Nearly 9 years into the industry, SEVENTEEN's first anthology ahead of their anniversary leaves us feeling nostalgic, proud, and a wave of emotions. Their album "17 Is Right Here" details the group's journey over the last few years and tops it off with four new tracks on the album, one group, and three sub-unit tracks. Each unit shined in its way for the tracks 'Spell', 'LALALI', and 'Cheer To Youth', showing off individualistic skills and raw talent. However, when the 13-member boy group combined for their title track, the synergistic effect reminded us why they're one of the top names in the K-Pop world. Their title track 'Maestro' garnered attention worldwide as it told the important message of "Who is the real MAESTRO?"

The reliance on technology is becoming increasingly popular, especially with the rise of AI and its uses. Social media has played a drastic role in the popularity and has seeped into the K-Pop world. It's unsettling how easily you can find a cover from your favorite idol but an AI machine completely sings it. The uncomfortable discussion of "Do we need artists anymore?" is debated among the census.

Many artists in the industry have spoken out about this phenomenon, but SEVENTEEN truly struck many of their fans with a powerful clapback at the use of AI. 'Maestro' details that the only true leaders are artists themselves. Set in a dystopian reality, with visuals of SEVENTEEN members battling machines, and leading others like a conductor, the boy group hit the mark on what it truly means to be the "maestro." Machines can not replicate true artistry, and SEVENTEEN's commanding title track is a reminder that technology can never replace them.

 

Apart from the title track, the group released three songs for their respective sub-units. Similar to its twin sister 'Fire', 'LALALI' by the hip-hop unit, consisting of S.Coups, MinGyu, Vernon, and WonWoo, was oozing with energy and pure entertainment. 'Spell' by the performance unit, consisting of Hoshi, Jun, THE8, and Dino, not only hypnotized us with its sultry sound but smooth, afro-inspired dance. Ending on a high note, the vocal unit song, consisting of WooZi, JeongHan, Joshua, SeungKwan, and DK, sings of encouragement and an anthem to the youth.

The new songs truly emulated a new side of SEVENTEEN but how could we forget the originals? The album feels like a walk down memory lane, invoking feelings of nostalgia as disc 2 of the album starts with their debut 'Adore U'. From the start with 'Adore U' to now 'Maestro' the two title tracks have stark differences in sound but mimic the essence of SEVENTEEN in every way.

 

Even though SEVENTEEN has been in the industry for quite some time now, this comeback feels like the mark of a new beginning for the group and the music they want to share with fans. The group plans to release another album towards the end of 2024 and have already completed their South Korea stops for their "FOLLOW AGAIN" tour recently. We're expecting much more from the group and look forward to what surprises they'll have for their "9th CARAT LAND" fanmeeting this year.

How did you feel about "17 Is Right Here?" Let us know on X!

In recent years, Y2K has become the hottest new trend in K-Pop. From reviving actual Y2K music and style, such as Lee HyoRi's '10 Minutes' and the 2000s makeup trend that it inspired, to contemporary K-Pop groups incorporating the Y2K style and sound, such as NewJeans and tripleS, the K-Pop industry is making the absolute most of this trend. However, we have to admit, we just can't get enough.

Why is Y2K so popular, you ask? Well, Y2K, as a buzzword in today's day and age, started with the Y2K aesthetic, which, in turn, came from social media and mainly TikTok. As trend cycles are said to repeat periodically, usually every 20 years, such a surge in the popularity of Y2K was predicted, especially with COVID-19 amplifying the need to escape to simpler times.

Demand led to supply and the K-Pop industry quickly picked up on the trend to bring us some Y2K bangers. Be it remakes of hits from the 2000s or modernized reinterpretations of the Y2K sound, this trend was not to be missed. Retro was already on the rise, with tracks like BTS' 'Dynamite', so Y2K found the perfect environment to grow and expand, which ultimately birthed the representative Y2K-inspired girl group - NewJeans.

With NewJeans, Y2K-inspired music exploded in popularity, gaining more traction than ever before in the mainstream, and we got more music that was just hitting different. Why? Because there was science backing it up!

What's the first word you think of when you listen to Y2K music? For a lot of people who experienced Y2K, it is nostalgia. For listeners who weren't born in the era where these trends are drawn from, it is arguably anemoia. Just a general longing for a time long gone that seemed much happier than now is what lies behind this attraction but there's also something very interesting happening in your brain that is making you jam out to all these Y2K hits.

