K-Pop Music Thread (J-Pop and C-Pop welcome too)

[NARMAK]

I didn't see this sort of thread already so wanted to make it. Officially i didn't really get into listening to most of the songs i now do until maybe around 2022. The first awareness of it might have been way back in 2015 or so when i saw something about Balckpink on TV. A couple years later IKON dance and the BTS performance being shown off in Fortnite.

I actually had never gone to a concert before too with my first ever one going to be Michael Jackson at the London shows way back for 2008 before his untimely passing and never really feeling i'd spend the money to go to anybody else, but i did come across Twice during that lockdown period and have to say, i got hooked. So when they finally had a show coming to London, i managed to talk myself into going as welp as bringing a friend along. I enjoyed it, but due to some personal issues the day before/morning of the concert i didn't manage to get enough sleep and was running on fumes, so a large chunk of the concert feels like a blur.

Stray Kids are heading to Hyde Park but i wanted a proper concert venue and the ticket prices were set really high for the seats i would have wanted, so i left it. Itzy recently did a show but i don't listen as much to them so wasn't sure i would be able to shell out in a justifiable trip down to London.

I started listening to Stray Kids and Ateez too but also during my time have discovered Le Sserafim, New Jeans and many others groups who have songs i quite liked. Unfortunately the darker side of this particular area of music, is that some of the fans are probably the most obsessive and stalker like i have come across with some very disturbing lengths some go to as well as the fact there's some other issues with the industry specifically caused by the music companies themselves to make the artists into a commodity to be exploited which leads to the really weird situations when the artists decide to pursue any romantic relationship.

2024 was definitely one of my most favourite years since starting to listen to K-Pop and as a fan of many groups generally it was a treat how many international appearances there was, comebacks with new music and so on.

I actually am hoping to save up and go to the first BTS world concert when they comeback after their military service hopefully 2025 or 2026.

[mdo7]

Ugh, it kind of stinks that this thread is rarely active. I'm sorry you're quite a loner there.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by mdo7

Ugh, it kind of stinks that this thread is rarely active. I'm sorry you're quite a loner there.

Well, two people getting this thread going can be fine.

Stray Kids have got some stuff coming soon I think for a full on album. They also may have a tie in to the new Deadpool movie in some way

[mondegreened]

stray kids releasing a song called slash was an absolute power move. not quite as effervescent as soyeon ruining the day of anyone trying to google "soyeon nude" but only because of the year slash was released.

[Scottie]

K-pop supremacy

[NARMAK]

I know i haven't managed to be as active lately but anybody got a chance to see any K Pop acts in concert this year? Stray Kids are touring and due to play in Europe for 2025, Ateez are also doing a tour and Kiss of Life have done some spicy looking shows based on Tik Toks but only had a tour for the US.

Also, i think besides me liking K Pop, the entire world seems to in general have a huge problem with ticketing sites for trying to get concert tickets. Ticketmastee and their so called "Platinum Seats" are a huge problem alongside the 2 tickets together crap which leaves you unable to buy seats if you only needed 1 and exorbitant fees of course with surge pricing being a MASSIVE problem.

The one thing i will say is that it seems like Ticketmaster sidestep responsibility by saying the blames on the promoters of the tour because they can enable or disable it. However it 94ices out some people and i swear increased prices like 25% minimum. Stray Kids for example even had a 2nd date put out for all Europe tours i think which i saw coming because of how spaced out the tour dates looked but they dropped it just over an hour later with almost no notifications for people on the site in the queues still stuck trying for day 1. That or maybe i am not "hardcore" enough for ticket sales.

Okay, that's enough of a rant as a person interested in getting K Pop tickets but struggling lol. I think if i don't get a good viewing seat i feel it's personally a waste for me to go and i HOPE when BTS tour they have a lot more dates around 2026 when it's rumoured they will tour.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

I know i haven't managed to be as active lately but anybody got a chance to see any K Pop acts in concert this year? Stray Kids are touring and due to play in Europe for 2025, Ateez are also doing a tour and Kiss of Life have done some spicy looking shows based on Tik Toks but only had a tour for the US.

