DECEMBER 2020
2020 WASN’T ALL BAD!
WE LOOK B AC K AT S O M E O F TH E M EDI A H I G HLIGHTS FROM S O UTH KO R EA TH I S Y EAR
2020 03 THE BEST OF 2020 04 Moments 06 Music 08 Music Videos 09 Dramas 10 Books
MUSIC 12 GIVEAWAY 14 IDOL SPOTLIGHT Wonho 16 ALBUM REVIEW NCT Resonance Part 2 18 ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT UNVS
WELCOME Hello UKP Magazine readers, I hope you’re all trying to have a restful and happy festive period in what are, frankly, awful times. With a new Covid mutation, Tier 4 dropped on the South East and looming over much of the country come the end of the month, the UK seemingly cut off from many areas around the world, and the Brexit icing on the cake soon to come - being in the UK does admittedly suck. This magazine has felt difficult to put together, with most people’s jobs asking much more of all team members, and down time being nothing more than solitude for many - we struggled, but knew that this magazine might break the boredom for some of you so it was more than worth the immense effort we had to show this issue. Happy holidays, take care of yourselves. Lore Walsh Creative Director l.walsh@unitedkpop.com
20 HIPHOP SPOTLIGHT Mino
WATCH & PLAY 22 WINTER WATCHING 24 NETFLIX BINGE 26 GAMING
LIFESTYLE 30 FASHION TRENDS 32 THE QUEENS OF KOREA
CREDITS Writers
Editors
Emma Alford Triya Chakravorty Shannon Cooper Chiara Fulgoni Amy Furney Rhiannon Healey Caitlin Holloway Samera Iqbal Jessica Morrison Nathan Sartain
Michael East Kristine Phillips Lore Walsh Designers Lore Walsh Chelsea Macasaet Visda
THE BEST OF
2020
BEST OF 2020
MEMORABLE MOMENTS by CAITLIN HOLLOWAY
PARASITE AT THE OSCARS “The Oscars are not an international film festival. They’re very local.”- A statement made by Bong Joon Ho, just a few months before Parasite swept the Oscars. Parasite grabbed the attention of both film fans and film critics alike at the 2020 Academy Awards. After openly critiquing the Oscars for being a “local” awards show that disregards international films, it felt so good to see Bong Joon Ho and Parasite win FOUR Oscars overall this year. Taking the Awards for International Feature Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and the top prize of Best Picture, Parasite was not to be ignored at the Oscars this year. Bong Joon Ho had called out the blatant ignorance of film critics and award boards during his speech at the golden globes only a month before. He said that “Once you overcome the 1-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films”. I hope to see awards shows continue to be accepting, as they have been with Parasite. It has been such a relief to see such an incredible film, Director and Cast get the recognition they deserve!
ONLINE CONCERTS In the wake of COVID-19, it has been so incredible to see artists using their platforms to bring positivity to their fans through Online Concerts. As many of us were eager to see our favourite artists perform live before the pandemic, it was such a comfort to so many fans that the groups would still put the work in to bring us some amazing online concerts. On platforms such as VLive, LivexLive and Weverse, fans were able to tune in to these concerts all over the world. Some honourable mentions for such concerts are: BTS’ Bang Bang Con and ON:E Concerts, Bang Bang Con alone winning a Guinness World record title for ‘most viewers of a livestreamed performance’. SM Entertainment’s Beyond LIVE concerts with groups such as TWICE, NCT 127 and Super Junior. These concerts were marketed as an entirely interactive experience that was optimised for online performances, even allowing some fans to video call the groups. Wonho’s first solo concert ‘WONHO SPECIAL LIVE #IWONHOYOU’, where he announced his comeback plans for the first time. We’re all very excited to see these concerts live again, but it has been great to still be able to look forward to watching our favourite groups perform even in the middle of a pandemic.
WONHO’S SOLO DEBUT! After leaving Monsta X because of allegations that have since been cleared, many did not want to see Wonho’s talent wasted. After the continuous outcry of support from his fans, Wonho thankfully announced that he would be debuting as a solo artist in April of this year. On September 4th 2020, he released his first solo album Love Synonym Pt.1: Right for Me. In this album, Wonho not only takes his struggles of the past year and turns them into something fantastic, he also emphasises his unbelievable amount of talent as a vocalist, producer and songwriter. This album has been such a highlight for us here at UnitedKpop, it is so powerful to see an artist we admire take an overwhelming amount of negativity and turn it into art. If you haven’t listened to his debut album yet, we would definitely recommend it.
BTS HIT THE TOP OF THE BILLBOARD HOT 100! After the release of their hit song “Dynamite” in August of this year, BTS were seen to very quickly climb charts all over the world. After a very successful YouTube release, with 101.1 Million views in the first 24 hours, Dynamite was already breaking records within its first day. Released on the 21st August, it took Dynamite only just over a week to reach Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The news was first heard by the group on September 1st, also Jungkook’s birthday, where they took to social media to celebrate the happy occasion and show their gratitude to fans. On their VLive broadcast, members of the group said that they had spent the whole night crying with joy that they had reached No.1 on the chart for the very first time. Not only was this a cause for celebration in itself, but Dynamite remained in the No.1 position until September 12th, sliding to No.2 for two weeks, only to jump straight back up to No.1 for the week of September 24th. Fans are hoping to see the same success upon the release of BTS’ next album ‘BE’, released on the 20th November.
BEST OF 2020
PLAYLIST by CAITLIN HOLLOWAY
To stick with the theme of ‘Best of 2020’, this playlist includes some of our favourite personal picks of the year. In a time where all of us have experienced isolation and instability more than ever before, we have all needed little ways to escape all the negativity and music has been one of those for us here at UnitedKpop. As a group of writers and who met purely through our shared love of music and Korean culture, these songs have been a welcome source of excitement for us all and we wanted to share some of them with you!
