Kpopcast: for the best sounds & ideas in Kpop

K-pop Valentines Songs, LALISA LABEL & WHITE LOUTUS S3, And K-pop terms you're using incorrectly

·1 hr 28 min·5 clips
A K-pop industry veteran joins a Valentine's Day battle to decide the best song titled 'Love' from groups like SES and Brown Eyed Girls.
This episode of K-popcast is a Valentine's Day special hosted by Peter and Mikayla, featuring guest Jason, who worked in the K-pop industry in Korea for 11 years. The main segment is a 'battle' where each host picks a K-pop song with 'Love' in the title: Jason chooses SES's 1999 song 'Love,' Peter selects Brown Eyed Girls' 'L.O.V.E,' and Mikayla opts for MIXX's 'Love is a Sudden.' Jason provides historical context, noting SES's album sold 760,475 copies in three days, a record held until Blackpink broke it in 2020, and shares a personal story about meeting SES member Bada at a fan event. The hosts debate the merits of each song, with Jason ultimately favoring MIXX's track. The episode then covers K-pop dance cover trends, with aespa's 'Drama' being the most covered song of the week. Jason presents a 'hot issue' about international fans using the term 'nugu group,' explaining its potentially negative connotations in Korean and suggesting alternatives like 'sumoon boksok group.' The hosts briefly discuss SM Entertainment's future, including plans for new groups and a British K-pop collaboration. Mikayla mentions J-June's YouTube show featuring Boys Next Door and dino nuggets. A 'Daebak or Not' segment rates new music videos, including ICHILLIN's 'Demigod' and P1Harmony's 'Killin' It,' which all hosts praise. They also discuss Young Posse's 'Young Posse Up' featuring Verbal Jint and Token, Ten's performance video, Lisa launching her company LLOUD, and a lawsuit involving actor Yoo Seung-ho and former trainee Han. News items include Lisa joining 'The White Lotus' Season 3, an 88 Rising gala, and Korean President Yoon pardoning figures involved in the Sewol ferry incident, which the hosts criticize. The episode ends with social media plugs and an invitation for listener feedback.

As heard by us

A Valentine's K-pop debate gets sharper when the panel digs into the language fans use for unfamiliar groups.

The K-pop panel uses a Valentine's Day setup as a way into a lively argument about what K-pop language carries with it. The contest starts with the question of which K-pop song called "Love" is best, then moves through Jason's pick of SES's slow 1990s pop song, with side talk…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play when you want a Valentine's K-pop battle over songs titled "Love," a nugu terminology debate, and opinions strong enough to make you unsubscribe.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on