Also, i think besides me liking K Pop, the entire world seems to in general have a huge problem with ticketing sites for trying to get concert tickets. Ticketmastee and their so called "Platinum Seats" are a huge problem alongside the 2 tickets together crap which leaves you unable to buy seats if you only needed 1 and exorbitant fees of course with surge pricing being a MASSIVE problem.

The one thing i will say is that it seems like Ticketmaster sidestep responsibility by saying the blames on the promoters of the tour because they can enable or disable it. However it 94ices out some people and i swear increased prices like 25% minimum. Stray Kids for example even had a 2nd date put out for all Europe tours i think which i saw coming because of how spaced out the tour dates looked but they dropped it just over an hour later with almost no notifications for people on the site in the queues still stuck trying for day 1. That or maybe i am not "hardcore" enough for ticket sales.

Okay, that's enough of a rant as a person interested in getting K Pop tickets but struggling lol. I think if i don't get a good viewing seat i feel it's personally a waste for me to go and i HOPE when BTS tour they have a lot more dates around 2026 when it's rumoured they will tour.

Ticketmaster is horrendous. I understand supply and demand, but their platinum seating and dynamic pricing are a scam.

Earlier this month, for example, I tried to get 2025 USA tickets for DAY6. Granted I missed the announcement by a day or two, but all attempts to find good seats after the fact will between hundreds to thousands of dollars.

At least Oasis worked with Ticketmaster to resolve the influx of scalpers, getting the tickets cancelled.

It's impossible to do anything these days without spending an astronomical amount of money.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Scottie

Ticketmaster is horrendous. I understand supply and demand, but their platinum seating and dynamic pricing are a scam.

Earlier this month, for example, I tried to get 2025 USA tickets for DAY6. Granted I missed the announcement by a day or two, but all attempts to find good seats after the fact will between hundreds to thousands of dollars.

At least Oasis worked with Ticketmaster to resolve the influx of scalpers, getting the tickets cancelled.

It's impossible to do anything these days without spending an astronomical amount of money.

Honestly, i think the pricing is already getting pretty extortionate for some of the popular acts doing concerts, especially from K-Pop acts who deliberately enable price surge adjustments which i saw first hand when they "sold out" Day and, they added a Day 2 without really proper notice for an hour and 20 mins later whilst thousands were still stuck in the queue and the biggest thing that stood out to me was that unlike Day 1 where prices for say front row directly in front of the stage were like a hundred or so £s cheaper. 5he Platinum BS they do, that sections got tickets for over £600 at the back of the section when the non-Platinum were under £400 and i think the first few rows were considered "VIP" for that pricing with soundcheck.

So there's definitely a problem of extortionate fees on the part of ticketmaster and the collusion with the promoters of the tour to enable to ridiculous pricing. That's before i even got to the fact that they sell overpriced "official" merch such as t-shirts, tote bags, lanyard photo card and light sticks.

I think maybe because i'm a bit older in terms of being a fan, i don't get swept up in the hype of those products through social media as even when social media was in its infancy the culture that they have now is completely different. You'd share a picture or several of you going to the venue, in the venue or with a physical ticket you secured hut now its a full 100 step process of posting lead up to tickets, securing them, then literally every single other thing and a million more. I am just happy to skip that and show up BUT i definitely felt like i wasn't going to pay to get a crappy seat. In the end, i think i did alright and kept out the nosebleeds.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

Honestly, i think the pricing is already getting pretty extortionate for some of the popular acts doing concerts, especially from K-Pop acts who deliberately enable price surge adjustments which i saw first hand when they "sold out" Day and, they added a Day 2 without really proper notice for an hour and 20 mins later whilst thousands were still stuck in the queue and the biggest thing that stood out to me was that unlike Day 1 where prices for say front row directly in front of the stage were like a hundred or so £s cheaper. 5he Platinum BS they do, that sections got tickets for over £600 at the back of the section when the non-Platinum were under £400 and i think the first few rows were considered "VIP" for that pricing with soundcheck.