MORE K/DA
In the new demand for virtual media this year, it is no wonder that K/DA are in such high demand. As a virtual girl group created for video game League of Legends, I don’t think any of us at UKP expected to love K/DA as much as we do! Formed from American singers Madison Beer and Jaira Burns and (G)I-DLE members Miyeon and Soyeon, K/DA released their debut EP ‘ALL OUT’ on November 6th 2020. Their characters are so cool and the music videos are so well made, we’d definitely recommend that you check out K/DA. ‘MORE’ is such an addictive song and we’ve been playing it on repeat since its release! •
CHECK OUT: K/DA - POP/STARS
DOLPHIN OH MY GIRL After releasing their EP ‘NONSTOP’, many fans absolutely fell in love with the playful bounciness of Oh My Girl’s song ‘Dolphin’. This track gained even more attention after being performed by Oh My Girl member Arin and TXT’s Soobin as MCs on Music Bank in August this year. After becoming something of a trend after this performance, people were seen to be singing and dancing along to Dolphin all over social media. Definitely check this one out, if you haven’t heard it already! •
CHECK OUT: OH MY GIRL - Etoile (Korean Ver.)
GOD’S MENU STRAY KIDS Stray Kids are well known for releasing some absolute anthems on their albums and God’s Menu definitely did not disappoint. It has been one of the most addictive songs of the year, for both the song and the choreography (I still catch myself chopping the air every single time I listen to it). With songs like God’s Menu and Miroh on their roster, I always turn to Stray Kids when I need a little energy boost. •
CHECK OUT: Stray Kids - Back Door
WANNABE ITZY Another song that is one of our favourites not only for the song, but for the choreography. There wasn’t a single day after WANNABE was released where I didn’t see someone on social media wiggling their shoulders along to this song! I absolutely love girl-group dance tracks and this one absolutely takes the cake, I still can’t stop listening to it and it’s been 8 months since the song was released. Any song that preaches self love and makes you want to dance is a win for me and ITZY have definitely brought that with WANNABE. •
CHECK OUT: ITZY - Not Shy
INCEPTION ATEEZ On album ‘ZERO: FEVER Part 1’, ATEEZ are showing a much more musically mature side to themselves. After hearing a lot of bold and high-energy title tracks from ATEEZ, it was so refreshing to hear a much more ethereal and dramatic song from the group. On this album, ATEEZ are presenting some immaculately produced songs that have a real depth of emotion to them. INCEPTION goes beyond the typical cute and lighthearted approach to young love and delves much further into the intense, confusing and scary parts of experiencing love for the first time. This song (and this album as a whole) is so well-crafted that it was an absolute joy to listen to. •
CHECK OUT: ATEEZ - THANXX
BEST OF
BOOKS by CAITLIN HOLLOWAY
ALMOND Reading Almond was a huge highlight for me this year! After a very successful literary debut in Korea in 2017, Sohn Won-Pyeong partnered with Sandy Joosun Lee to publish a translated version of Almond. After the international release of the translated copy in July this year, Almond has won the hearts of many who read it, and for good reason. Almond tells the tale of a young boy named Yunjae and his experiences with Alexithymia, a brain condition that results in an inability to process and identify emotions. Yunjae’s story is full of so much depth and feeling that I was completely won over by this book. It is not only a hit for international readers this year, as numerous idols have also been seen enjoying this book. In particular, several members of BTS were seen to be reading it in their summer-getaway reality show, IN THE SOOP, grabbing the attention of many of their fans. It has rocketed up to be one of my all-time favourite books and I have read it numerous times since picking it up in August. If you are a fan of Korean Literature, don’t miss out on this incredible book!
BEST OF
DRAMAS by CAITLIN HOLLOWAY
ITAEWON CLASS As this year has been a complete whirlwind with a lot of unexpected time stuck indoors, a good series to binge-watch has been a welcome distraction for a lot of people. I definitely found myself with a lot more time to be able to catch up on some fab K-Dramas this year, but my favourite of 2020 has to be Itaewon Class. With actors such as Park Seo-Joon and Yoo JaeMyung in lead roles, the cast alone was enough to draw my attention. The story had me hooked and I found myself craving the next episode for the entire week following. Itaewon Class not only had a gripping revenge plot at the heart of it, but also a story that addressed so many important social subjects in a really graceful and progressive way. With Lee Joo-young playing a powerful transgender character who is entirely celebrated by those around her, Itaewon Class is publicly condemning transphobic attitudes and encouraging a message of acceptance. This message is so refreshing to see, especially in a mainstream K-Drama, and I hope to see more of it. After a year that has held a lot of division across the world, we need messages like these that promote empathy and togetherness. That is why I consider Itaewon Class to not only be one of my favourite dramas of the year, but also one of my favourite K-Dramas in general.
BEST OF
MUSIC VIDEOS by CAITLIN HOLLOWAY and CHIARA FULGONI To keep up with our ‘Best of 2020’ theme, it’s only right that we should include some of the amazing music videos that came out this year. Despite the change in circumstances, artists have managed to come out with some visually stunning videos during their comebacks in 2020. In this article, we will be digging into the musical and cinematographic wonders of these MVs. These are just a few of our favourites:
(G)I-DLE OH MY GOD There is such an incredible boldness to this song and the same can be said of its music video. The company in charge of this MV, Rigend Film, have such an unbelievable mastery of colour, light and an editing style that is so smooth and visually appealing. The use of deep colours, bold lighting and dramatic set design really do match the intensity of this track. There is a consistent use of contrast throughout the MV: light and dark, black and white, good and evil. These themes are then emphasised through the use of religious imagery such as wine, Latin and sets that lift each of the members so that they appear to be being worshipped by their dancers. All of these aspects really do match the message of love and selfworship in the song.
SEVENTEEN LEFT AND RIGHT With this MV, it was so nice to see a lighthearted concept that has a heavy group-focus to it. This is an MV loaded with fun and whimsy, it is so refreshing to see an MV where the group does not seem to be taking themselves too seriously. Especially in shots where Seventeen is bopping their heads left-and-right to match the song’s title, it was so good to see the playful and corny personalities of the members taking centre-stage. This also applies to the shot where the members can be seen to fling Hoshi into the air, which is not only funny, but also matches the album title ‘Henggarae’ [meaning ‘tossing someone up in the
air in celebration’ in Korean] Every member is given the chance to shine in this MV, with lots of wide shots and barely any solo-focused shots. With a 13 member group, it is good to see them tackle the challenge to allow a sense of inclusivity so that no member is left by the wayside.
