Korean Entertainment News: Park Seo-joon Rumoured Marvel Casting, "Now We Are Breaking Up" First Look, Solo Comebacks And More
Cover Here are the latest happenings in the Korean entertainment scene this week (Photo: @sbs_runningman_sbs/Instagram)

Various K-pop artists announced their solo comebacks and we finally got the first look of Now We Are Breaking Up on this week's biggest news from the Korean entertainment scene

Last week was packed with comeback announcements from the biggest names in K-pop. This week, we have more comeback news but with a focus on solo releases including Got7's Bambam and Girls Generation's Taeyeon. We also have Seventeen making their first appearance at Jimmy Kimmel Live and Blackpink's upcoming fifth anniversary.

Elsewhere in K-drama land, rumours of Park Seo-joon joining Marvel set fans in a frenzy as well as the first look of Song Hye-kyo's comeback drama, Now We Are Breaking Up.

Find out all that and more in this week's Korean entertainment round-up below. In case you missed last week's inaugural roundup, read it here.

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Mamamoo's Wheein is leaving RBW

Mamamoo's Wheein is leaving the group label, RBW. However, the vocalist will continue to be part of the girl group until December 2023. The announcement comes days after the release of the quartet's first all-ballad album, WAW.

RBW confirmed that it's renewing contracts with Mamamoo members, Solar, Moonbyul and Hwasa, citing that they will offer "generous support to fulfil their dreams in musical activities and various fields". After discussion with Wheein, her fellow members and the label, she decided to end her contract but signed an extension to continue to be part of the group.

"We fully respect Wheein’s choice, and we sincerely wish Wheein, who is starting a new chapter in life, happiness and good fortune. We would like to thank Wheein for shining with us for the past seven years," said RBW.

See also: Introducing The Next Generation Of Hong Kong Rappers: JB, Dough-Boy, Txmiyama And More
 

BTS' "Butter" earns third #1 in Hot100 chart

BTS' summer smash hit, Butter spends another week at number one on Billboard Hot100 songs chart. It's their first song to debut at number one for three consecutive weeks and the first number one debut by a group to remain at the top of the charts for three weeks this century. The song has also topped the Global Excluding US chart and placed second on the Global 200 chart.

As Butter continues to sweep global charts, Hybe Corporation, the group's label, saw its market valuation exceed 10 trillion Korean won for the first time. Their recent two-day online anniversary concert was watched by 1.33 million viewers with revenue estimated to reach as high as 79.1 billion won.

The septet also released their 23-track Japanese compilation album, BTS The Best which surpassed 1.1 million units on the first day of release. 

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Seventeen will perform on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"

Seventeen is set to make their first appearance in Jimmy Kimmel Live on June 23 where they will be performing Ready to Love, the title track of their eighth mini-album, Your Choice. The album will be released on June 18.

Seventeen has made their appearance in other American talk shows including The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Late Show With James Corden. While the group can't personally travel to the US due to the pandemic, we can expect a spectacular performance with a stunning set design.

See also: Actress Poppy Delevinge On Binge-Watching "Game Of Thrones" And Family Life During The Pandemic

Stray Kids is preparing for a new digital single

It's reported by industry insiders that Stray Kids will be releasing a new digital single late this month for their Mixtape project. Previously, the project included tracks such as Gone Days and On Track as a thank you to their fans.

Their label, JYP Entertainment said that "they are preparing to release a new song, and the exact schedule will be revealed once confirmed". On the question where member Hyunjin will be participating, JYP said that these questions will be "answered once confirmed and sorted out".

Stray Kids recently won Kingdom: Legendary War, a battle program starring six trending K-pop boy groups. As winners, Stray Kids will get a reality show and a Kingdom Week special show.

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Blackpink is releasing a film to mark 5th anniversary

In celebration of their upcoming fifth anniversary, Blackpink will be releasing a film, Blackpink The Movie to 100 countries worldwide in August. The movie will show behind-the-scenes and unreleased clips of the members including memories that they've shared together since their beauty in The Room of Memory sequence. In another sequence, Beauty, it will show images of the members, each with their unique personality. There will also be an unreleased special interview for the fans.

Five songs from their The Show and In Your Area concerts will also be featured. The movie is just one part of the girl group's fifth anniversary project, 4+1 Project. It's not yet confirmed where the movie will be released but it's reported that CGV plans to release it in various formats including ScreenX and 4DX screen.

The exact release dates will be announced later.

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Got7's Bambam makes solo debut

Like other members of Got7 doing solo projects following their departure from JYP, Bambam is the next member to do so. He finally makes his official solo debut with the mini-album, Ribbon alongside a music video for the eponymous title track. Signed under Abyss Company, the Thai rapper and singer's mini-album consists of six tracks most of which he co-composed.