So there's definitely a problem of extortionate fees on the part of ticketmaster and the collusion with the promoters of the tour to enable to ridiculous pricing. That's before i even got to the fact that they sell overpriced "official" merch such as t-shirts, tote bags, lanyard photo card and light sticks.

I think maybe because i'm a bit older in terms of being a fan, i don't get swept up in the hype of those products through social media as even when social media was in its infancy the culture that they have now is completely different. You'd share a picture or several of you going to the venue, in the venue or with a physical ticket you secured hut now its a full 100 step process of posting lead up to tickets, securing them, then literally every single other thing and a million more. I am just happy to skip that and show up BUT i definitely felt like i wasn't going to pay to get a crappy seat. In the end, i think i did alright and kept out the nosebleeds.

I'm right with you on the nose bleeds.

Most shows in the USA take place in New York City or Los Angeles. I'm only a few hours away from NYC, but as someone who doesn't travel or attend events regularly, I'd like a seat as close as possible to the stage, within reason, to make the most of the experience. That being said, I refuse to spend a couple thousand dollars for a singular, mediocre, resold ticket, on top of all the other expenses.

I'd rather put that money toward traveling to Seoul, where I'd have an overall better experience.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Scottie

I'm right with you on the nose bleeds.

Most shows in the USA take place in New York City or Los Angeles. I'm only a few hours away from NYC, but as someone who doesn't travel or attend events regularly, I'd like a seat as close as possible to the stage, within reason, to make the most of the experience. That being said, I refuse to spend a couple thousand dollars for a singular, mediocre, resold ticket, on top of all the other expenses.

I'd rather put that money toward traveling to Seoul, where I'd have an overall better experience.

Funny you kinda mention Seoul as i've now got it on a bucket list trip for South Korea as well as Japan. However i feel like the biggest problem i would have as a traveller to a foreign country for a concert besides the obvious flight and hotel expenses is that you don't speak the local language so any interactions from non-English won't be understood at all say like a concert in the US or UK. Even in the UK. Most of the bigger acts only have gone to London usually and central London or near enough can be pricey. Luckily the concert isn't until July so i got plenty of time to get the money but i also want a good deal so plans to book 4-5 months beforehand if i get a really good deal for central London. Peak summer weather makes it worse for pricing. I'm planning a 3 night stay but honestly, when i total the cost of this up, it definitely feels like you can get a couple cheap 7 night getaways sometimes lol.

Twice were my first concert and Stray Kids will hopefully be my next but i think the 3rd will be my final one. I'm hoping to go to BTS and that's not one i look forwards to fighting for tickets lol

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

Funny you kinda mention Seoul as i've now got it on a bucket list trip for South Korea as well as Japan. However i feel like the biggest problem i would have as a traveller to a foreign country for a concert besides the obvious flight and hotel expenses is that you don't speak the local language so any interactions from non-English won't be understood at all say like a concert in the US or UK. Even in the UK. Most of the bigger acts only have gone to London usually and central London or near enough can be pricey. Luckily the concert isn't until July so i got plenty of time to get the money but i also want a good deal so plans to book 4-5 months beforehand if i get a really good deal for central London. Peak summer weather makes it worse for pricing. I'm planning a 3 night stay but honestly, when i total the cost of this up, it definitely feels like you can get a couple cheap 7 night getaways sometimes lol.

Twice were my first concert and Stray Kids will hopefully be my next but i think the 3rd will be my final one. I'm hoping to go to BTS and that's not one i look forwards to fighting for tickets lol

TWICE are my favorite group, male or female. I'd kill to see them.

I was able to join the pre-sale for the Ready to Be tour. I remember joining the Ticketmaster waiting room the second the option appeared. When tickets finally went live, I was stuck waiting for an additional hour. By the time it was my turn, all of the decent tickets had been sold. The kicker is that I was talking to some people who joined the queue 20+ minutes after me and even they managed to get in before me.

