K-pop Summer Showdown: EXO, NewJeans, Jungkook & More Vie for 'Summer Throne'

This summer, the K-pop music scene is heating up with a host of artists making high-profile comebacks, all competing for the coveted titles of 'Summer King' and 'Summer Queen'.

Diverse boy groups ranging from the second to fifth generation are entering the fray. On July 4th, boy band TEEN TOP is set to make a comeback with their new album '4SHO' after a lengthy hiatus. This is their first album as a quartet, and the members have used the three-year gap and their 13th anniversary since debut to convey their emotions to fans. Their return was well prepared earlier this year, following a resurgence of popularity via the MBC variety show 'Hangout with Yoo'.

Following TEEN TOP, EXO is making a comeback with their 7th studio album 'EXIST' on their 11th debut anniversary. This is the first time in nearly five years that they have come back as a full group since their 5th repackaged album 'Love Shot' in 2018. Kai, who is currently serving his military duty, won't be able to perform on stage, but he has participated in the recording, much to fans' delight. Despite conflicts over profit distribution with their agency SM Entertainment, members Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin resolved their differences, and the comeback is proceeding as planned. Their pre-released track 'Hear Me Out', which was released on June 30th, is already dominating global music charts, demonstrating their unwavering popularity.

Also on the same day, nine-member boy group ZEROBASEONE, selected through the Mnet audition program 'Boys Planet', will make their highly-anticipated debut. Their debut album 'YOUTH IN THE SHADE' explores the brilliance and instability of youth, and set a new record for K-pop group debut albums by racking up approximately 780,000 pre-orders in just five days.

On July 17th, NCT DREAM is set to release their third full-length album 'ISTJ'. Their album is packed with 10 tracks, including the title song 'ISTJ', which gives fans ample opportunity to appreciate the evolving musical style of NCT DREAM. They previously topped multiple charts at home and abroad, including iTunes Top Songs chart, China's QQ Music digital album sales chart, and several music video charts with their pre-released song 'Broken Melodies', signaling a promising start to their comeback.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER is slated to release their collaboration track 'Do It Like That' with the Jonas Brothers on July 23rd. The summer-themed dance track promises to make waves as it represents a high-profile collaboration between top artists from South Korea and the United States. The collaboration came about after TOMORROW X TOGETHER, who visited the US for their world tour in May, listened to the demo of 'Do It Like That' and expressed their wish to release it this summer, to which the Jonas Brothers readily agreed.

MONSTA X will introduce their first unit featuring Shownu and Hyungwon on July 25th. Their debut mini-album 'THE UNSEEN' marks the formation of the first unit eight years after MONSTA X's debut. Fans are eagerly waiting to see how this album and concept will shape their musical journey, especially as Shownu and Hyungwon have played pivotal roles as main and lead dancers in helping MONSTA X establish its reputation as a high-performance group.

The battle for the summer girl group crown is heating up. Following their mesmerizing first mini-album 'Love Me Like This', NMIXX is returning on the 11th with their third single, 'A Midsummer NMIXX's Dream'. Particularly noteworthy is the title track 'Party O'Clock', with JYP Entertainment's head producer Park Jin Young listed as the lyricist and composer, sparking high anticipation for this collaboration.

On the 21st, the trending group NewJeans is set to stir up another syndrome with their second mini-album, 'Get Up'. Unusually, three tracks have been selected as title songs: 'Super Shy', 'ETA', and 'Cool With You'. Already, signs of success are visible. The teaser for the music video for the previously released track 'ASAP' ranked number one in YouTube trending worldwide, breaking through 5.6 million views, making it one of the most popular videos in not only Korea but also in America and Europe. There's considerable anticipation to see what kind of sensation NewJeans, known for their fresh promotional strategy and differentiated creative concept since debut, will create next.

ITZY will make a comeback on the 31st, about eight months after their last release. Their new mini-album 'KILL MY DOUBT' includes a total of six songs, including the title track 'CAKE'. Particularly, ITZY has teamed up with Black Eyed Pilseung, the creator of TWICE's hit songs like 'OOH-AHH', 'CHEER UP', 'TT', and 'LIKEY', which is expected to add more heat to the summer music scene through their new synergy.

OH MY GIRL is also joining the July comeback line-up. This is their first comeback after about 1 year and 4 months since their second full album 'Real Love' was released last March. They are currently preparing for their late July comeback. As their distinctive bright, cheerful, and refreshing energy has been particularly loved during the summer seasons, more expectations are pinned on their summer activities this year.

Solo comebacks are also quite overwhelming. Sandara Park will release her digital mini-album 'SANDARA PARK' on the 12th. This is her first solo album in about six years since her activities with 2NE1. Especially, the title track 'FESTIVAL' of Sandara Park samples the song of the same name released in 1995 by singer Uhm Jung Hwa, and it is characterized by a bright and exciting atmosphere that goes well with the summer season. High expectations are set on what Sandara Park's version of 'FESTIVAL' will be like.

Hyolyn and Soyou, who have established themselves as "summer icons" through their SISTAR activities, are also preparing to return. Hyolyn is making a comeback about a year after releasing her third mini-album 'iCE' in July last year. The new song is described as fresh as a midsummer shower, and it portrays the youthfulness of youth in Hyolyn's own color. A hot, rising musician is known to be featuring in the song, raising the anticipation further. This time, instead of emphasizing performance and singing skills, the focus is on creating a song that anyone can enjoy easily and refreshingly in a relaxed atmosphere. Soyou, who released the digital single 'We walk towards breakup every day' with deep emotion in April, is making a swift comeback in just three months. Particularly, as this is her first album in about a year and three months since the release of her first mini-album 'Day & Night' in April last year, the anticipation is high. Soyou is said to be pouring her heart and soul into the final preparations for the album to meet the expectations.

Jungkook of the world-famous group BTS is officially launching his solo activities by releasing the digital single 'Seven' on the 14th. 'Seven' is a summer song that exudes the atmosphere of summer with its lively melody, showcasing Jungkook's charm. Jungkook stated, "I hope it adds more joy to your summer," heightening the anticipation for the new song.

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