Cover Here are the biggest news from the Korean entertainment industry this week (Photo: @follow_2PM/Twitter)

The last week of June is dominated by multiple comebacks and casting news. Find out more in our weekly Korean entertainment round-up

As June comes to a close, we also mark the first month since we started this weekly round-up of the biggest Korean entertainment news. We see 2PM's long-awaited comeback with Must, Loona returns with their fourth mini-album and SF9 with Turn Over. K-pop also continues to remain strong on the Billboard charts with BTS remaining at number one for the 5th week but Twice, TXT and Seventeen are also setting their own records.

In the K-drama world, a lot of casting offers have been reported from Girls' Generation's Tiffany Young and Seohyun, Go Ah-sung and Im Si-wan and Son Ye-jin. We also covered Seulgi and Enhypen being new fashion brand ambassadors this week.

Find all that and more in this week's round-up of the biggest Korean entertainment news.

Missed last week's summary? You can read it here.

See also: "Nevertheless": 5 Reasons To Watch The New K-Drama

Girls' Generation's Taeyeon to release "Weekend" in July

Last week, we shared the announcement that Girls' Generation's Taeyeon will be making a solo comeback. The new single is titled, Weekend and will be released on July 6 at 6:00 pm KST.

Weekend will be the songstress's newest song following her fourth mini-album, What Do I Call You in December 2020. If you can't wait until July 6, you can catch Taeyeon on Taemin's If I Could Tell You or in the tvN variety show, Amazing Saturday.

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2PM makes stunning comeback with "Must"

Last week, we also shared the news that 2PM is finally making their long-awaited comeback after five years.

On June 28, the group returns with a more mature sound with their seventh album, Must. The comeback marks the first return by a second-generation group following a five-year hiatus. It's also the first time in years that six members are all together.

"It’s our first album we’re dropping in our 30s. While we had been taking on diverse concepts in our 20s, coming from the overflowing energy and youth, this album was about showing what we can do at this age," said Taecyeon in the press conference of the album release.

See also: Exclusive: "Vincenzo" Star Song Joong-ki Talks To Tatler About The Netflix Hit

BTS' "Butter" at #1 for 5th week, new concept photos and collab with Ed Sheeran

It's been a busy few months since BTS released their summer smash hit, Butter which is spending its fifth week at number one in the Billboard Hot100 chart. This fear broke the 23-year record by Aerosmith's I Don't Want To Miss A Thing and is currently the longest-running song that has debuted at number one for a group.

For the release of their Butter CD version, the group also revealed three different concept photos: the first concept photo shows the group in a breakroom with snacks, games and books while the second set shows them with mugshot nameplates similar to a part in Butter. The third concept is in a gas station dressed in denim and the latest concept photos are on a beach.

Speaking of the Butter CD version releasing on July 9, there will be a brand new track included which was co-written by Ed Sheeran called Permission to Dance. "BTS...I’ve just written a song for their new record. And they’re like super, super cool guys as well," Sheeran accidentally spoiled on Most Requested Live. 

See also: The Best BTS Gender-Defying Fashion Moments

New boy group, Just B makes their debut

Just B, a new six-member group under Bluedot Entertainment made its debut on June 30. The group is made up of six participants from two survival shows—Under Nineteen and I-Land participants—and comprises of Geonu, Bain, Lim, Jimin, JM, DY and Sangwoo.

Their debut EP, Just Burn consists of five tracks with rapper and song-writer Bang Yong-guk of B.A.P. producing the title track, Damage.

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Loona returns with 4th mini-album and Japanese debut date

Girl group Loona makes a return with their fourth mini-album, [&] which is also their first comeback with all 12 members following leader and vocalist Haseul's hiatus.

The new mini-album is a follow-up to [12:00] which was released last October and includes the group's title track PPT (Paint the Town) as well as an English song, Dance On My Own—the group's second English track after Star.

Other than the mini-album, Loona also announced that they will be making their Japanese debut on September 15. To accompany the announcement, the group released a Japanese version of PPT alongside a special clip taken at the teamLab Borderless museum in Japan.

SF9 reveals tracklist for upcoming mini-album

SF9 first released a teaser for their ninth mini-album, Turn Over on June 21 and on the following day, shared a poster for the title track, Tear Drop.

