- The arrangement is in order of release date based on the albums released from January 1st to December 13th-

♦ EPEX‘s 1st full-length album [소화(韶華) 1st Album: Youth]: Painkiller

- A song with a pretty heart. ‘Painkiller’ is a love song presented by EPEX in these days when dopamine needs to burst to get attention. It starts off as if speaking softly and ends with a magnificent chorus, keeping you listening until the end of the song.

♦ ONEWE’s 3rd mini album [Planet Nine: ISOTROPY]: A Midsummer Night‘s Meteor Shower, Kiss in the Rain

- If you miss romance. The emotional band ONEWE sang of romance with ‘A Midsummer Night’s Meteor Shower’ and ‘Kiss in the Rain’. The piano line that repeats ascending and descending, and the guitar solo express the splendor of a meteor shower, and the jazzy piano chords add warmth to the falling rain.
♦ Fantasy Boys 3rd Mini Album [MAKE SUNSHINE]: I didn‘t know if it was my first love or a fleeting emotion

- Peak freshness. How could I pass up the easy melody that you remember after hearing it once, the uptempo that makes you feel good, and the determined boyishness?

♦ AKMU 3rd Mini Album [LOVE EPISODE]: Long-D, Cake’s Peace

- For the ‘peace’ of the playlist. AKMU‘s love is lonely, sad, and yet fuzzy. The siblings’ vocals, like comfortable ASMR, will let you experience paradise.

♦ Woowa! 2nd Mini Album [UNFRAMED] : POLAROID

- Sincerity was conveyed. This song embodies the abstract expression of singing while pressing down on one‘s sincerity. Listen to Woowa’s ‘Polaroid’ that sparkles like a pure fairy tale.

♦ Oh My Girl 10th Mini Album [Dreamy Resonance] : Heavenly

- Be a fairy for life. The members‘ vocals, which dramatically decorate the noble melody and lyrics, bring heaven to your eardrums. The diversity of K-pop is guaranteed thanks to Oh My Girl’s concerns of adding depth while maintaining their group color for 10 years.

♦ Banner 3rd Mini Album [BURN] : Be Together

- I feel good when I listen to good songs. The beats and melodies that build hope upon hope, and the brilliant lyrics written by the members.

Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com Reporter jhj@donga.com