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PHOTOS Brutal April? Big K-pop names set to return in droves

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By Dong Sun-hwa
  • Published Mar 27, 2019 4:56 pm KST
  • Updated Mar 27, 2019 5:16 pm KST

By Dong Sun-hwa

April will be a month of cutthroat competition for K-pop stars. Several big names, such as BTS, BLACKPINK and TWICE, are set to return next month.

1. BTS

BTS will return on Apr. 12. Courtesy of Big Hit Entertainment

K-pop heavyweight BTS will return with the fresh album “MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA” on Apr. 12. The team will stage a comeback gig on Apr. 13 (local time) on “Saturday Night Live (SNL),” a popular U.S. comedy showcase. The host of the episode will be Hollywood actress Emma Stone.

The seven-piece boy band has already had over 2.6 million preorders, according to the album's distributor, iRiver.

BTS dropped its third repackaged album, “LOVE YOURSELF 'ANSWER,'” in August, which reigned atop the Billboard 200 Chart. The group will embark on a world tour on May 4.

2. BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK will release its “KILL THIS LOVE” album on Apr. 5. Courtesy of YG Entertainment

BLACKPINK, a four-member girl group represented by scandal-hit YG Entertainment, will return on Apr. 5 with the album “KILL THIS LOVE.”

YG has already disclosed teaser photos of three members, Lisa, Jennie and Jisoo.

All eyes are on its comeback because the agency has been under fire for a sex, drug and corruption scandal implicating former YG star Seungri from K-pop act BIGBANG. The agency's founder, Yang Hyun-suk, also is suspected of tax evasion. But the scandal will not hinder the group's comeback.

The team debuted in 2016 with "Square One." It shot to fame with "Whistle" and "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du."

3. TWICE

TWICE's new album will hit shelves in April. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

Although not much is known yet, the nine-piece K-pop girl band TWICE has also been sharpening up for a comeback next month.

The members reportedly filmed a music video in February and are putting the final touches to the album.

The group recently began its first “dome tour,” on which it will hold gigs in dome-covered stadiums in three Japanese cities ― Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya. Some 210,000 people are expected to attend the performances.

TWICE, the flagship band of JYP Entertainment, debuted in 2015. It was propelled to stardom with smash-hit numbers including "Cheer Up" and "Knock Knock."