Top male singers, bands return to stage

A promotional teaser image of Rain for his new album that will be released Jan. 15. / Courtesy of Rain Company

From Rain to Shinhwa to NCT 127, ‘boys’ come back

By Kim Ji-soo

Top male singers and bands are returning to the domestic music scene alongside those to watch.

The winter months of December and January are not the optimal time for comebacks or new albums for singers. But considering the depressing political and economic news in Korea, several singers could not have chosen a better time.

At the forefront is the news of K-pop star and actor Rain’s return. Since his sixth album “Rain Effect” was released in 2014, Rain has been out of the music spotlight in Korea and has concentrated on acting.

The 34-year-old will release a new album, Jan. 15. Rain has been stepping up his promotional activities for this album. He has been filming guest appearances on entertainment programs such as “Flower Travel Crew” that will air on SBS, Jan. 8 and 15. He will also appear on the music show “Yoo Hee-yeol’s Sketchbook” on KBS in the second week of January.

Much about his album was kept under wraps in the last week of 2016, but it is expected by many to demonstrate the quality music and videos of the singer known for such hits as “Bad Guy,” “How to Avoid the Sun,” “Rainism” and “La Song.”

Rain is also expected to introduce a collaboration with singer Psy, which is expected to be a ballad, one reportedly given to him by Psy. To that effect, Rain made another guest appearance at Psy’s signature year-end concert held Dec. 24 for the second straight year and announced the collaboration. At last and this year’s guest appearances, Rain alluded to his girlfriend, actress Kim Tae-hee, saying that he had many obligations on Christmas Eve. Rain and Kim have been dating for several years now.

Since parting ways with Cube Entertainment in 2015, Rain has set up his one-man agency Rain Company. Aside from conducting his “The Squall Tour,” fans saw him in the Korean drama “Please Come Back Mister” (2015) and the Chinese drama “Endless August” in 2016. When acting, Rain goes by his real name Jung Ji-hoon.

Veteran K-pop male band Shinhwa will put forth its 13th album Jan. 2. / Courtesy of Shinhwa Company

Fans who enjoyed Eric’s role in “Three Meals a Day: Fishing Village 3” may have heard that the veteran boy band, Shinhwa, will also return. The band will release their 13th album titled “Unchanging. Touch.” The six members — Eric, Min-woo, Dong-wan, Andy, Hye-sung and Jun Jin — have steadily demonstrated their staying power since debuting in 1998. The band’s newest album will be released Jan. 2. The members have combined five songs from the first part of a mini-album released in November and five new songs.

Another top singer/actor Seo In-guk is also back.

Seo, who this year focused on small screen appearances in the popular dramas — the “38 Revenue Collection Unit” and “Shopaholic Louis,” has released his sixth digital single “Bebe.” The new release follows another single, the slow, soft balladic “Seasons of the Heart” in March. Seo participated in writing the lyrics and the music for the new single that is sexy and funky. The song marks a slight departure from ballads that the winner of the first season of the audition program “Super Star K” has mostly released.

Rookie idol group NCT 127 will return with the addition of two new members Jan.9. / Courtesy of SM Entertainment

Ravi of the six-member boy-band Vixx will release a solo album on Jan. 9 titled “R.ealize.”

Super rookie boy band NCT 127 will also reveal its new album "Limitless" on Jan.6 through digital sites. The physical album will drop on Jan. 9.

The Seoul-based unit of the NCT will feature members Taeyong, Taeil, Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Mark and Haechan with the addition of two new members — Johnny and Doyoung. NCT 127 is part of the NCT (Neo Culture Technology) Project initiated by SM Entertainment. It is a novel idea where the band will have a limitless number of members so that they can operate as subunits in cities across the world. To date, there has been NCT U, NCT 127 and NCT Dream, which all debuted in 2016. Further subunits are expected to play in Tokyo, Shanghai and other cities throughout the world.