BTS BLACK SWAN Like Left and Right, Black Swan is mainly focused around wide shots, though with an entirely different effect. These shots are so wide that the frame can often be seen to fish-eye and warp. Alongside the use of extremely dark shots that use spotlights to draw the eye, these filming techniques are absolutely perfectly matched to the song’s concept. In this song, BTS is seen to grapple with the more isolating, dark and scary elements of their relationship with music and their careers as idols. Because of the way that the MV has been lit and framed, the members are often surrounded by darkness and appear to almost be swallowed up by the stage. The constant spotlight in each shot gives the impression that the members are always performing, that they are unable to escape it and are always being watched. The same can be said of the shot where Jin is surrounded by mirrors. For a song with such a poignant message that acknowledges some of the dark and often disregarded struggles of idols, this MV is immaculately crafted and upholds this message in such a delicate yet powerful way.
ALIEN SUHYUN This MV is so much fun to watch. With the mix of realistic and animated shots, this MV bursts with colour and personality at every turn. With lots of comic booklike elements and neon hues, this music video takes on a life of its own and is bursting with energy and fun, just like the song itself. The use of pastel colour grading and an eclectic set design means that even the real-life shots are quite bright and otherworldly. The animation in this MV is so cool to watch and really brings the whole concept together. The way that the animations are so seamlessly layered over the top of the filmed scenes makes for such an interesting watching experience. The fact that the majority of what we see in the MV was made in the post-production process of the MV adds to the unrealistic and out-ofthis-world vibe of ‘Alien’ as a song very well.
RULES:Â We have hidden TWO BLACKPINK logos (not include the one on this page) in our Winter 2020 Magazine. Describe to us what BLACKPINK's music means to you? Which track in 'The Album' is your favourite and why? And lastly, please follow our official Facebook and Twitter pages! (Make sure to like our posts so we can check). Please note: Make sure to send your answers to k.phillips@unitedkpop.com for your entry to be counted! To be eligible for this giveaway, you will need to live in the UK. The deadline is set until January 1st 2021 at 12am. Good luck to everyone who will be planning on taking part and we all wish you a Happy Holidays from us to all of you!
IDOL SPOTLIGHT
WONHO by SAMERA IQBAL After a series of scandals forced his departure from MONSTA X in 2019, Wonho returned to the Kpop industry almost a year later. His first mini-album, ‘Love Synonym #1: Right for Me’, sparks a new beginning for him as a solo artist – a beginning that he hopes will continue to remain full of love and support. Wonho (Lee Hoseok) publicly began his journey in Starship Entertainment’s survival programme, ‘No Mercy’, where he inevitably ended up joining the final line-up for MONSTA X. However, this was not where he began his Kpop journey. Prior to the survival show, he joined Shownu, Jooheon and #GUN as the trainee unit NUBOYZ, using the stage name Shino. The group released a mixtape and hoped to debut together until they were grouped alongside nine other trainees for ‘No Mercy’. As a member of MONSTA X, Wonho gained huge success and popularity. The group released several albums, embarked on three world tours, gained a cameo in Cartoon Network’s ‘We Bare Bears’ and were set to release their first-ever English album. Wonho, himself, was the group’s centre, protector and ending fairy, who would spend hours talking to fans and even gained individual popularity amongst other Kpop idols for his body build. By the time the group had completed their third world tour, he had proved he was worthy of being a lead vocal. Just as things were going well, disaster struck. In October 2019, allegations surrounding unpaid debts and drugs came to light, and albeit false, these inevitably led Wonho to leave the group. The thing would give him a second chance and essentially save him, would be his fans. Immediately after his departure, fans left post-it notes outside Starship Entertainment, shared petitions and organised billboards that would fight for his return. What could have been the end of his career soon became a second chance. In March 2020, he was cleared of all charges against him, and he announced that he would return as a solo artist. The decision to go solo was a bold one, but from the start, Wonho had demonstrated his potential to grow as an artist. As a No Mercy trainee, he was praised for his sentimental rearrangement of
Yang Yoseob’s ‘Caffeine’. This formed the basis of the 14 songs he would compose as a member of MONSTA X, with ‘From Zero’ even becoming the group’s first B-side to enter the UK iTunes Top 100 and their first-ever No. 1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart. In his recent minialbum, he composed six out of eight songs. With the music he’s composed so far, he has defined his soft, “easy-on-the-ears” style, and although he has yet to gain huge popularity as a producer in Korea, he appears to be making his way there. As well as his musical abilities, Wonho is an artist who breaks stereotypes. He follows Taemin, Kai and Junsu in the sense that he doesn’t shy away from the more obscure clothing, from crop tops and fishnets to garters and bodysuits. On top of that, he openly supports LGBTQIA+ rights and other human rights movements, even giving a homosexual fan advice about getting his parents to support him (alongside Joohoney). Another quality that fans love most about Wonho is how he wears his heart on his sleeve. In his first live concert, he created the fan song ‘Flash’, which talks about wanting to give back to the fans who gave him everything, including a second chance at his career. Even as he cleared his name, he chose to sit down to share his upbringing, revealing his times in a poor environment, bullying and mixing in with the wrong crowd. Whilst he chose not to reveal these as a member of MONSTA X, sharing them now strengthens the bond between him and the fans. If anything, he loves them unconditionally, and finding a Kpop star like that is rare. Despite becoming a rookie all over again, you cannot consider Wonho to be one. His success as a group member has allowed him to experience the ups of success, experience and love, as well as the downs of perfection and malicious criticism, giving him six years of experience to make use of. As he embarks on his new journey, Wonho chooses to ignore the stereotypes of perfection, in order to become someone who learns from past mistakes in order to become better than he used to be, and that is something to be commended.