The next day, they released a teaser schedule written in runes. On June 26, jacket posters for the new album were revealed with the tracklist unveiled on June 28. Members Zuho and Hwiyoung worked on the lyrics for every song on the album while Youngbin did the except minus Love Again. Chani also wrote the lyrics for Off My Mind, Fanatic and Believer.

The most recent update is a music video teaser for the title track, released on June 30.

Super Junior's Kyuhyun release MV teaser for "Together"

Super Junior's Kyuhun reveals a new music video teaser for his upcoming solo summer single, Together as part of his ongoing project series, 2021 Project : 季 where he releases a song corresponding to each season.

Together is composed and written by Kenzie while the music video stars Chae Soo-bin and Gong Myung. It's slated to release on July 5.

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Twice, TXT, Seventeen going strong on the Billboard charts

Twice's Taste of Love debuted on the Billboard Top 200 Album charts at number six—a historic feat as it becomes the first mini-album by any K-pop female act to ever do so. They also swept the number one on three Billboard charts last week.

This week, Taste of Love spends its second week on Billboard 200 chart, making it Twice's the longest-charting album and it's at number two on the World Albums chart, number three at Top Album Sales chart and Top Current Album Sales. Their title track, Alcohol-Free is at number 10 on the World Digital Song Sales chart.

Twice is also set to release their full English digital single on a Friday in September. Teasing, "more to come, stay tuned for Twice" on their Twitter.

Similarly, TXT's The Chaos Chapter: Freeze is also remaining strong on the Billboard charts, becoming the first K-pop album this year to spend three weeks on Billboard 200 after its number five debut at the Top 200 Albums chart earlier in June.

Three of the songs in the album also maintained their charting on the World Digital Songs Sales chart, 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) is at number 14, their English track Magic is at number 15 and their B-side Anti-Romantic is at number 21.

Seventeen also landed their first number one at the Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with Your Choice: 8th Mini Album. The 13-member act's latest album release also debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 charts. It also smashed the group's own first-day sales record and setting Korea's first-week album sales record in 2021.

Bang Si-hyk to step down as Hybe Corporation's CEO

Bang Si-hyuk—the founder of Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), the parent company of BTS' label, Big Hit Music—is stepping down as the company's CEO to focus on music production. Bang will remain as chairman of Hybe.

Bang will be replaced by Park Ji-won, the former CEO of Nexon Korea. He also handled Hybe's restructuring last Month as HQ CEO. Meanwhile, global CEO Lenzo Yoon will be Hybe America's CEO, the American subsidiary with Scooter Braun.

Hybe is also kicking off in Japan with Hybe Japan and will be led by Han Hyun-rock as CEO.

See also: Bang Si-Hyuk, Founder Of BTS' Label, Makes His Debut On Forbes Korea's Richest List 2021

An aespa universe may be in the works

SM Entertainment founder Lee Soo-man hints that a Hollywood film based on K-pop girl group aespa's universe may be in the works. "We are currently being contacted by people from Hollywood to create movies together," he said during SM Congress 2021.

In May, SM Entertainment released the first episode of the SMCU which featured aespa and their virtual counterparts, set in Kwangya, a virtual world where the avatars live. The group has made references to Kwangya in their lyrics and music videos.

Lee also called about CAWMAN (cartoon, animation, webtoon, motion graphics, avatar and novel), a new genre that comprises all the contents and mediums produced by the entertainment agency. "We will be creating episodes centred around the aespa universe through CAWMAN", he said.

See also: K-Pop Girl Group Aespa Is The New Face Of Givenchy

Son Ye-jin's next project is confirmed

Son Ye-jin's agency, MSTeam Entertainment has confirmed that the actress is starring in a new drama.

"Son Ye-jin has decided on the upcoming JTBC drama 39 as her next project. This will be her first return to JTBC in three years following the drama Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food (also known as Something in the Rain), they said in a statement.

The 12-episode drama will follow the romance and everyday lives of three friends, who are about to turn 40. Son is set to play Cha Mi-jo, a wealthy woman with everything she could ask for. She's also the head dermatologist of a clinic in Gangnam.

