Upcoming K-pop releases and comebacks: NewJeans, TWICE’s Jihyo and more
From newer acts like Kiss of Life and ZEROBASEONE, to iconic veteran groups like EXO, K-pop is constantly brimming with new exciting releases. But with so many comebacks on the horizon it can be hard to keep up with all that’s happening in the world of K-pop.
NME has come up with a handy list of upcoming K-pop comebacks and releases to help. Scroll down to see if your favourite K-pop artist will be releasing new music in the coming months in 2023.
JUNE
INFNITE’s Kim Sung-kyu
Following his April 2022 mini-album, INFINITE‘s Kim Sung-kyu is set to make a comeback on June 28 with his fifth solo mini-album ‘2023 S/S Collection’. The upcoming record will mark Kim’s first under the boyband’s own agency, INFINITE Company, which they established earlier this year.
U-KISS
In celebration of their 15th anniversary, U-KISS have reunited as a six-member act to release their special mini-album titled ‘PLAY LIST’ on June 28. Soohyun, Hoon, Kiseop will be joined by former bandmates AJ, Eli and Alexander for the forthcoming project, which will also mark their first group release in over five years.
WEi
Six-member boyband WEi will finally be completing their ‘Love’ trilogy on June 29 with their sixth mini-album ‘Love Pt. 3: Eternally’ and its title track ‘Overdrive’. It comes eight months after the release of last year’s ‘Love Pt. 2: Passion’.
PLAN B
Upcoming multi-national K-pop group PLAN B are set to make their debut on June 30 with their first single album ‘Halli-Galli’. The five-member H.LAND Entertainment group comprises members Hwi, Roy, Hao, James and Han, which hail from South Korea, Thailand and China.
JULY
TEEN TOP
K-pop boyband TEEN TOP will be making their first comeback in four years on July 4 with ‘TEEN TOP [4SHO]’. The record will also be the group’s first release since original member C.A.P left the group in May, following a controversy over comments the K-pop idol made during a livestream earlier that month.
Kiss of Life
Kiss of Life are a four-member girl group from S2 Entertainment (formerly home to Hot Issue) who are set to debut on July 5 with their self-titled mini-album.
The group will feature SIXTEEN contestant Natty, LE SSERAFIM songwriter Belle, former The Black Label trainee Julie and final member Haneul.
Tomorrow X Together
K-pop boyband Tomorrow x Together will be teaming up with the Jonas Brothers for their new digital single ‘Do It Like That’, out on July 7.
EXO
Veteran K-pop boyband EXO are set to release their seventh studio album ‘Exist’ on July 10. The record will feature the pre-release single ‘Let Me In’, which dropped on June 12.
‘Exist’ will feature all active members of the boyband – namely Xiumin, Suho, Baekhyun, Chen, Chanyeol, D.O. and Sehun – as well as Kai, who is currently serving his mandatory military service.
ZEROBASEONE
Formed through the popular Mnet reality TV series Boys Planet, ZEROBASEONE are set to make their much-anticipated debut on July 10 with their first mini-album ‘Youth in the Shade’.
NMIXX
NMIXX have begun teasing their third single album ‘A Midsummer NMIXX’s Dream’, which will be released on July 11. The release will be led by the title track ‘Party O’ Clock’ and one B-side, ‘Roller Coaster’.
Odd Eye Circle
Six years after their initial introduction as LOONA sub-unit Odd Eye Circle, Kim Lip, Jinsoul and Choerry are set to make their return with new music July 12 under new agency Modhaus.
Sandara Park
After nearly two decades in the music industry and four years since her last music, former 2NE1 member Sandara Park will finally be making her solo debut on July 12 with her self-titled digital EP.
NCT Dream
SM Entertainment have confirmed that NCT Dream will release their third studio album ‘ISTJ’ on July 17. Ahead of record’s arrival, the boyband has dropped the pre-release single ‘Broken Melodies’.
NewJeans
NewJeans will be releasing their second mini-album titled ‘Get Up’ on July 21, which will include three “lead” tracks: ‘Super Shy’, ‘ETA’ and ‘Cool With You’. Ahead of the record’s arrival, the girl group will also drop the songs ‘New Jeans’ and ‘Super Shy’ on July 7, the former of which will be accompanied by a “special music video” in collaboration with The Powerpuff Girls.
FIFTY FIFTY
After their groundbreaking success with ‘Cupid’, rookie K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY are set to release a brand-new track titled ‘Barbie Dreams’ with American rapper Kali for the official Barbie movie soundtrack, out on July 21.
ITZY
JYP Entertainment girl group ITZY are set to make their return on July 31 with their seventh mini-album ‘Kill My Doubt’, led by title track ‘Cake’. The upcoming single is notably written and produced by Black Eyed Pilseung, the production duo behind girl group STAYC.
AUGUST
TWICE’s Jihyo
South Korean singer Jihyo of K-pop girl group TWICE is set to make her solo debut with her mini-album ‘ZONE’ on August 18, led by its title track ‘Killin’ Me Good’ as previously teased.
Jihyo will be the second member of TWICE to go solo, following Nayeon, who released her debut EP ‘Im Nayeon’ and its lead single ‘POP!’ in June 2022.
TREASURE
YG Entertainment has confirmed that TREASURE will release their second studio album in August. A release date for the record has yet to be confirmed, but YG Entertainment founder Yang Hyun-suk has described the upcoming album as a “reboot” for the boyband.