• RIIZE Wraps Up Successful Pop-Up Store for 'RIIZING' Album Release

    RIIZE has concluded a highly successful pop-up store event celebrating the launch of their first mini album, 'RIIZING'.

    Spanning about 330 square meters, the pop-up store was located at Starfield Suwon's Tower Atrium and Grand Atrium from the 14th to the 23rd of this month.

    It drew an impressive average of over 2,000 visitors daily, with fans lining up as early as 10 a.m. to experience RIIZE's immersive pop-up experience.

    The store featured various zones, including a listening area where visitors could enjoy tracks from the album, including the title track 'Boom Boom Bass', and hear member narrations before the official release. A special LP album event on the 5th floor allowed fans to enjoy the album through turntables, creating a lot of excitement.

    RIIZE members personally visited the pop-up store on opening day to interact with fans, leaving behind signatures, heartfelt messages, and drawings.

    A fan sign event held on the 19th also attracted a large crowd, with attendees filling up to the 5th floor of the mall.

    According to Hanteo Chart data on the 24th, 'RIIZING', released on the 17th, achieved remarkable initial sales of 1,255,015 copies.

    This marks RIIZE's second consecutive million-seller title, following their single album 'Get A Guitar' released in September 2023.

    The success of RIIZE's pop-up store not only underscores their popularity but also their strong connection with fans, setting a new milestone in their career.

    Stay tuned for more exciting updates from RIIZE!

    Source [1]

  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has 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, Newtopia on 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. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent 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 Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

    Source (1)