While other cast members haven't been confirmed, Jeon Mi-do, Ahn So-hee, Yeon Woo-jin and Lee Moo-seong are currently in talks to star alongside Son. The drama is set to start filming in August and will be directed by Run On's Kim Sang-ho and penned by Encounter's Yoo Young-Ah.

See also: Son Ye-Jin Of "Crash Landing On You" Her Most Fashionable Looks

Kim Hee-Ae and Moon So-ri in talks to lead new drama

Top K-drama actresses Kim Hee-ae and Moon So-ri may be starring in a new drama soon. A source revealed to Sports Chosun that both Kim and Moon are in talks to star in Queen Maker, a drama about two women who used to live contrasting lifestyles but joined forces to create a just world.

Kim is reported to play Hwang Do-hee, a career woman who's the best in what she does. She's the leader of the strategic planning office at Eunsung Group, the third-best domestic business in the country.

Meanwhile, Moon is reported to portray Oh Seung-sook, a labour rights lawyer and a self-proclaimed Korean Lady of Justice. Seeking a better world, the two join forces to make Oh the mayor of Seoul.

See also: 30 New Must-Watch Korean Dramas In 2021

Girls' Generation's Tiffany Young and Seohyun in talks for new dramas

It's been floating for a while now that Vincenzo star Song Joong-ki is in talks to start in Chaebol Family's Youngest Son. Now, Girls' Generation member Tiffany Young is reportedly also in talks to star alongside Song, and should she accept the offer, this marks her small screen debut.

It's reported that cable network JTBC offered the role to Young to play a Korean who was raised overseas.

The drama is based on the eponymous website about Hyunwoo, who's thought to be murdered after being accused of embezzlement. He eventually returns as Dojoon, the youngest son of a chaebol family and seeks revenge.

See also: Vincenzo: All The Watches Worn By Song Joong-Ki

Fellow Girls' Generation member Seohyun is also in talks for a new fantasy drama. Titled The Jinx's Lover, Seohyun is offered the role of Lee Seul-bi, the goddess of fortune. Should she accept the offer, she will star alongside rising actor Na In-woo.

The fantasy drama follows Gong Soo-kwang, a poor unlucky man who meets the goddess of fortune who was hidden away by a rich family. Director Yoon Sang-ho who worked with Na in River Where the Moon Rises will be helming the drama while film writer Jang Yoo-mi will be writing it.

Seohyun is also set to star alongside Eternals' Ma Dong-seok in a new film, The Holy Night: Demon Hunters. Ma will also be producing the occult action film, which is about demon hunters called "Holy Night" who hunt and fights evil spirits.

See also: 10 New Netflix Shows And Movies To Watch In July 2021

Lee Kwang-soo may be making his K-drama comeback

Following his departure from Running Man, it seems Lee Kwang-soo may be starring in a new drama soon. His agency, King Kong by Starship confirmed that the "Lee Kwang Soo is currently in talks to appear in the new drama Murderer’s Shopping List, and the outlook is favourable".

The thriller is based on a novel of the same name and will be about the various crimes and situations that happen in an ordinary neighbourhood.

Lee is offered the role of Ahn Dae-sung, a supermarket cashier who possess an extraordinary memory. He's also someone who doesn't run away in the face of injustice. If Lee accepts the role, this will mark his comeback to the small screen following 2018's Live.

See also: "The 8th Night": 5 Reasons To Watch Netflix's New Korean Horror Movie

Go Ah-sung And Im Si-wan in talks for a new drama

Another potential casting news to wrap the week! It's reported that Go Ah-sung is in talks for a leading role in Tracer alongside ZE:A's Im Si-wan who also received a casting offer.

This revenge drama talks place in the National Tax Service, Hwang Dong-joo (Im) is the new team member of the Seoul Regional Office's Investigation Bureau. It's not revealed what role Go has been offered to play but Son Hyun-joo has been offered In Tae-joon's role, a commissioner of the Seoul Regional Office.

In similar news, Im also finished filming his upcoming thriller movie Stolen Identity opposite Chun Woo-hee. This new movie, based on a Japanese bestselling novel, follows a company employee, Na In (Chun) after she loses her smartphone which contains all her personal information. Im will play a cellphone technician.

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