Kim Hyun Joong has released album jacket photos for his first Japanese debut single, “KISS KISS/Lucky Guy“!
Divided into three color concepts — white, green, and red — the photos bring out his powerful charisma. His debut single will include his title track, “Kiss Kiss“, and “Break Down“, “U“, and his DATV charity theme song for “Miso Project“.
He previously topped the imported album chart on the Oricon with his two Korean mini-albums already so his Japanese debut is expected to climb to success in no time.
There’s already a ‘Kim Hyun Joong’ syndrome going on in Japan thanks to his Japanese nationwide tour back in November.
Key East Entertainment stated, “Kim Hyun Joong has been actively conversing with his fans prior to his debut through showcase events and tours, which has helped a lot in forming the fanbase he has now. He’ll be undergoing an image change different to his Korean promotions so fans can look forward to new things.”
The album single will be released on January 25th, which will be followed by his ‘Premium Live 2012‘ on February 5th, an album release event that will see 20,000 fans.
Kim Hyun Joong, IU and 2AM were chosen as the most anticipated K-Pop stars for 2012 in Japan.
The Yomiuri, one of Japan’s prominent daily newspapers, featured brief introductions of IU, Kim Hyun Joong and 2AM on January 1, writing,‘Although in 2011, many dance groups appealed, the types of Korean singers to debut in 2012 are of a different kind. There will be a lot to look forward to.’
About IU, it reported, ‘She’s called the Nation’s little sister in Korea, and the mini album she released at the end of [2011] is of a different feel from previous K-Pop pieces, with mellow songs featuring strings and piano melodies.’
IU released her first mini album, IU, in Japan on December 14, and on the day of its release, managed to rank no. 7 on the Oricon Daily Album Chart. The album is comprised entirely of IU’s Korean hits, which makes her appearance on the top ranks of the chart all the more surprising.
About Kim Hyun Joong, who rose as a new hallyu star with the Korean drama Boys over Flowers, the Yomiuri expressed the expectations it held toward his activities by saying that ‘the imported version [of Boys over Flowers] was a bit hit in Japan, also’.
As for 2AM, which will be making its debut in Japan with a single album titled Never Let You Go on January 10, the paper said, ‘The group is one that appeals with its music, and you must listen for the members’ beautiful harmonies.’
2AM’s single album Never Let You Go showed it was off to a good start by rising to the top of Tower Records’ online advance sales chart on January 4. The group also sold out tickets to its Japan tour concert in just 10 minutes after it opened on January 17.
Never Let You Go contains three songs, including the Japanese versions of Even If I Die, I Can’t Send You and I’m Sorry I Can’t Laugh for You.
Old favorites and newcomers alike, K-Pop does seem to be off to a great start again in the world.