NewJeans' 'How Sweet' Double Single Breaks Melon Records in First Hour!
In just over an hour after its release, NewJeans' comeback has already made history!
Despite the ongoing tension between their management label ADOR and parent company HYBE Labels, NewJeans dropped their double single 'How Sweet' as scheduled on May 24 at 1 PM KST / 12 AM EST.
And guess what? Within the first hour, the double single drew in a whopping 37,069 unique listeners on Melon, breaking records for the most listeners in the first hour of any music release in 2024!
Not just that, their main track "How Sweet" stormed onto Melon's 'Top 100' chart at #7 by 2 PM KST, with the second track "Bubble Gum" following closely behind at #14.
Exciting news doesn't stop there! Fans can catch the MV for "How Sweet" premiering on May 24 at 4 PM KST / 3 AM EST.
Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series
The new OTT series Newtopiahas faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.
Released on the 7th, Newtopiaon Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.
The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.
Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.
Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”
Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.
The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopiaalso struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopiaspent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.
On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.
Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.
The remaining six episodes of Newtopiawill air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!