As far as travel to Asia is concerned, a lot of people speak English these days so the language barrier isn't as bad as in the past. That being said, it's still far more polite to make a good faith effort to speak the native language. If you're interested in learning, there are a lot of guides on YouTube for learning the basics, as well as more advanced lessons for further study.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Scottie

TWICE are my favorite group, male or female. I'd kill to see them.

I was able to join the pre-sale for the Ready to Be tour. I remember joining the Ticketmaster waiting room the second the option appeared. When tickets finally went live, I was stuck waiting for an additional hour. By the time it was my turn, all of the decent tickets had been sold. The kicker is that I was talking to some people who joined the queue 20+ minutes after me and even they managed to get in before me.

As far as travel to Asia is concerned, a lot of people speak English these days so the language barrier isn't as bad as in the past. That being said, it's still far more polite to make a good faith effort to speak the native language. If you're interested in learning, there are a lot of guides on YouTube for learning the basics, as well as more advanced lessons for further study.

Yeah, i definitely have to say my interest in Korean spiked once i began to watch more K entertainment like the dramas via Netflix and Pop based stuff. I was kinda aware with it, but wasn't probably more till Covid when i really came across Twice and got hooked with their songs. There was a pretty great playlist and i practically loved the songs on that and then in 2023 i found out the Ready to Be tour was going to stop in London. The O2 Venue where they performed isn't that huge. Maybe 20k i think the capacity is, so realising tickets had already been on sale for that point, i wasn't confident but i kept looking and looking and eventually got some side seats in the 100 section which isn't nose bleeds but not perfect however you can't really argue at that point and they weren't resale or Platinum type tickets. They actually cost i think on par with similar sections to Stray Kids i think in that respect but even though i convinced a friend to come with me, his ticket was on the opposite side of the row i was on and turned out my seat unknowingly was a bit of a restricted view. I got sat down before the show was supposed to start and tried to make some small talk with the person next to me to be polite and then who they were with but that person came across very rude and being short like an obvious "Don't talk to me" and then talked to their friend about how "We should ask them to move us to better seats". Now, i won't lie, that annoyed me a bit because i was thinking that should be my line and i got up and went to talk to a staff member to ask where i can maybe ask for better seats. They directed me to the box office thing and i explained there's a corner platform for accessible viewing in the way and wondered if maybe there's a better seat and if i could be so cheeky, even get Floor seats. They got me a strip of paper for a floor seat and told me to head quickly towards the staff doors and tell them you were sent through here and to get help to sit there. By the time i actually was managing to get to my seat, Twice was already getting onto the stage and starting their first song, but i tried to enjoy it and get into the right place. I know it's kinda greedy to say, but honestly it still felt like i wanted to be even closer to the stage to see the group but i'm glad i got to go see them and got closer for free upgrades too. My only biggest regret about it all was that the day before, i had a family situation and literally had no opportunity to sleep and we were travelling by coach to London from like 7am and i was hoping i might have slept there but nope. Never got to sleep until after the concert because i knew if i did sleep before the concert even if it was to try nap, i was going to miss it. That unfortunately meant my memory of the full concert isn't as sharp as it would have been if i was fully rested but it was definitely an event.

I'd been listening to Stray Kids quite a bit and some others alongside Twice and BTS but Stray Kids are probably one of the closer groups in terms of their songs constantly feeling like bangers to me in a playlist. So i'm pretty pumped to see them next year now and i do feel blessed i came out with the ticket i did secure but maybe it's just a touch of human nature to always want that little bit more y'know. In a perfect world, i was hoping for the very front centre section directly in front of the stage but like row 5-10ish. However with like 20+ thousand people in a queue ahead of me, i had no damn chance. The UK venues actually one of the few i know that got seated sections directly in front of the stage. Most European countries directly in front of the stage is a "Pit" admission with no reservations and i have no intention to camp out like a hobo to get to the front of line next to barricade like some of these fans do. I mean, even if i was younger, hell no. Funnily enough, this is the first time i tried to buy tickets on release with Ticketmaster since maybe like 2008ish, when the very first ever concert i wanted to go to was announced by Michel Jackson as his last ever. I managed to secure like 4 tickets i think wherever i could i think after website constantly kept crashing and crashing. Unfortunately wasn't meant to be and so funny that the only other music that got me t9 finally want to go to my first ever concert was Twice. They're definitely a special group and i'm glad i got to go.