It's called neural nostalgia. The music we listen to between the ages of 12 and 22 is imprinted into our brains stronger than any other music we will ever listen to. Due to the brain's rapid neurological development during these formative years, combined with the heightened emotions during this time of life, especially as we're becoming young adults, the music we listen to becomes intertwined with our lives forever.

So, if you were listening to 1st or 2nd generation K-Pop during this time, science says that you'll still sing along to those bops with just as much passion and joy as you did before, and you might even argue that it was the peak of K-Pop, simply from an emotional perspective, putting aside critical analyses. So, with the current generation of K-Pop bringing back that nostalgic sound, it's hard not to be taken back to the golden years of life, our coming of age.

This is the key to the NewJeans sound. The group doesn't just stop at Y2K but instead taps into the nostalgia of the bygone era in a timeless way so anyone and everyone can relate to the essence of their music.

For young people who are growing up with the 5th generation of K-Pop, years into the future, they will remember this generation more vividly than anything else. The importance that SHINee holds in my life may be similar to the love our future generation will have for RIIZE, and so it will go on.

Until then, take this as a life hack, and whenever you're feeling down, put on some Y2K K-Pop, and escape reality.

Throughout the world of K-Dramas, various broadcasting stations bring numerous series to the home of fans all across the globe. One of these stations is the illustrious MBC. MBC is one of the most popular broadcasting channels, with its K-Dramas consistently placing in the best ratings list. The channel continues to deliver high-quality productions appealing to fans in South Korea and abroad. As such, MBC drama ratings rise to the very top, with many reaching record highs.

Here are the top MBC Dramas with the highest ratings since 2020!

 

1. "Knight Flower" - 18.4%

Starring Lee Hanee and Lee JongWon, the historical drama "Knight Flower" starred high in ratings and quickly reached high ratings. The drama gained even more popularity in its last weeks and reached the ratings of 18.4% with its final episode. In 2024, the drama broke the previous records held by "The Red Sleeve". The drama is available on Viki, Kocowa, Apple TV, and Prime Video.

 

2. "The Red Sleeve" - 17.4%

Among historical K-Dramas, "The Red Sleeve" was phenomenally made, filled with moments of romance and yearning that cannot be easily forgotten. Due to its massive success, it gained 17.4% ratings, making it the highest rated series among MBC K-Dramas from 2020 to 2023. Luckily for fans new and old, the K-Drama is available to watch on Rakuten Viki.

 

3. "Big Mouth" - 13.7%

"Big Mouth" made big waves during its initial run. The chemistry between Lee JongSuk and Girls' Generation's YoonA was magnificent, and combined with a compelling storyline, it became an immediate hit, reaching 13.7% ratings. The drama can be watched via streaming site Hulu.

 

4. "My Dearest (part 1 & 2)" - 12.9%

Starring NamKoong Min and Ahn EunJin, "My Dearest" gained massive success and tugged on the heartstrings of all its viewers with a total of 21 episodes. Reaching its highest rating of 12.9% with the final episodes, it puts the series as one of the most watched of MBC. "My Dearest" is currently available on Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

5. "Wonderful World" - 11.4%

"Wonderful World" (2024) is a revenge and thriller drama starring Kim NamJoo and ASTRO's Cha EunWoo. The drama went viral on social media and the mysterious story caught attention. The drama peaked at 11.4% with its 9th, 11th, and 13th episodes. It started at 5.3%.

 

6. "Chief Detective 1958" - 10.8%

The retro crime drama "Chief Detective 1958" starring Lee JeHoon, Lee DongHwi, Choi WooSung, Yoon HyunSoo, and Seo EunSoo started with 10.1% and reached 10.8% with its 3rd episode. The drama started after "Wonderful World" and garnered a lot of attention to be able to start with such high ratings.

 

7. "The Veil" - 9.8%

Also starring NamKoong Min, "The Veil" kept audiences at the edge of their seats with its various twists and turns. Its captivating suspense allowed the drama to reach its highest ratings of 9.8%, landing it at number four among MBC dramas. "The Veil" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki or Kocowa.

 

8. "The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" - 9.6%

"The Story of Park's Marriage Contract" based on webtoon gained a lot of popularity. Bae InHyuk and Lee SeYoung's chemistry was amazing and the story was full of mystery so the drama gained a lot of viewers. The drama started at 5.6% and reached the highest rating of 9.6%.

