As the February chill eases, this week in K-pop is already heating up. From artists saying a short goodbye before a hiatus to idol groups returning with heavy-hitting sounds and the comeback of solo acts, fans are in for a packed, high-impact week.
First up, project group ZEROBASEONE are gearing up for a grand finale before wrapping up full-group activities. Jeong Dong-won, who is set to enlist in the Marine Corps, returns with a calmer, more mature sound that is sure to catch listeners' attention.
Adding to the excitement, ATEEZ, who have steadily grown their global footprint, join the lineup, sending K-pop listeners' expectations soaring.
◆ ZEROBASEONE condense their 2 years and 6 months — special album 'REFLOW' dropped on the 2nd
ZEROBASEONE have released the special limited album 'REFLOW,' a project that distills their 2 years and 6 months of story.
With just one month left before their full-group promotions end, ZEROBASEONE dropped the new album at 6 p.m. on the 2nd via major music platforms, turning the emotions and moments they've collected since debut into music. The album ties past, present, and the road ahead into one continuous flow.
The album features three tracks: the pre-release 'Running To Future,' a pop-leaning, sentimental melody that captures messages the nine members want to share with each other; 'ROSES,' a heartfelt dedication to their fandom, ZEROSE; and the new title 'LOVEPOCALYPSE.' 'LOVEPOCALYPSE' is a drum and bass track that expands on the emotional line of their debut single 'In Bloom' with greater maturity, painting a powerful portrait of youth where anxiety and brilliance coexist.
Centered on the message, "Even if the world collapses, as long as we're with our fans, any ending is fine," 'LOVEPOCALYPSE' delivers the group's collective story most dramatically — a tale of holding each other up and growing together.
ZEROBASEONE will hold their world tour 'Here and Now Encore' at the KSPO Dome in Seoul from March 13 to 15, and before that, they will meet global fans at K-Arena Yokohama in Japan on the 18th and 19th.
◆ Former Super Junior member Sungmin takes his first step as a singer-songwriter — drops 'UNLIMIT'
Singer Sungmin, formerly of Super Junior, has officially stepped forward as a singer-songwriter.
On the 2nd, Sungmin released his new digital single 'UNLIMIT.' Through 'UNLIMIT,' he channels his determination to break free from genre limitations and unfold his own diverse charms without borders. The single marks his first attempt at presenting the most authentically Sungmin sound with no constraints.
The title track 'Godsaeng' carries a message wishing that each person's life becomes a happy and meaningful journey. Using the trendy Korean slang for a "well-lived life" as its title, the song offers warm encouragement to those pacing themselves and running their own race. Sungmin took part in writing, composing, and arranging the track, clearly showcasing his abilities as a singer-songwriter.
The double title 'Under the Starlight' reinterprets the signature vibe of the 1990s for today. It's a retro dance track blending a funky rhythm with an accessible melody, capturing both Sungmin's gentle sensitivity and explosive vocals.
◆ BLITZERS' SYA drops his first full-length '23:24' on the 3rd — a raw record of growth
SYA of BLITZERS has arrived to meet fans with his first studio album.
SYA released the album '23:24' on the 3rd. Contrasting his emotions and thoughts at ages 23 and 24, he documents his most honest moments. Like 23 vs. 24, or 23:24 right before the day ends, the album captures an inner current that has crossed the border between collapse and recovery.
The first half starts from the perspective of 23. Songs like 'Landfill Zone,' 'DONE,' 'BURN,' and 'STAY' convey the resentment, frustration, and sense of loss felt in the face of harsh realities like money amid anxieties about work and home, and doubts about jobs and dreams. In gritty, direct language, he lays bare the feelings from a time when, despite the flashy idol exterior, it felt like his dreams were being discarded.
From the 'skit' onward, the gaze shifts to age 24. Realizing that money isn't everything, gratitude for simply being able to make music and the emotions of breathing again fill the second half. From '235803' featuring fellow member Wooju to 'Right Back' and 'Actually,' the arc of recognition and recovery — "Still, I am living on" — completes '23:24' as a record of growth.
◆ Virtual idols SKINS gear up for a comeback with 'WHY U MAD' — out on the 4th
Virtual idol group Skins have entered the final countdown to their comeback with the pre-release from their first mini album, 'WHY U MAD.'
Following a mood sampler on the 31st of last month, they unveiled a music video teaser at noon on the 2nd, teasing a rougher, upgraded sonic world. 'WHY U MAD' drops on the 4th (today).
The teaser hinted at massive scale with a mega-crew performance featuring a large team of dancers. Pushing a wilder concept than before, the visuals leave a strong impression. Notably, Skins are slated to be the first virtual artists to showcase a mega-crew performance in a music video, raising expectations for a main video that fuses powerful choreography with high-quality cinematography.
The mood sampler also amped up tension with a scene of a 'WHY U MAD' logo statue rising from a sandstorm, followed by sequential concept photos that grabbed attention with bold visuals. First revealed at the '2025 SBS Gayo Daejeon,' 'WHY U MAD' opens the first mini album and signals a new chapter for the group.
◆ Jeong Dong-won, set to enlist in the Marine Corps, drops remake album 'Small Pieces Vol.2' — out on the 5th
Jeong Dong-won will release new music ahead of his Marine Corps enlistment.
On the 5th, he will drop the remake project album 'Small Pieces Vol.2,' the second installment following 2023's 'Small Pieces Vol.1,' reimagining era-defining classics through his signature sensibility and interpretation. This is his first new release in about a year since the March 2024 studio album 'A Tall Man's Gift.'
The new album showcases a more mature vocal tone and emotional depth. According to his agency ShowPlay Entertainment, his emotional textures are calmer than before, while his song interpretations have grown deeper. The double title includes the new track 'Crossing Today to Meet Again Tomorrow' and a remake of Byeon Jin-sub's classic 'Again To You,' alongside cuts spanning generations such as Jo Hang-jo's 'Lie,' Kim Kwang-seok's 'A Letter from a Private,' and Kim Jung-su's 'You.' In particular, singing 'A Letter from a Private' right before enlistment, he is set to deliver the song's meaning with restrained, understated emotion.
Jeong Dong-won will enlist in the Marine Corps on the 23rd, shortly after graduating high school.
◆ Global icons ATEEZ — 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.4' lands on the 6th
ATEEZ cranked up comeback hype by dropping images that hint at the new track's vibe.
On the 3rd, their agency KQ Entertainment revealed the music video poster for the title track 'Adrenaline' from ATEEZ's 13th mini album, 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.4,' via official social media.
The poster shows lights washing over a stage as a massive crowd fills the space, immediately catching the eye. The title 'Adrenaline' and the release date and time are also noted, ramping up anticipation.
The title track 'Adrenaline' from the 13th mini album packs ATEEZ's explosive energy, like an engine revving to burst. Members Hongjoong and Mingi participated in writing the lyrics, infusing the song with the group's distinct musical color and emotion. All eyes are on what kind of performance and stage will ignite that energy.
The previously released music video trailer left a strong impression with imagery of a train racing through a sandstorm across a vast desert, and it shot to No. 1 on YouTube's Music Video Trending Worldwide and No. 2 on Video Trending Worldwide, drawing a fiery response from global fans.
ATEEZ's 13th mini album 'GOLDEN HOUR: Part.4' drops at 2 p.m. on the 6th via major online music platforms.