Welcome to another edition of SB Week in Review! The year is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the K-pop world is slowing down. With that in mind, here’s all the news you might have missed this week.

Headlines

  • Following all the Running Man drama — and the show’s eventual planned ending — last week, ousted cast members Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-guk plan to donate all their income from the final episodes to charity.

Debuts & Comebacks

  • Check out our playlist of this week’s releases above!
  • Exo dropped their third special winter album For Life on January 19. What can you make of the MV?
  • Block B‘s Park Kyung brought back “Ogeul Ogeul.”
  • Former Kara member, Han Seung-yeon asked “Do You Remember?” in her latest solo MV.
  • Junsu (JYJ) collaborated with HIGHGRND and The Black Skirts for “Cake Love.”
  • NCT 127 released the long awaited MV for “Switch.” The track was originally featured on their debut album this past July.
  • SF9 shared the special holiday MV for “So Beautiful.”
  • Can’t get enough of the new co-ed group K.A.R.D? Here’s a dance version for their debut track “Oh Na Na.”
  • Seventeen also dropped the dance version of their latest hit “Boom Boom.” Their choreography never disappoints.
  • Our SM Station track this week is the seasonal “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” featuring Red Velvet‘s Wendy.

Teasers & Announcements

  • Uhm Jung-hwa literally sparkles in her recent teasers for The Cloud Dream of the Nine. Her 10th studio album will consist of nine tracks, each conveyed in a different teaser image snippet.
  • New rookie group Varsity released their first set of member teasers. The “global” group plans to debut on January 3 with Bullet. 
  • Following the project group’s disbandment, I.O.I.‘s Kim Chung-ha will debut as a soloist under M&H Entertianment.
  • AOA will come back after the new year with their first full album, Angel’s Knock.
  • We can also anticipate the return of Sonamoo in January.
  • Shinwha are keeping the releases coming. The first group teaser for 13th Unchanging – Touch is set for release on January 2.
  • Speaking of legends, Rain will also make his much anticipated comeback on January 15.
  • Cosmic Girls are gearing up for “Tell Me Why” due out January 3.
  • April will return with two new members for Prelude on January 4.
  • Vixx will wish fans a Happy VIXX-mas with two special holiday gifts.
  • Pledis Girlz will finally debut next year.
  • The Eric Nam x Tablo x Gallant collab is official. Both Eric Nam and W Magazine teased “Cave Me In” on social media.

Other News

  • The lineups are progressively being released for this year’s Gayo broadcasts. We can anticipate a producer collaboration at the SBS Gayo Daejun featuring Lee Soo-man, Teddy, JYP, Yoo Jong-shin. MBC is planning on a time-slip concept that will feature performances from veterans Yoo Jong-Jin. Turbo and S.E.S. alongside all this year’s biggest acts. Shinhwa will showcase their first end of the year music show performance in nearly a decade at the KBS Gayo Daejun. Which Gayo festival/performance are you most looking forward to?
  • Former Rainbow member Kim Jae-kyung plans to start afresh as an actress under Namoo Actors.
  • EXID‘s Solji will be taking a hiatus in order to deal with her hypothyroidism. We wish her all the best. EXID also released a Chinese version of “Cream.”
  • Super Junior‘s Shindong has completed his military service. Welcome back!

(Naver: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10], SBS, Osen, Twitter. Images via: Starship Entertainment, DSP, Yedang Entertainment.)