 

9. "Tracer" - 9.0%

This MBC drama depicted the hard working performance of the National Tax Service. Featuring a cast with Yim SiWan, Go AhSung, Son HyunJoo, and much more, "Tracer" reached its highest rating at 9.0%, earning it the fifth spot among MBC dramas so far. "Tracer" is available on Rakuten Viki, Kocowa, and Wavve.

 

10. "The Golden Spoon" - 7.8%

"The Golden Spoon" is a webtoon-based drama that followed poor, yet studious Lee SeungCheon (BTOB's SungJae) and chaebol son Hwang TaeYong (Lee JongWon) as they switched lives during adolescence and adulthood. The drama explored the stark differences between the extremely rich and those living in poverty. While there were moments of crushing heartache, there were scenes of uplifting hope that lit up all the dark spaces in your heart. "The Golden Spoon" earned its highest ratings at 7.8% and is available on Disney+ and Hulu.

 

11. "Tomorrow" - 7.6%

While this webtoon-based drama had various moments of uplifting comedy, it also did an excellent job at exploring hard-hitting topics. This involved aspects of mental health, life after death and those left behind, as well as the will to live on. At its highest peak, "Tomorrow" earned 7.6% in ratings. This MBC K-Drama is available on streaming platform, Netflix.

 

12. "Doctor Lawyer" - 7.2%

Starring the iconic actor, So JiSub, "Doctor Lawyer" is a fusion of medical and law, providing the best of both worlds. As Han YiHan (So JiSub) searched for the truth, viewers could not help but remain by his side. With the help of its loyal viewers, the MBC drama reached its highest ratings of 7.2%, placing it at eighth on this list. "Doctor Lawyer" is currently available on Disney+ and Hulu.

 

13. "Kkondae Intern" - 7.1%

Adapted from the winning script from MBC's 2018 drama writing contest, "Kkondae Intern" follows the reversal of roles between Ka YeolChan (Park HaeJin) and Lee ManSik (Kim EungSoo). The office comedy provided viewers a reason to smile and laugh, week after week, and reached its highest ratings of 7.1%. "Kkondae Intern" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

14. "Dinner Mate" - 6.1%

A story of strangers to lovers, Kim HaeKyung (Song SeungHeon) and Woo DoHee (Seo JiHye) unexpectedly meet on Jeju Island. Bonding over their respective heartaches and love of food, they remain in contact and gradually fall for one another. "Dinner Mate" earned its highest ratings at 6.1% and is available to watch via streaming sites iQIYI and Prime Video.

 

15. "Find Me In Your Memory" - 5.4%

"Find Me In Your Memory" is a moving story between Lee JungHoon (Kim DongWook) and Yeo HaJin (Mun KaYoung). While the drama had its fair share of romance, it also offered moments of healing that aided broken souls everywhere. The drama earned its highest ratings at 5.4%, landing at eleventh among MBC K-Dramas. It is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

16. "The Forbidden Marriage" - 4.9%

"The Forbidden Marriage" certainly had it all: a budding romance, a swoon-worthy second lead, a love triangle that broke your heart, and so much more. Audiences certainly agreed, sticking with the drama for every new episode, helping it reach its peak at 4.9% ratings. "The Forbidden Marriage" is available to watch on Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, and Kocowa.

 

17. "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" - 4.8%

"Kokdu: Season Of Deity" was filled with quirky characters, electrifying chemistry, and a romance that withstood the test of time. Switching between historical and modern, "Kokdu: Season Of Deity" had fans constantly coming back for more, earning 4.8% ratings. The MBC drama is made available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Wavve.

 

18. "When I Was Most Beautiful" - 4.7%

"When I Was Most Beautiful" is a heartbreaking love story featuring Oh YeJi (Im SooHyang) who is caught between brothers Seo Hwan (Ji Soo) and Seo Jin (Ha SeokJin). As they navigated feelings of love and jealousy, audiences remained glued to their seats, watching the story unfold. With the help of its dedicated viewers, the series earned 4.7% ratings, placing it at number fourteen among MBC K-Dramas. "When I Was Most Beautiful" is available to watch via Rakuten Viki and Kocowa.

 

19. "From Now On, Showtime!" - 4.6% & "The Game: Towards Zero" - 4.6%

Comedic with a touch of mystery, "From Now On, Showtime!" was able to captivate viewers with its lighthearted storyline and incredible lineup of actors. On the other hand, there was the more serious, thriller series "The Game: Towards Zero" which kept viewers shrouded in suspense. While two different genres, these series earned its highest ranking at 4.6%, tying at number fifteen among MBC K-Dramas.

Which of these MBC dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!