I did find a ticket i could potentially have got for Day 1 in the pit section but i think its too much going to both days when the set list is identical and some of the scripted moments almost end up the same as it were. Better to only have the magic feel organic once but i suppose the encore stuff was really nice to be different. Funnily enough, the first playlist although it was great for me and believe it or not could be great to use in the gym, it didn't have a lot of other songs i came to love after too. Espressos was the first ever time i heard it played during the concert for example.

Well, fingers crossed for next year. Unfortunately can't go see Ateez. They playing in a venue closer to me but pretty much sold out all the good seats. Unless i get lucky, i think it's just the one for me next year.

[NARMAK]

Twice just released Strategy featuring Megan Thee Stallion and tbh, i'm sure it will grow on me but i can't say i've been a huge fan of the songs on first listen from when they released With Youth either. I think i also need to listen to Dive album but with Stray Kids, i've liked a lot of the stuff since S Class released till now.

I don't know if full on English releases are a forte for some groups to really do because i saw some of the live stuff, and it's pretty hard for them to string together the English vocals the same as the studio masters where its heavily edited together.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

Twice just released Strategy featuring Megan Thee Stallion and tbh, i'm sure it will grow on me but i can't say i've been a huge fan of the songs on first listen from when they released With Youth either. I think i also need to listen to Dive album but with Stray Kids, i've liked a lot of the stuff since S Class released till now.

I don't know if full on English releases are a forte for some groups to really do because i saw some of the live stuff, and it's pretty hard for them to string together the English vocals the same as the studio masters where its heavily edited together.

The Megan version is merely okay. I much prefer the standard version. (And it's worth noting that the choreography is really good.)

[K-Choreo 8K HDR] 트와ì�´ìŠ¤ ì§�ìº* 'Strategy' (TWICE Choreography) 🎧공간ì�Œí–¥.Ver @MusicBank 241206 - YouTube

It's worth noting that all of the B-sides on the album are really good, too.

Rosé also released her debut album "Rosie" on December 6. I just finished listening to it and it's remarkable. It's easily one of the best debut albums by a solo artist, and hands down my favorite album of the year.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by Scottie

The Megan version is merely okay. I much prefer the standard version. (And it's worth noting that the choreography is really good.)

[K-Choreo 8K HDR] 트와ì�´ìŠ¤ ì§�ìº* 'Strategy' (TWICE Choreography) 🎧공간ì�Œí–¥.Ver @MusicBank 241206 - YouTube

It's worth noting that all of the B-sides on the album are really good, too.

Rosé also released her debut album "Rosie" on December 6. I just finished listening to it and it's remarkable. It's easily one of the best debut albums by a solo artist, and hands down my favorite album of the year.

I definitely like the fact there's an original all Twice version and a duet to compare. It's been popping up a lot on shorts, Tik Toks etc. but Rose with APT really does get you and one of the most catchy tunes i've probably heard this year. It's kinda silly having "APT" shorthanded for apartment but i think this is one of those cultural idiosyncrasies when foreign countries "localise" English towards their native tongues version.

Been listening to Whiplash by Aespa which is really great as a tune. I also loved Spicy from them. They toured in 2023 but it was them or Twice due to budget and Twice won by a mile lol.

Also, Young Ji joining them in for the Megan version was a fun one.

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

I definitely like the fact there's an original all Twice version and a duet to compare. It's been popping up a lot on shorts, Tik Toks etc. but Rose with APT really does get you and one of the most catchy tunes i've probably heard this year. It's kinda silly having "APT" shorthanded for apartment but i think this is one of those cultural idiosyncrasies when foreign countries "localise" English towards their native tongues version.

