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Ex-Wanna One member Yoon Jisung to drop single

Ex-Wanna One member Yoon Jisung to drop single

Korea Herald13-05-2025

Yoon Jisung, formerly of Wanna One, will release 'Voyage' on May 20, agency Billions announced on Monday.
He performed the single ahead of its release at his fan meetup tour, 'Letter from Yooniverse,' which began in Seoul in February and took him to Taipei and Tokyo the following month. The tour took place more than a year after he visited fans during 'The Special Christmas: Prom Party.'
He debuted as a solo singer in 2019 with EP 'Aside' after his stint as the leader of project group Wanna One. In 2021, he branched into acting, taking a lead role in the series 'Let Me Be Your Knight.'
Yoon also wrapped up the musical 'Happy Oh! Happy' in late January and will appear in short-form series 'Adieu Solo in Pattaya' alongside Baek Juho of SF9.

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From Psy to aespa, why are K-pop idols taking pay cuts for campus festivals?
From Psy to aespa, why are K-pop idols taking pay cuts for campus festivals?

Korea Herald

time25-05-2025

  • Korea Herald

From Psy to aespa, why are K-pop idols taking pay cuts for campus festivals?

Campus gigs offer more than pay — they're a springboard for fan engagement, viral buzz May marks university festival season in South Korea — and no matter how packed their schedules are with world tours, music shows and fan-meets, K-pop stars make time for the campus stage. At Hongik University's festival May 14–16, big names like Psy, aespa, Lee Seung-yoon, Beenzino and YB took to the stage. Konkuk University's lineup May 20–22 featured Psy, aespa, Itzy, Jannabi and YB. Performing at Chung-Ang University's main festival, running May 21–23, were aespa, NCT Dream, YB and Dynamic Duo. Despite the prestige of these appearances, university festival fees are generally lower than other commercial gigs. If a group normally earns 100 million won ($73,000) per event, they may settle for 50 million-80 million won at a university show. But money isn't the main incentive when it comes to college shows. Many K-pop agencies are willing to take a pay cut for the exposure and connection with younger audiences. In NewJeans' case, the group donated all its earnings from seven university festivals to the Korea Student Aid Foundation last year. Why do K-pop stars flock to the campus circuit come spring? It's simple: These events offer direct access to their core audience — people in their 20s. 'It's a rare opportunity for artists to connect with the general public, even those who aren't already fans,' an official from a major K-pop agency said Sunday. 'University festivals draw a young crowd, making them the ideal stage for artists to engage with new audiences and build buzz.' University festivals also serve as live practice ahead of world tours. 'Of all the stages, college campuses feel most like Lollapalooza or Coachella,' said former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin last May. 'The students' energy inspires the members. It's a great opportunity to promote new songs, improve stage skills and give back to fans.' This year, Itzy — set to return with new music in June — has packed its schedule with campus appearances, including at SeoulTech, Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University and Inha University. Kiss of Life, another rising girl group, was confirmed for festivals at Yonsei, Sejong and Korea National Sport University. Going viral, for free The marketing payoff is enormous. Performing in front of a crowd of 10,000 turns thousands of smartphone cameras into instant PR tools. Well before the show ends, fancams, memes, Instagram Reels, TikToks and shorts are already circulating online. For agencies, it's mass marketing without spending a dime. 'In this age of one-person media, if the performance is strong, word-of-mouth spreads naturally,' the agency official added. For groups with strong live performance skills, these shows also act as unofficial public auditions. Their vocals, stage presence and crowd work are judged in real time by the most trend-sensitive demographic. If the performance hits the mark, casual viewers are quickly converted into dedicated fans. aespa, the hottest ticket on campus The most in-demand university act this year? Aespa. Although the girl group has no domestic comeback imminent, it headlined festivals at Hongik, Konkuk, Chung-Ang and Kyung Hee universities, reinforcing its influence across Korean campuses. Aespa's popularity continues despite not having released any new Korean music since its 5th EP, 'Whiplash,' in October. Meanwhile, rumors of a June release are swirling, fueled by a leaked music video footage that began circulating on social media in early May. Rock bands hold their ground Even in the girl group-dominated landscape, rock bands are holding their own. YB (Yoon Do-hyun Band) performed at Konkuk, Hongik and Jeonbuk National universities. Jannabi, known for its festival-ready sound, will take the stage at Sejong, Dankook and Konkuk universities. Other buzzed-about names include Lucy, Silica Gel and The Volunteers (Nasanhyunssi Band). 'The festival crowd is overwhelmingly enthusiastic,' the agency official said. 'That energy fuels the performers and makes each show a valuable experience — both emotionally and professionally.'

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