ALBUM REVIEW
NCT - NCT RESONANCE by NATHAN SARTAIN NCT has long been one of the most intriguing experiments in Korean music. Ditching general conventions on fixed outfits and lineups and fluctuating between differing sub-groups spanning over more than just Korea, they stay fresh by never truly being able to be predictable, and always being partial to a surprise or two. In RESONANCE, the surprises are ever-present, operating almost as a congenial mood-setting reminder that NCT will never be your typical group, and that the rulebook so many artists live by doesn’t, and could in no way exist for them. The general theme of the record is an obsession with the peppy, poppy, perky era of ‘90s pop, a time in which American popular music ruled the global charts, and millions upon millions of fans were vested in the glamorous, sugar-coated lifestyles these figures led. It comes as little shock then, that it’s NCT U’s “90’s Love,” a Boyz II Men-esque offering with its highrange harmonies, old school boom-bap breakbeats and R&B tinges, chosen to lead the bumper 21-track record. Departing from the industrial, experimental dance stylings into a more comfortable newtro style, the group exude confidence by the bucketload as they glide through the chopped-up synth-lines and unwavering bassline. “Misfit” follows, a high-octane, anti-hero rap anthem syringed with swagger as the group’s rappers quickly dispatch bar after bar over punchy drum beats, before a chanted chorus guides the young upstarts to a big, bombastic climax. “Raise The Roof” enters back into familiar territory though, moving along with industrial electro-pop verses and a modern, charring chorus in which each member methodically harmonises in a mid-tempo frenzy. “Volcano” slows things down slightly, with its squelchy synths and bouncy, understated groove often making way for sleek, polished vocals and more subtly energetic rap parts. “Light Bulb” is similar, speeding up from its predecessor but sticking to a piano and drum combination through the verses, and never exploding into anything more than another part of mid-tempo elegance with the sweetened vocals on show.
In fact, it’s not until the softer, jazz-tinged, warmer “Dancing in the Rain” gives way that the album truly finds its feet again with “My Everything.” A fluttering, light piece of music which favours an echoing piano melody and softened, airy vocals as its centrepiece, it’s a phenomenal diversion from the style so synonymous with the group, and stands out as an enchanting ballad worth endless plaudits. In terms of quintessential NCT stylings, “Make A Wish” carries that in abundance, punctuating trap beats and sharp snaps with a whistle melody, before the charismatic rapping takes centre-stage. It flits between the same simple hooks and moving parts, ensuring a congruent texture to the track, but does lack that killer punch that cuts such as “Simon Says” effortlessly carry. Fortunately, the youthful NCT DREAM offer that in “Déjà Vu,” a number carried by its anthemic, brash, brassy horn-led chorus. Elsewhere, “Nectar” stands out as one of the finer B-sides, riding a bouncy, bass-filled groove only ever interrupted by whistles, chants and bursts of harmony. It shows WayV’s synergy off tremendously, and proves that you don’t need a huge, arena-made hook to capture audiences, as long as you know how to execute your parts smartly. Unfortunately, a recurring theme on RESONANCE is that, whilst sonically appealing and never dull, chunks of the release feel too light, or forgettable to warrant it carrying its mammoth 21-track tag. “From Home” lacks anything more than sugary substance which evaporates over its formulaic, overly familiar structure and sheer length. Of course, that’s not to say it’s all bad. “Work It” is undeniably interesting, with its stylish spring and sliding synth-bass production bringing out a rather unique dimension to the composition, and its blitzing, industrially jarring chorus working surprisingly seamlessly. All in all, NCT provide entertainment on RESONANCE, but lack the vigour and structure which has benefitted them greatly in previous releases. Even if numerous tracks strike gold, everything feels too ham-fistedly placed to work properly as a functioning LP, but with a risk-taking, unconventional outfit such as SM’s golden project, that may never have been the aim in the first place.
PART 2
ROOKIE SPOTLIGHT
UNVS by RHIANNON HEALEY
UNVS (유니버스), pronounced Universe is a 5-member boy group under Chitwn Music. The group consists of: Jun.H, YY, Eunho, Changgyu, and Jen. The members of UNVS aren’t new to the music scene. They first debuted in Taiwan back in 2016. However, the boys have recently made their debut in South Korea earlier this year with their single “Timeless”. UNVS are also now gaining more fans through “Rookie King”, a variety program that sees the group showcasing their personalities and talents through the various missions they must complete until they become idols fit to be called “rookie kings”. Over the last year the group have had several comebacks. UNVS released their 2nd single album, ‘Soundtracks for the Lost & Broken’ back in May, which features the title track “Give You Up”. Fast forward 4 months later to September when the group released the digital single “Sand Castle”, which is all about being taken away by love like the sand is by water. The music video was released on September 23, with a “Midnight remix” version being released on November 6, across YouTube and CHITWNMUSIC’s Soundcloud. However, the boys haven’t finished treating their fans this year – the group have released a ‘coming soon’ teaser announcing “The Prologue,” a song that will be released as a single later this month. Make sure to follow the group’s social media channels for more updates on their activities!
HIP HOP SPOTLIGHT
Rich with metaphors and laden with charm, “FIANCE” is a trot hip-hop offering which oozes personality, supplemented by its seamless samples and stretchy instrumentals, as well as a hyper-charged, anthemic chorus.
by NATHAN SARTAIN
Elsewhere, there’s the innuendo rich “O2,” which favours techno chords and woozy electronics as the WINNER member incessantly describes his wanting to kiss his romantic interest, and cuts such as “UM…” a spacey hip-hop track syringed with languid synth-lines and hazy vocals. There’s also the bouncy “AURORA,” which rides an upbeat tropical melody for its runtime, and delivers in poppy magnetism, as opposed to anything overtly intricate.
MINO
In a lot of ways, Mino has had an unconventionally conventional route to the apex of the hip-hop scene. Although not exactly a fully embedded part of the genre in Korea – after all, he from a K-Pop group, and has not had the same pathway or had to grind as much as some of the more pure rappers in the country – he still finds himself at the top of the tree, basking in the success of his sophomore album. Like many upstart rappers, Mino’s solo career truly began on Show Me The Money, despite a fling with the underground scene in 2011 as Hugeboy Mino. Participating in the fourth season of the successful television series, the 27-year-old was a part of a team comprising of his former contemporary, Zico, and the veteran Paloalto. And, despite finishing as runner-up during the season – it was Basick who claimed first place – it was arguably the WINNER member who thrived the most, benefiting from a streak of hits including the rock-tinged, pompous “Moneyflow,” and seamlessly buoyant “Okay Dokey,” which showed a more juvenile side to the rapper full of both swagger and introspection. However, it was “Fear,” a collaboration with labelmate Taeyang, which truly marked Mino as an artist to watch in the solo arena. Built initially around tempered keys and plodding percussion, Mino raps about coming further than he imagined, before the chorus exclaims just how afraid the charismatic rapper is, aided superbly by Taeyang’s soothing, coruscating vocals. There is no unnecessary climax in this track, but rather a plaintive, sharp vocal flourish which leads the musician’s fears to a sort of sonic catharsis. Truly phenomenal, it’s no wonder why “Fear” still remains the highest selling Show Me The Money track of all time. From there, though, things did slow down slightly for the YG signee. Focusing a large portion of his time to WINNER, his main priority, opportunities were scarce. In fact, aside from a fleeting side-project dubbed MOBB with iKON’s Bobby, and the hit, sensually dynamic single “BODY,” the hip-hop artist didn’t do a great deal at all. However, the young artist did find himself cast as a member of hit variety show New Journey To The West, so it wasn’t all doom, gloom and shut opportunities. In late 2018, things would change. After years of expectation and anticipation, Mino’s first solo album, XX, was released, driven by the title-track “FIANCE.”
