Welcome to the Weekly Update – June 24 – 30. Well, any week with an EXO and a SHINee comeback is bound to be pretty good. Also several new dramas dropped this week to finish the month out strong. I hope you had a great week. Until next time, enjoy your kdrama and ramen!
Casting News
Tiffany
Girls’ Generation’s Tiffany will join Song Kang Ho for the upcoming historical drama “Uncle Sam Sik”. The drama follows two men who form a life-long friendship in the turbulent times of the 960’s. Tiffany joins an already star-studded cast and is currently in the process of filming. “Uncle Sam Sik” is expected to air some time later this year.
Music News
EXO
Hear Me Out
EXO spreads their wings in their new B-side single “Hear Me Out”. This mid-tempo R&B pop track has a chill vibe with plenty of warm summer feels. Its old-school 90’s influences give it a taste of nostalgia and the smooth vocals glide nicely. The MV shows each of the members hanging out at home alone before the group meets to hang out together.
UKISS
The Wonderful Escape
UKISS is back to celebrate their 15 year anniversary with the new single “The Wonderful Escape”. Catering to their long-time fans, this classic dance pop track embraces the trends that gave UKISS their success 15 years ago. The vocals are full and melodic and the instrumentation revs along at a speedy pace. The vibrant MV is colorful and full of fun energy as we see members dancing and playing together.
TREASURE (T5)
MOVE
The TREASURE subunit T5 has debuted their first single “MOVE”. This beat-heavy dance track has a glossy sound that keeps a funky tempo. The groovy lyrics are sleek and the brass-filled chorus gives the song a full texture. The MV features an easy black and white color scheme and focuses on smooth choreography.
SHINee
HARD
SHINee goes like a criminal in their new single “Hard”. This hard-driving hip-hop dance track starts out with delicate piano flourishes before unleashing the agressive beat and gritty hip-hop sound. The powerful vocals keep a brisk pace full of swagger. The MV is full of neon clothing and funky choreography.
Drama News
Doctor Romantic 3
For those of us in the U.S., who got a late start, the medical sequel “Dr. Romantic 3” finished airing on Hulu on June 27th. This season, Doldam Hospital opens a brand new, state of the art trauma center. And our trustworthy doctors will be onhand to treat a whole new batch of patients in a whole new capacity.
Celebrity
The Netflix mystery thriller “Celebrity” aired all 12 episodes on June 30th. A young aspiring social media influencer hopes to gain fame and success. But instead she discovers a dark world full of jealousy and danger that may cost her more than she ever dreamed.
Durian’s Affair
The fantasy romance drama “Durian’s Affair” premiered on June 24th. A mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law from the Joseon period get magically transported to the present day during an eclipse. While they are there, they will get a glimpse into the modern world and the excessive wealth that would be unimaginable where they came from.
Heartbeat
The new Amazon Prime fantasy rom-com “Heartbeat” started on June 26th. A vampire whose greatest desire is to become human wakes up a day early from his 100 year sleep. Now he is half human half vampire. This new state may take some adjusting, but luckily he ends up living with a woman who will teach him about human life and love.