‘Friday 2 PM’.

The new golden time for K-pop heading to the world has been set. It‘s Friday 2 PM, and on the 15th only, BTS Jin and ATEEZ will release new albums on the same day and at the same time, setting up a showdown between the ‘Billboard powerhouses’.

Jin will release his first solo album ‘Happy’ simultaneously worldwide at 2 PM on that day. ‘Happy’ contains the message of going on a journey to find happiness together. The album contains six tracks based on the band’s sound, including the title track ‘Running Wild’, ‘I‘ll Be There’, ‘Another Level’, ‘Until I Reach You’, ‘Heart on the Window’, ‘Longing For’.

ATEEZ will also release their 11th mini album ‘Golden Hour: Part 2’ on the same day and at the same time. This album is a follow-up album to their 10th mini album ‘Golden Hour: Part 1’ released in May, and contains ATEEZ’s own way of loving.

Unlike other K-pop groups who usually release music at 6 PM, they are drawing attention by releasing their music at 2 PM. The time is midnight ET in the United States, and it is interpreted that Jin and ATEEZ chose this time to target their global fandom.

Friday is also one of the important ‘global criteria’. This is because the US Billboard chart, which is considered a leading indicator of global pop music popularity, calculates album sales, streaming, etc. from every Friday to the following Thursday. Having previously experienced the top ranks of Billboard‘s main album chart ‘Billboard 200’, they secured favorable conditions for entering the rankings by setting Friday as ‘D-Day’.

Jin and ATEEZ, who are showing a strong will to advance globally, are also planning to heat up their overseas activities. Jin has already confirmed his appearance on the popular US NBC late-night talk show ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ (The Jimmy Fallon Show). He is scheduled to appear on the broadcast on the 21st local time and passionately sing the title song ‘Running Wild’ of ‘Happy’.

Another ‘global powerhouse’, girl group Twice, will also release a new album at 2 PM on Friday for a similar reason. They will be releasing their 14th mini-album ‘Strategy’ on December 6th at 2 PM. The title song of the same name features famous American rapper Megan Thee Stallion.



Reporter Yoo Ji-hye yjh0304@donga.com