XX is wholly engrossing, even if it is musically dissonant and rather difficult at times. It shows Mino’s dedication to artistry without being pretentious, and earns its stars as a lyrically captivating LP, spiced up with some rather exciting, unconventional production choices. However, it is the follow-up, TAKE, which really earns Mino his flowers. A vastly diverse development, and a stark improvement on what has come before it, it marks a new chapter in the 27-year-old’s career, and a point in which should propel him further in his path to the top of the tree. Its title-track, “RUN AWAY,” is a rather moody hip-hop song, powered by a dynamic, brass-infused chorus, and fleshed out with a tropical bounce in the verses. The breakneck pace in the second portion of the offering is particularly enthralling, painting palpable grievance of a man who wants his lover to “leave without a trace.” But the charisma so synonymous with Mino is never too far away. Whether on “OK man,” a collaboration with Bobby which is led by charring staccato sounds and a deep, resonant layering of bass and industrial sounding electronics, or “Click,” a gushingly explosive number all about initial infatuation. Even “Sunrise,” an acoustic guitar-led, emotional ballad feels fresh, with the rapper shakily singing about someone who is his “everything.” It’s surprisingly heartfelt and punching, showing some of the more mature growth undertaken in the two years that has separated XX from TAKE. In conclusion, Mino continues to follow an interesting, entertaining path to his peak, constantly flanked with consistent growth and sonic enhancements. Although being on one of the largest labels in Korea has helped in his journey, everything still feels independently achieved, thus making the WINNER rapper someone who hasn’t just been given his spot at the table, but thoroughly deserves it too.
There are so many amazing K-Dramas out there, old and new. But, here are my top five dramas to sit down and get cosy to over this winter period.
ITAEWON CLASS
Itaewon class is one of the most popular dramas, to be aired, this year. Not only in Korea, but overseas too. Park Seo-Joon and Kim Da-Mi play the main characters, but the cast is absolutely amazing. One of my favourite actresses, Lee Joo-Young, (better known for ‘Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo’), plays one of the supporting characters, which is also a transgender woman. Packed full of interesting characters and well-known faces. Doesn’t only focus on the main characters but will also focus on the supporting characters, with whole episodes centring on them, giving every character depth. Itaewon Class is one of those dramas that catch you off guard. It leaves you feeling warm and persists to give the audience a message with every episode.
TALE OF THE NINE TAILED
Nam Ji ah (Played by Jo Bo-Ah), is a PD who believes in mythical creatures. She runs a show in which she tries to find traces of these creatures, sort of like ghost hunters. As she is looking to find out what has happened to her parents she crosses paths with Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook). Both are haunted by their history and their past lives, but they work together. Though many obstacles are pushed in their way. The drama is a classic mix of historical drama and modern era love story. Combining some fantasy and Korean myths into the narrative. The drama itself is intense from the start, but also has the perfect amount of cheese and happy go lucky atmosphere to keep you grinning. At the moment the drama is still live on air on Viki Rakutan, but is still one to get wrapped up in this winter.
WEIGHTLIFTING FAIRY KIM BOK-JOO
This Drama isn’t on Viki but can be found on Netflix. The main characters played by; Lee SungKyoung and Nam Joo-Hyuk work perfectly together. They’re an onscreen couple that really brings warmth to your hearts, making you smile with them. The drama doesn’t only have a strong love story, but it has strong women, literally. There’s such a huge essence of girl power in this drama, showing their strength physically as well as socially as friends. This young adult drama shows the pursuit of love between two athletes. This drama is the perfect pick me up for those winter blues.
MEMORIES OF THE ALHAMBRA
Another Netflix find is the drama, Memories of the Alhambra. Starring Hyun bin and Park Shin-Hye as the main characters and love interests. I didn’t see much hype going around for this drama, but when I watched it each week, when it was released, I thought it was absolutely genius. Even though it was games technology gone wrong, it was still quite thrilling to watch, they really brought the game to life. Even though there is romance, it is also focused on ending the game and bringing the torture of it to a close. If you don’t want full lovey-dovey romance but more action, this is the one for you.
TOUCH YOUR HEART
Touch Your Heart stars Lee Dong-Wook and Yoo In-A. The famous supporting couple from the hit drama Goblin. It seemed as if fans were waiting forever for these two to have their own drama together. And finally, it came. Unfortunately, it doesn’t follow their romance from Goblin, but we still get some great onscreen romance from the two. Their onscreen chemistry is undeniable, it’s such a delight to watch the characters, making each other flustered and teasing the other. For the most part, it is lighthearted. A lawyer-based drama and a love story between a beautiful actress and a cold lawyer. This is another one that will make your heart flutter, make you laugh, and make you cry.
Festive Binge Watch by SHANNON COOPER
BINGE by AMY FUR NEY
Love Alarm Imagine living in a world where an app alerted people if someone in their vicinity liked them? Track and True love? This is exactly the situation that Kim Jojo finds himself in. It’s a quick, snappy, eight-episode romantic drama that will leave you asking for a second season!
Oh My Venus This is by far the most shallow of the bunch on this list. Watch Ju-eun, a successful lawyer, attempt to lose weight after being dumped by her boyfriend. Will she be the “Venus of Daegu” like she was in high school? Who cares! What’s far more entertaining here is the family dynamic; the nagging grandmother steals the show!
