IU and G-Dragon. Image: EDAM Entertainment, Galaxy Corp. via The Korea Herald
Legendary soloists are returning with new albums for the new year.
Singer-songwriter IU is set to drop her first new album in two years. She has been focusing on her acting career since releasing special mini album “Pieces” in December 2021, but confirmed her return as a singer this year.
Appearing on BTS bandmate Suga’s YouTube talk show “Suchwita” last Dec. 26, IU said she will hold her first overseas concert tour in four years, since the “Love, Poem” tour in 2019. Through her personal YouTube channel, IU said she will be leaving the country in January to finish her new album. She had already filmed the new song’s music video with V of BTS.
IU, who debuted 16 years ago, became the first K-pop female solo artist to hold a standalone gig at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium, one of the nation’s biggest concert venues. She is also currently filming Netflix series “You Have Done Well.”
G-Dragon, who was recently vindicated of allegations involving illegal drug use, founded an agency and officially confirmed his return.
G-Dragon has not released a new album since his second mini album, “Kwon Ji Yong,” in 2017 due to various controversies surrounding his group Big Bang and his military service. As of the end of last year, all his Big Bang bandmates have also left YG Entertainment.
G-Dragon’s new agency, Galaxy Corp., held a press conference on Dec. 21, 2023, and announced the artist’s plan to establish an anti-drug foundation—JusPeace Foundation—as well as his comeback to the music scene.
“I will make a comeback to fulfill my responsibilities as an artist as well as my social responsibilities,” said G-Dragon through a statement issued at the press conference.
Cho Yong-pil. Image: Insight Entertainment via The Korea Herald
Meanwhile, Korean legend Cho Yong-pil will return with his 20th full-length album. For Cho, also widely known as “Gawang”—the king of pop music in Korean—2024 will mark 56 years since his debut. Originally, the 20th full-length album was scheduled to be released in 2023 to mark the 55th anniversary, but it is said to have been delayed due to his efforts to make the perfect album.
Prior to the 20th full-length album, Cho Yong-pil released two preview albums in the last couple years, “Road to 20 – Prelude 1” and “Road to 20 – Prelude 2,” in November 2022 and April 2023, respectively. He also held large concerts at Seoul Olympic Stadium and the KSPO Dome last year. AP