BTS’s ARMY versus Xsport News
We don't deal in drama, but one of the biggest dramas of the week made international news… Jeon Won, a reporter from Xports News, accused K-pop boy group BTS's management company BigHit Entertainment of rigging the voting for the Billboard Music Awards, implying the company cheated so BTS would win Top Social Artist. BTS's fandom took to Twitter demanding the article be taken down. Eventually it was and the CEO of Xports released an apology (of sorts).
The thing we were most impressed by was a K-pop fandom's ability to make a Korean hashtag trend No. 1 worldwide with more than 1 million tweets. To see a fandom of any kind be that much of a cohesive unit to do that was incredible. The K-pop industry has grown exponentially over the last few years, which is easy to see when one fandom can send out more than a million tweets in just a few hours.
But please, dear K-pop stans, make sure you only use your powers for good.
K-pop world record holders
Three K-pop groups landed in 2018 edition of The Guinness World Records.
EXO and BIGBANG tie for the most MAMA Daesangs won with five each. EXO won Album of the Year from 2013-2016 and Artist of the Year in 2014. BIGBANG won Song of the Year in 2007 and 2015 and Artist of the Year in 2008, 2012, and 2015. All well-earned as each group has dominated awards shows… and we’re not just talking MAMA.
BTS was recognized for most Twitter engagements for a male music group and the second most overall (after Harry Styles). Not surprising after BTS won Top Social Artist at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards with an overwhelming 300 million votes on Twitter.
Kiseop suffers burns filming comeback MV
While filming a music video, U-KISS member Kiseop was injured. According to his agency, NH Media, a smoke emitter Kiseop was holding exploded. The explosion caused Kiseop second-degree burns and other injuries due to shrapnel. He was quickly taken to the hospital, treated, and released shortly after.
His agency released a statement that he's resting well at home. We wish Kiseop a speedy recovery!
“The Unit” is rebooting idols
If you haven’t heard of it, “Idol Rebooting Project: The Unit” is KBS’s new audition show. Applications for the show opened August 2 and already several groups are reportedly attached, including idols from DIA, Brave Girls, BIGSTAR, and Boys Republic.
The program is meant to give a second chance to idols who have already debuted. The aim is to create two 10-member unit groups: one male and one female.
We’re pretty excited about the concept of “The Unit.” Thanks to Produce 101, NU’EST has experienced an outstanding resurgence in their popularity. During the program, which included NU’EST members Baekho, JR, Ren, and Minhyun, their songs “Hello” and “Love Paint” flew up the Melon Top 100 chart. (Minhyun finished ninth in Produce 101 and recently debuted with Wanna One.)
Hopefully, we see something similar happen with the idols on “The Unit.”