Time to Hunt If you’re after a dystopian film, this 2020 release has your name written on it. Three outlaws plot a money heist in a dystopian world in an attempt to search for paradise. However, their actions catch the attention of a ferocious murderer. Realistically, anything is better than a pandemic-based horror story at this point!
Bad Guys Detective thriller more your thing? No worries; Unitedkpop has you covered! This show really makes you question your own sense of morality. Is it okay for convicts to help a detective catch some of the worst criminals in the area? Is it okay for them to be released in order to do this? In a world where black-and-white law and order just doesn’t cut the mustard, Oh Gu-tak is ready to go one step further.
Cinderella and the Four Knights High school student Ha-won captures the attention of a wealthy gentleman; he is the chairman of the Haneul Group. He offers to have her live with his three grandsons. Touched by the difficulties that they have suffered, she does her best to bring the brothers together. But will she be able to put her own family difficulties aside?
The King A hybrid historical-modern series, watch Korean emperor Lee Lim pass through a portal and dive into the modern-day universe. Encountering a police detective, watch him come to terms with the twenty-first century and make the decision as to where he wants to stay!
My Secret Romance This is probably everyone’s worst work nightmare. Yoo Mi meets Jin Wook; a rich playboy that she slept with in the past. Except, now, he’s taken over his father’s company and happens to be her new boss. Awkward…
BLACKPINK – Light Up the Sky The documentary has recently been released on Netflix and follows the four women and their road to Kpop stardom. Get behind the scenes of Coachella, be with them as they debut and experience the recording of a yet-to-be released song! It’s a must watch for any fan!
Familiar Wife Cha Ju-hyeok and Seo U-jin are your typical unhappily married couple. One day, Ju-hyeok is handed the opportunity to travel back in time. How will he find his new life (and new wife)?
Record of Youth Two actors and a makeup artist do their best to reach their goals. In a world where their backgrounds hold them back, the underdogs are ruthless to pursue their dreams. A feel good go-for-it drama that is set to put a smile on your face.
ENTER Christmas is going to be far different this year for multiple reasons; while everyone is staying safe indoors, home entertainment has proven to be an essential to get through the long days of lockdown. Movie streaming & TV box sets are the norm for many but this year, video games have also seen a surge of sales during the pandemic and pulled in revenue for development teams who may be facing delays due to working from home. The stars seemed to have aligned perfectly as 2020 also brings in the start of a new generation of consoles; all with their own breath-taking upgrades to the gaming experience. In November, players welcomed the monolithic Xbox Series X and Playstation 5; both promising to be the most powerful systems to date in the video game industry. Alongside Microsoft’s smaller “brother” console, Xbox Series S & Nintendo’s family of Switch devices; it’s looking to be a defining - and possibly expensive year for a gamer. However, as many avid players know; it’s not just the hardware that makes the experience. It is the games; stories and experiences to live through & share with every generation. There is one for everyone; puzzles to calm your mind, horrors to get your blood pumping and bright tantalizing worlds to explore. Sometimes, it can be hard to decide on what to play, especially if you are lucky enough to pre-order and get your brand new next-gen console on day one. Luckily, there is a transition window where games are still being released on previous devices or past launches are being optimised for future play. For those who are eager to start their new journey or those who are sticking with the current generation, we have picked out a few of our favourites across multiple platforms to keep you in the game this holiday season.
SEVEN KNIGHTS: TIME WANDERER • •
Platforms: Nintendo Switch Release Date: November 2020
Netmarble is known for their big-hitting mobile games and collaborations with Marvel & Big Hit Entertainment to name a few; but Time Wanderer
is the developer’s first foray into the console platforms. With that in mind, they have made a wise move by picking the Nintendo Switch as a transition point. All past free-to-play elements of the franchise such as microtransactions and the gacha system have been removed; in favour of a fully fleshed out story that players can pay for, with an additional payment for costumes. This doesn’t take away the core elements of the game itself as it is a simple adventure experience that is easy to learn and digest without the need of being an RPG expert.
The story follows Vanessa who is transformed into an older rendition of herself and sent to another dimension; with the only chance of escape being the Time Crystals that are scattered throughout multiple worlds. Players don’t need to know prior information on the Seven Knights franchise as it is a spin-off story. However, the core mechanics are similar in its skills system. Each character is provided a set pair of skills and one ‘ultimate’ attack that you can build towards over the course of battle. This does differ slightly from mobile in the form of a turn-based system, with one attack chosen on each turn and a set time in which a skill needs to be chosen before the enemies strike. It can become fast paced as your allies grow in numbers with players required to consider the real-time cooldowns and effects each skill
THE NEXT GENERATION by EMMA ALFORD
has in order to get the upper hand in battle. At first glance, Time Wanderer may be simple but it thrives with the Switch’s main selling point; its ability to be a portable device. With its linear storyline and easy to grasp mechanics, it is a game that can be picked up between activities for a hit of adventure or to pass the time during commutes.
GENSHIN IMPACT • •
Platforms: Playstation 4, Playstation 5, iOS & Android devices Release Date: September 2020
balance for the player who just wants to enjoy the game for its free price-tag. That path can be longer than most, especially with the ranking system to access more of the story line; but with the whimsical world and a wide array of characters to play and fall in love with, it can still be a delightful experience for those who want to grind the hours away. The game itself made its debut on iOS, Android and Playstation 4 but miHoYo is already planning out the future for Genshin; releasing a new update to expand the storyline and add new characters; Tartaglia, Zhongli, Xinyan & Diona. There is also a big visual & performance boost when carried over to the PS4’s successor as the Playstation 5 update will bring high display resolutions and 60 frames-per-second; transforming Teyvat into an anime experience perfect for the next generation.
