Ren, formerly of NU’EST, will bring out his first solo album next month, according to a local media report on Thursday.

Agency Big Planet Made Entertainment confirmed the news following the report.

He debuted in 2012 as a member of the boy band, which disbanded last year, and has dropped a series of solo songs including “Loco” from last year as well as “Paradise” and “Rocket Rocket,” but it will be his first full-fledged effort as a solo musician.

The performer has been building up his career also in musicals, starring in a number of pieces such as “Hedwig” and “The Three Musketeers.” In November last year, he marked the tenth anniversary of his debut with a solo fan concert in Korea and Japan. He is set to appear in the drama “I Have Waited a Long Time for You” which will air in July.

Kim Wooseok to tour Asia for fan concerts

Singer and actor Kim Wooseok will greet fans in five cities across Asia, announced agency TOP Media on Thursday.

Starting in Seoul on May 27, he will visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Tokyo next month, before heading to Taipei and Bangkok, Thailand, in July, under the title “The Siren.”

Kim was part of project group X1, as the second finalist of audition program “ProduceX101,” and struck out on his own in April 2020. He released fourth EP “Blank Page” last month. He also starred as a male lead in six-part drama “Finland Papa” that aired the first episode last month.

Ive to roll out vinyl version of 1st full album

Ive will release a vinyl edition of its first studio album “I’ve Ive,” according to agency Starship Entertainment on Thursday.

The LP came out on April 10 and sold over 1.1 million copies in the first week, becoming its second million-selling album after third EP “After Like.”

Focus tracks “I Am” and “Kitsch” swept all major music charts at home and earned the group nine trophies combined on television music chart shows. Both songs are staying on Billboard’s Global 200 for fifth and sixth week, respectively. “Kitsch” was released in advance of the full release of the album.

Meanwhile, the quintet will drop its first album in Japan “Wave” on May 31.

DKZ’s Jonghyeong, Mingyu to form duo unit

Jonghyeon and Mingyu of boy band DKZ will launch a subunit, said agency Dongyo Entertainment on Thursday.

The pair will form duo Nine to Six and will bring out an album late this month, said the company, uploading a logo motion trailer showing a digital clock that runs from nine to six.

The two appeared in the drama “The Heavenly Idol” earlier this year as boy band Nine To Six. It will be the band’s second subunit following Dongkiz I:Kan from 2020, which consisted of Jaechan and Moonik.

The band debuted in 2019 with single “Dongkiz On The Block” and held its first fan concert in Seoul in mid-January. Last month, it released “Harmony,” a repack that chronicles its four-year music career in celebration of its debut anniversary.

By Hwang You-mee
(glamazon@heraldcorp.com)