Quote from MY-Kwangya

People don't need to be fooled into thinking life can carry on pre 2019 like COVID never happened as that is not realistic. Like it or not, even if everyone is vaccinated (and that will take a while). We're only at 50% her, some restrictions will remain in place, that's understandable. There has to be enough vaccines to go around and be available to all countries. I have heard from the health department to expect these restrictions for a couple of years at least especially for international travel.

Yeah I agree that a lot of places around the world will unfortunately live with strong restrictions for some times. However, there may be some countries that can almost live normally like pre-covid, where I'm from for example. I hope and pray vaccines will be distributed fairly to everyone on the planet. We're not safe until everyone is safe.

Quote from MY-Kwangya

We can all but hope but it won't ever be like it was before this scourge descended upon us. We have to accept that some things have changed forever. I think masks and social distancing will be the new normal.

I hope not, but I think in certain situations where social distancing is not possible, mask may be required. But if a country has 90% fully vaccinated population like where I'm from, those things hopefully is a thing in the past. PS: My country has soon 70% with two doses and our govt goal is to reach 90%.

Finally a uplifting news!

I would like to see three winning groups debut than just one. Like the LOUD survival show with P Nation and JYP. They can function as sub-unit groups. Good idea?

Nobody is paying attention to them. No hype. Nothing. I guess their visual is too weak, and coming from one of countless nugu companies doesn't help either. Even with a article in Allkpop news didn't help... Crossing my fingers for Hanbin at Yuehua. At least they are a bit known.

Girl group Beauty Box plans to debut with first Vietnamese idol as well as Korean, Japanese and Thai members

She's my bias, so whatever makeup she does, she is beautiful. But I think they should have kept the simplistic makeup for her from StayC's debut:

The nostalgic and melancholy feeling!

Seems they survived the CCP ''banning'' of idol culture.

I mean in Japan, Kpop will never outsell against the 48/46 and Johnny's groups. Don't the latters have like millions of cd sales?

Quote from ychofficial

Timing is everything

I'm not a person who believes in conspiracy, but I get the feeling even if the timing was right and they were up against nugu/underrated groups which smaller fandom, music shows will somehow do dirty against them.(THE SHOW) Like the entertainment industry is afraid of a rock Kpop group takes a trophy.

If you guys look at my signature picture, every groups except one has grabbed their first win. StayC pull it off today and I'm beyond happy! But closer to my heart is Dreamcatcher. They been close so many times. Is it too late or is there still a chance?

Quote from VVisual

There won't be many Chinese idols in KPOP unless they never want to return to the Chinese market. There won't be Chinese money and fans that people attack even though it supports their faves -- we'll see how many KPOP groups survive now without the C-Bars and -Cafes soing bulk buys.

I don't think CPOP is completely dead... Maybe not having the global attention like it used before yes, but I feel we still will be seeing groups debuting, but probably to a pre-Idol Produce era. But the knowledge gathering from the shows, these future groups will stand in a better situation if they can go around the CCP censorship.

Or will the CPOP most popular group be a exception?

Quote from SooYoung

love fromis_9

but even the award show things isn't creative

SNSD did it in snsd channel

NCT did it in december on nct daily

etc...

Ah okey, I don't follow those groups but great!

Not saying all the groups lacks fun content, but I feel most groups I follow even as my favs or just generally interested, it's the same over and over again. Now, I was glad one group I like, Fromis_9 made their own award show and that was something new:

With most groups, it's just the same. ''Making MV'', ''Mukbangs'', or just not doing anything special than just talking.

No live audience, no fanmeet, no concert...

South Korea’s surge in Covid cases threatens its plans for reopening.

South Korean health authorities urged caution on Wednesday as they reported more than 2,000 new Covid-19 cases in one day, nearing last month’s record.

“We’re taking this as a very dangerous sign,” said Park Hyang, a senior health official, at a news conference in the capital, Seoul. “We urge residents of the Seoul metropolitan area to be especially careful. The virus is spreading on a large scale and infections are appearing anytime and anywhere.”

Cases have remained stubbornly high even as the pace of vaccinations has quickened. While social distancing restrictions have remained in place, the government has eased some rules on private gatherings. The health officials also said that people aren’t adhering to them as much as pandemic fatigue accumulates.

That’s a concern ahead of Chuseok, a three-day national holiday later this month when families will be able to travel to see one another. As of Tuesday, about 61 percent of South Koreans had received at least one vaccine dose and more than 36 percent were fully vaccinated, the health authorities said.

At the current pace, the health authorities said they expect to fully vaccinate 70 percent of the population by the end of October. That would allow the country to return to a more normal way of life in November, they said. But, they added, for the country to open up, cases must go down.

The country recorded 2,050 daily new cases on Wednesday, of which about 75 percent were found in the Seoul metropolitan area. More than half of South Korea’s population lives in Seoul.

The Delta variant made up an estimated 97 percent of the cases from the past week, said Lee Sang-won, the head epidemiologist of the government’s Central Disease Control Headquarters, at a news conference on Tuesday.

Ms. Park, the senior health official, said more people had been traveling in the past two weeks, and traffic on highways was rising.

Correction: Sept. 8, 2021

An earlier version of this report misidentified the head epidemiologist of South Korea's Central Disease Control Headquarters. He is Lee Sang-won, not Bang Dae-bon, which is a shortened form of his agency's name in Korean.

Source: Nytimes.com

Very decent debut!

Quote from Taehunk

Where did you read the news about the delta variant? I just read they have COVID.

I just assume it is because it's the dominant variant in S.Korea. But it could be the original strain or the Alpha strain as well.

Delta variant cases near 20,000 in S. Korea

I'm happy for this news, but it won't be the same ''Laboum'' without Yujeong

It's true the vast majority of young people do not get severed sick of covid, but some develope long-covid. Since idols are singers and dancers, long covid can severely impact them. When I read almost all of ENHYPEN was infected with the delta-variant, I got a cold chill in my spine. I hope companies will find a way to get them vaccinated. Even with one shot dose can reduce the risk of severe disease and long-covid.