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS • •
Looking at screenshots and gameplay clips, you may be put off by the Breath of The Wild inspiration behind this game and the gatcha system; but scratch past the surface and Genshin Impact will surprise you. Following one of two travelling twins, you are thrusted into the land of Teyvat on a quest to find your lost sibling and also assist in the residing Kingdoms’ dilemmas in the process. miHoYo’s free-to-play RPG does include a lot of mechanics that have been compared to Link’s first adventure on the Nintendo Switch, so much so that it seems to be the first thing that is mentioned when the game is searched or featured in reviews but despite the doubt of it being another Zelda copycat, Genshin Impact has stepped out of that comparison shadow and has gained a large player base in China, Japan, the US and South Korea. Although there is the lingering thought of microtransactions to tempt those longing for a particular weapon or character, there is still a
Platforms: PC Release Date: October 2009
For a game that was released over ten years ago, why would players frequently return back to League of Legends? The continuous attention, love and content given back and the evergrowing eSports scene. New characters and balance updates keep this ever-growing game fresh for newcomers and those who are striving to become the best each year. The team-based multiplayer has become more than just a game. It has become a community for fans and also a platform for Riot Games to expand, experiment and get creative with their content. From anime-
ENTER inspired magical girl stories to card based spinoffs, there is nothing they haven’t tried and what knocks it out of the bark is their attention to detail. In the midst of the global pandemic, the highanticipated Worlds final was done differently this year but with the competition, it brought something fans were looking forward to ever since 2018; a K/DA comeback! Launching their full EP, All Out; Ahri, Evelynn, Kai’Sa and Akali got a brand new look and also welcomed the new champion to the game, Seraphine, alongside a special event across all of Riot’s League of Legends spin-off games so if you want some MORE, now is the perfect time to leap into the nexus. However, if you are not a PC gamer, don’t worry. There is a modified version currently in the works. Titled Wild Rift, the game is currently going through its regional open beta in Asia and is set to be released on iOS, Android and unspecified consoles in the near future.
CROSSFIRE X • •
Platforms: Xbox One & Xbox Series X/S Release Date: To Be Confirmed
and the staple battle royale modes that we have seen trending in recent first person shooters. Alongside that will be a separate single player campaign which is a first to the Crossfire franchise. To create the best narrative for their story based content, Smilegate reached out to Remedy Entertainment, the brains behind the award-winning 2019 game, Control. Diving into the franchise’s lore, the campaign is set to explore the reasons behind the conflict between Global Risk & Black List; allowing players to experience the game from both perspectives as the factions are locked into global warfare. The game was set to be joining the line up that would release around the time of the Series X launch and that was looking to be the case but since its first E3 announcement in 2019; there has been an open beta test and no official confirmation of a release date. Original announcements did reveal that it would launch first on Xbox One in 2020, with Smart Delivery support in place to get the best experience across both generations. However, there may be further testing needed on multiplayer or pandemic related delays so players may be expecting the launch at the very end of 2020 or in the new year after the Series X’s initial launch window.
BLACK DESERT ONLINE •
•
In its ten year history, the Crossfire franchise has blazed into players’ hearts with around 650 million registered in its servers. After a long wait, Xbox is bringing it to consoles for the first time with the help of Seoul based development team, Smilegate Entertainment. Powered by Unreal Engine 4, Crossfire X is set to bring a high energy experience in competitive multiplayer
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, iOS, Android & xCloud compatible devices Release Date: December 2014 (Original Release), September 2020 (Xbox Game Pass)
This year has seen players get a lot of free-time to explore and what better way to do it than with a Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) experience and there are a few to choose from. You have Elder Scrolls, World of Warcraft, Phantasy Star but there isn’t one as detailed as Black Desert Online. The Korean based developers, Pearl Abyss heavily promotes the game for its sprawling world and advanced character creation system; with some fans
THE NEXT GENERATION recreating idols, celebrities and their own original characters as mystic warriors, battling in guilds or escaping to their own adventures on land and sea. Black Desert has already dipped into a wide
majority of platforms, with confirmation it being compatible on next generation consoles but this year also sees an intriguing step for the game in terms of its place on Xbox. After a brief absence, it made its return to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s massive catalogue of games that fans can dive into with a small monthly cost and along with it, came a unique play to play. The game is already available on mobile devices but it is also made available through xCloud; the unique ability to stream on Android devices when you subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate. With a suitable controller, it can become a good stocking filler for any Black Desert fan or an opportunity for curious players to try out their first MMO in an ever-expanding land.
BTS UNIVERSE STORY • •
Platforms: iOS & Android devices Release Date: September 2020
During lockdown, the UKP Team have channelled their inner director with BTS Universe Story; a unique mobile game where fans can not only play through visual novels but create their own with the help of an expansive editor system. At the center of the game are the storylines created in partnership with Big Hit Entertainment; focusing on the BTS Universe that began with the release
of ‘I Need U’ back in 2015. Based on the Save Me web-comic, the story follows Seokjin in a time-bending attempt to save his friends from a varied and impending doom. More stories are also available through playing the game or accessing the alternative stories which can be a fun portable experience with the BTS members portrayed as detectives, vampires and more. BTS Universe Story continues to be ever-changing;
promoting fans to get in touch with their inner author and this is where the game really steps up from the previous title, BTS World. The developers are actively encouraging players to get creative; often promoting popular stories on social media. That element of community shines the most with the Episode Editor itself, which brings a replayable element to a mobile game that is intriguing & accessible for new players while also being hours of fiction writing fun for ARMY and Kpop fans alike.
2020 FASHION TRENDS by TRIYA CHAKRAVORTY
TAKING KPOP BY STORM Kpop has flourished in 2020. BLACKPINK broke the record for most YouTube views in 24hrs with 'How You Like That', SM Entertainment debuted their first girl group since 2014 with 'aespa' and BTS became the first Kpop artist with eight albums exceeding one million copies. Kpop fashion has seen just as dramatic a change. These are some of the trends dominating our screens this year.