Bambam has been teasing this solo comeback since May 24, releasing teaser images until the release on June 15.

See also: Hong Kong Rapper-Producer Dough-Boy On His New Album, "Power" And Bridging Asia Through Music

Girls' Generation's Taeyeon is making a solo comeback

Girls' Generation member, Taeyeon is making a solo comeback in July. According to a source from SM Entertainment, "Taeyeon will release a new song in July. Please look forward to it". The songstress previously released a mini-album, What Do I Call You last December. She also teamed up with Taemin for If I Could Tell You as part of his mini-album Advice.

Last February, it was reported that Girls' Generation is discussing making a comeback sometime this year although SM commented that nothing has been decided.

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Park Seo-joon rumoured to join "The Marvels"

K-drama fans were buzzed with the news that Korean actor, Park Seo-joon may be joining the cast of The Marvels, the sequel to Caption Marvel with Brie Larson. Several media outlets and industry sources have reported on the news but the Itaewon Class actor's agency, Awesome ENT only responded with "No comment" on the rumours.

If the rumours turn out to be true, Park will be the second Korean actor to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Ma Dong-seok who will be starring in Chloe Zhao's Eternals. Claudia Kim is the first Korean actress to join Marvel in Avengers: Age of Ultron. It's speculated that Park will be heading to the US in the second half of the year to start filming after he finishes his commitment to the Korean film, Concrete Utopia.

It's also reported that Park and Han So-hee may be starring in a new drama together. Han's agency said that the actress received an offer and is currently reviewing it. Last month, Park was reported to be in talks to play the male lead. If proved true, it will be a busy year for both Park and Han. The actress is starring in Nevertheless this month and another upcoming Netflix drama this year.

See also: Marvel Debuts Teaser Trailer For Chloe Zhao-Directed "Eternals"

First look of Song Hye-kyo's "Now We Are Breaking Up"

SBS released a video line-up of its dramas that are coming out in the second half of the year including Song Hye-kyo's highly anticipated comeback drama, Now We Are Breaking Up. Starring opposite Sweet & Sour star, Jang Ki-yong, the still cut shows Song and Jang looking at each other with Jang holding an umbrella. The two stars are also looking at each other in another still cut in what appears to be an event.

Song and Jang showcase their undeniable visuals in solo still cuts of their characters with Song sporting a leather jacket and Jang in a denim jacket. In another still, Jang effortlessly wears a black blazer while Song stuns in a beige blazer. Now We Are Breaking will be directed by Lee Gil-bok and written by Je In. It will follow Song as Ha Yeong-eun, the design team leader of a fashion company and Jang as Yoon Jae-gook, a freelance fashion photographer.

See also: 5 Things To Know About Song Hye-Kyo's New Drama, "Now We Are Breaking Up"

Lee Kwang-soo bids farewell to "Running Man"

Comedian Lee Kwang-soo, who's been headlining popular Korean variety show, Running Man for 11 years, bids farewell in his last episode. The 35-year-old Lee announced in April that he would leave the show due to health concerns, citing that he's unable to keep up with the physical demands of filming after a car accident last year left him injured.

For his farewell episode, Lee met with the production staff to discuss how to create a memorable race for the cast members and said that he wanted to go to the place where they first started filming. Lee and other cast members also read out letters that they've written, prompting everyone else to get emotional.

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Jeon So-nee in talks to star alongside Park Hyung-sik

Park Hyung-sik has a line-up of dramas after finishing his military service. Other than his upcoming drama with Han Hyo-joo, he's also in talks to star in a historical drama with Jeon So-nee. Jeon's agency, Management Soop has confirmed that she received a casting offer and are currently finalising details.

The drama, Youth, Climb the Barrier tells the story of a prince suffering from a curse as well as a woman who been accused of murdering her family. The two meet, with the two saving each other from her own troubles as romance blossoms.

Filming for the drama is set to begin in the second half of the year.

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Shin Min-ah and Kim Seon-ho team up for new romance drama

Shin Min-ah will be returning to the small screen with Seaside Village Cha Cha Cha alongside Start-up star, Kim Seon-ho. The two showed their chemistry during the first script reading for the series together with director Yoo Je-won who previously worked with Shin in Tomorrow With You and screenwriter Shin Ha-eun who worked on The Crowned Clown.

The upcoming drama is a remake of the movie, Mr. Hong where Shin will play dentist Yoon Hye-jin, a woman who has both beauty and brains. Meanwhile, Kim will be playing Hong Doo-shik, who's unemployed but is actually talented at many things so he's able to help a lot of people around his town. 

Seaside Village Cha Cha Cha is scheduled to release in the second half of 2021.

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