Been listening to Whiplash by Aespa which is really great as a tune. I also loved Spicy from them. They toured in 2023 but it was them or Twice due to budget and Twice won by a mile lol.

Also, Young Ji joining them in for the Megan version was a fun one.

I really dug Young-ji's version with TWICE.

Aespa is great. I've enjoyed them since they debuted. They always have cool concepts, and each comeback seems to get better and better. I'm glad they cleaned house at the 2024 MAMA Awards. (Although "Fate" deserved Song of the Year.)

[mondegreened]

I saw stray kids at lolla earlier this year and GOD those boys put on a great show. saw ateez a few months later and I am a changed man. every ateez track is a banger on its own but their entire aesthetic and presence is soooo good.

but yeah the state of ticketmaster right now is absolutely bonkers. and the sheer disrespect of booking so few seats for the 2NE1 reunion? maybe the backlash after the tickets sell out in <20 seconds will get something done, but I say that every time there's a Situation with ticketmaster and it hasn't happened yet. it took a whole group of my friends frantically queueing for tickets at 7:00 AM on the dot to get skz tickets for next year, and we still had to buy some secondhand to fit our whole group (within the same hour). nightmarish.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by mondegreened

I saw stray kids at lolla earlier this year and GOD those boys put on a great show. saw ateez a few months later and I am a changed man. every ateez track is a banger on its own but their entire aesthetic and presence is soooo good.

but yeah the state of ticketmaster right now is absolutely bonkers. and the sheer disrespect of booking so few seats for the 2NE1 reunion? maybe the backlash after the tickets sell out in <20 seconds will get something done, but I say that every time there's a Situation with ticketmaster and it hasn't happened yet. it took a whole group of my friends frantically queueing for tickets at 7:00 AM on the dot to get skz tickets for next year, and we still had to buy some secondhand to fit our whole group (within the same hour). nightmarish.

Damn, that really sucks. I saw Tik Tok posts about how 4-5 group people were trying to buy tickets and just kept seeing seats literally disappear before their eyes. With like 20k+ people fighting over tickets, it's a genuine nightmare where demand is already constrained and adding AI scripted bots to the mix is just adding gasoline to the fire.

Ateez have a show in a city about an hour or so away from me, and it's pretty sold out bar a few nosebleeds. I was thinking of keeping an eye on the ticket site and if i can snag something cheap, i might go see them however i just read Kiss of Life is looking to tour the UK next year in June. A month before Stray Kids but they're going to be in London. Going to concerts that far away can be stressful and a lot more cost because of coaches and hotels being needed.

I genuinely dread when BTS tour in 2026. They probably won't do a UK date till like 2027 though going by how US tours and so on are dated near the Summer and then they spill over. We'll see though. K-Pop groups though dare i say it are overpriced for the shows compared to arguably more well known Western groups and names.

[VictoryAtNight]

I bought Illit’s mini album from Target last month, which includes a mini CD.

Luckily, I have a player that can play these types of discs.

Album is awesome despite only 5 songs.

[NARMAK]

Originally Posted by VictoryAtNight

I bought Illit’s mini album from Target last month, which includes a mini CD.

Luckily, I have a player that can play these types of discs.

Album is awesome despite only 5 songs.

Damn, those look pretty visually interesting. An old camera style too but what do you mean by a player that can play those discs? Aren't they just compatible with regular players? Seems a bit niche for something they usually also charge a pretty penny for.

I personally don't buy albums etc. but Aespa had a pretty cool looking set of accessories to attach to headphones but no way i would pay anywhere close the the amount people seem to for those even at RRP.

Also, Hyunjin from Stray Kids going buzz cut looks like a drastic change. I wonder why he went that short because the hair looked fine and healthy longer too.

In other concert news, looks like Kiss of Life are coming to the UK but tickets i think have already sold out in most good seats.