CHIC CHANEL Chanel is famous for its vintage tweed jackets, which give a uniquely classy feel. BLACKPINK’s It girl Jennie Kim popularised this look in Kpop, as part of her iconic preppy, ice-queen style. Today, idols all over the industry are jumping on the bandwagon and rocking Chanel-inspired looks, from GFriend's Yuju to several of the members in NCT U’s 'Make A Wish' MV. Top Row (left to right): Doyoung (NCT), Jennie (BLACKPINK) Bottom row (left to right): SinB (GFRIEND), Lucas (NCT)
GLITTER MANIA This trend is a little more subtle, but undeniable once you spot it. It's one word: GLITTER. Whether it's bodycon dresses or high-waisted mini shorts, Kpop girl groups are sparkling brighter than ever - in every sense of the word. Most notable is SM's rookie girl group Aespa. Their 'Black Mamba' MV dripped with more sparkles than a Swarovski advert. Disco is making a comeback, and as Kpop fans, we’re here for it. Left to right: SOMI, Karina (aespa), Eunha (GFRIEND)
CROP TO THE TOP How can crop tops be a new trend? They're the opposite - a virtual Kpop cliche. But this time, it's the guys who are rocking the look. All the way back in 2018, Kai turned heads with his striped crop top in EXO's Tempo MV. But the fashion didn't catch on till recently. Nowadays, boy groups all over Kpop are baring their navels in this daring fashion statement. Like it or not, it's tummy time! A special mention goes to SHINee’s TAEMIN, who uses a crop top to shows off his new hip tattoo in his latest solo track “Idea” Top Row (left to right): Kai (EXO), Kang Daniel, Taemin (SHINee) Bottom row: Yeonjun (TXT)
CULTURE
THE QUEENS OF KOREA by JESSICA MORRISON
Recently, the Korean Drag scene has become a lot more popular and prominent. Despite the ongoing discrimination that still thrives in South Korea, both socially and legally (including a same-sex marriage and legal partnership ban), the Queens of Korea brim with strength and defiance. From social media exposure to drag parades, Korea’s progressiveness and acceptance for drag only seem to keep growing.
Nana
Possibly one of Korea’s most well-known Queens Kim Youngrong (A.K.A Nana), is making moves towards a more drag-friendly Korea and inspiring closeted Queens to be proud of their drag identity, persuading them not to feel ashamed of embracing it. Nana has starred in various music videos throughout her career, notably starting with Holland’s “I am Not Afraid”. Both himself and the first openly gay artist Holland (Go TaeSeob) are close friends and it comes as no surprise that Nana featured in drag in his music video, wearing a large white wig and beautiful gold and white dress. Most recently, she also starred in Mamamoo’s music video “Hip”, playing the guitar and wearing an 80’s rock-inspired, animal print, flared jumpsuit. “In Korea, the way people perceive (drag) is still largely negative” Nana on ‘Is DRAG now welcome in Korea?’ Korea Times YouTube channel Nana has been one of my personal favourite Queens in the drag scene altogether, her style of drag seems to stand out from other Queens I have seen on Drag TV shows/competitions and Instagram. Her Instagram posts are always so different and extremely unique, ranging from more soft and delicate concepts containing pastel colour schemes, sprinkled in flowers and porcelain styled makeup to Lady Gaga inspired makeup looks.
Whatever look she produces, both I and her other fans are always left in awe over her beauty. In an interview by the YouTube channel “Awesome World” with Nana and her friend Bambi Seoul, Nana explains how there are limited places to find specialist wigs and outfits for drag in Korea, In comparison to the US for example, where there are stores specialised for drag attire. This perhaps suggests why her style is so much more different in comparison to more western Queens.
Bambi Seoul
Another close friend of Nana is Bambi Seoul, both Queens starred in the “RuPaul’s drag race Werq the World” pre-show (alongside Kuciia Diaman and Vita Mikju). She started the label “Neon Milk”, an LGBTQ+ and drag culture collective, consisting of Bambi, Nana, Kuciia and Vita. It is clear that her ambition is to make drag more well-known and accepted among Korean society, promoting the quartet on Instagram and YouTube, ranging from daily vlogs to makeup videos and even workout videos. “I think that’s why it’s easier to start in the States compared to Korea” Bambi on ‘MEET KOREAN DRAG QUEENS!’ Awesome World YouTube channel When it comes to her drag, her looks aren’t perhaps as dramatic as most Queens, as she mainly posts images of her makeup looks rather than an entire outfit. Although her makeup is typically quite ‘dragesque’ with the vibrant eyeshadow and porcelain, accentuated skin, most of her looks remind me of more femme concepts (or fish), a term commonly used in the drag community which describes a Queen whose drag very closely resembles a woman and is extremely feminine.
NANA
@nana_youngrongkim
BAMBI SEOUL
@bambi.seoul
HURRICANE KIMCHI
@hurricanekimchi
Hurricane Kimchi
Hurricane Kimchi (Heezy Yang), in my opinion, is one of the Queens who has been taking the biggest steps for equality, not just for acceptance within drag but also for gay rights within Korea. In a BBC interview, she mentions that the “hurricane” in her name, represents the impact she wants to have on other people with her drag, just like a hurricane impacts people’s lives but is using the natural disaster more positively. She spent many years strutting the streets of Korea in full makeup, high heels and her favourite outfits, holding up signs that represent gay equality. She even was on the front line of the South Korean drag parade, a defiant, ground-breaking and memorable moment in her life as a Queen. “Even though it takes three hours to put my makeup on, and wandering downtown in heels hurts feet, I was determined to continue for a whole week, with beauty and dignity.” Hurricane Kimchi in “Here’s Why I Walked Around Seoul Dressed As Drag Queen ‘Hurricane Kimchi’” on the HuffPost webpage.
Drag in Korea
Despite the progressive movements made through consistent activism, there is still a lot of opposition and targeted homophobia at these Queens, which unfortunately does not come as a surprise due to the large masses of conservative Christians who live in Korea and Christianity making up around one-third of the population. In 2019, conservative MP’S in Korea attempted to remove homophobia and transphobia from a list of violations of anti-discrimination law, which was of course overturned by a high volume of campaigners and activists condemning it. If homophobia and transphobia were to be removed, it would put Drag Queens in imminent danger, as they would be a target for people with anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs. However, despite these current day hurdles that the Queens of Korea have to face, there is still hope for self-expression and equality. In 2018, South Korea’s first-ever drag parade was held, proving the massive step forward for drag as well as LGBTQ+ rights. Referenced in a ‘Them’ webpage article, a studier of queer migration in Asia and co-organiser of the parade Ali Zahoor states: “This march is to show that the community exists, and it’s here. It’s very hard to ignore a Drag Queen.” Despite the negative responses these Queens receive in Korea, they still carry on with their heads held high, always having the ambition to change views and open people’s eyes to acceptance. Although some improvements may only be small steps, the Queens of Korea today are making a difference for the hidden Queens of tomorrow. NOTHING can drag these Queens down!
KIM CHI
@kimchi_chic
SOME PEOPLE ARE TRANS. GET OVER IT! www.stonewall.org.uk