanai” also made the boy band the first international male musicians to have three consecutive singles with over-200,000-unit sales in the first week.

“Every moment we spend with you Carats is the precious youth for us Seventeen, and we’re immensely proud and happy that we can have such record together,” leader S.Coups said addressing the band’s official fandom.

The 13-piece act will host a talk show and an online fan meet event for Japanese fans to mark the release of the single on Tuesday.

BTS chocolate to launch in May in Japan, Korea

A chocolate inspired by BTS will be introduced in May, according to Starfox Family on Tuesday.

The company signed a licensing deal with Hybe IP, an intellectual property arm of the artists’ firm, to roll out chocolates featuring “TinyTAN,” characters of the seven bandmates.

The animated characters were born under the concept that one could go back and forth between real life and their dreams through a magic door.

The confectionery was made “to deliver the message of good influence, dreams, hope, solace and healing,” the company said, adding that it would bear words of aspiration and courage.

Four types from the range, named TinyTAN Message Chocolate, will become available next month in Japan and Korea first.

G(I)-dle to release new music 

G(I)-dle signaled the release of a new song with a teaser clip on Monday.

Gaming firm NCSoft and its entertainment subsidiary Klap uploaded a snippet from the music video of the group’s upcoming song “Last Dance (Prod. GroovyRoom)” on their K-pop platform Universe.

In the video clip, the bandmates show two different sides: Mysterious and dreamy in white dresses before turning dark and charismatic in black costumes.

The song was re-recorded to exclude Soojin who has been mired in bullying accusations. The music video was edited to minimize the parts featuring her. She has suspended all activities and all future content will be limited to the five other members, at least for the time being. Soojin denied the claims but has stayed mum for a month. 

The new single is part of the entertainment platform’s ongoing monthly project since January, following the release of IZ*ONE’s “D-D-Dance,” Jo Sumi and Rain’s “Guardians,” and Park Jihoon’s “Call U Up.” The song will be released on April 29.

Ex-April member Lee Hyunjoo to take legal action

Lee Hyun-joo, formerly of the band April, announced that she will take legal action against a netizen who exposed her private life through an online post.

Her lawyer said on Tuesday that she sued the person for defamation and blackmail the day before.

The person claimed that he used to work for DSP Media, the band’s management company. The post said that Lee had allegedly gotten plastic surgery and was too busy hanging out with her boyfriend even though the band’s debut was pending.

The person also said that if Lee continued to deliver false facts, he or she will expose the name of Lee’s ex-boyfriend and “bring out more dirty laundry.”

Lee quit the band in 2016 but recently maintained that she had been bullied for three years by her bandmates. Her brother said that she had tried to commit suicide. The rest of the members and the agency denied all allegations.

By Hwang You-mee
(glamazon@heraldcorp.com)