[Oh!Sen Focus]Can We Call iKon a Rookie?
[OSEN=정준화 기자] Can We Call iKon a Rookie? Sure, they are debuting but are they really a newbie? They already released an album with 12 self-written tracks, and when they hold concerts, they have more than enough fans to fill more than 10,000 seats. They are also already well-known to the general public since they have appeared in various shows such as Mnet’s “WIN”, “MIX&MATCH”, and “Show Me The Money 3.” The level of iKON’s exposure to the public is comparable with that of idol groups that have been around for at least a few years.
Another reason we can’t call iKON a rookie is that they are really talented. They have been trainees for several years and have gone through two survival competitions. As a result, iKON members have acquired valuable experience and horned their skills. Even after they were officially formed and named iKON, they been practicing hard for almost two years to prepare for their official debut.
YANG HYUN SUK waited until he was satisfied with their capabilities as musicians, and now he has decided they are ready. He told OSEN on September 9, “iKON has been making around 50 songs since they were formed. I have been repeatedly sending back the songs they have written and asking them to make them better. So, they are probably very anxious to debut. This is the way I trained them. “
This is exactly the way YANG HYUN SUK trained G-DRAGON of BIGBANG. He made GD write a song every week and sent it back so that GD can make it better. The training went on for three and a half years. He implementing the same training technique to iKON members.
iKON’s debut plan is also similar to that of BIGBANG. Like BIGBANG, iKON will be releasing singles every month. iKON will be releasing the first half their debut album on September 15 and the other half on October 1. Their regular album will be released on November 2, and its name will be “WELCOME BACK”.
YANG HYUN SUK noted, “The purpose of the training program was to strengthen the capability of all the members of iKON so that they can write songs and lyrics. In the summer, they have managed to reach a certain level, and that’s when I decided they will debut on September 15.”
YANG HYUN SUK is so confident about iKON, and he is holding a showcase for them at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, which can hold up to 15, 000 people. YG Entertainment announced, “We will be holding iKON’s showcase, which will be almost like a concert, at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium at 6 PM on October 3.”
The Olympic Gymnastics Stadium is mostly used for the concerts of big stars such as Shinwha, SHINee, Beast, and Infinite. It is very unusual for a rookie to hold their showcase in such a big venue.
The title of the showcase is “Showtime” – which is also the slogan of iKON. iKON will be singing the songs they sang on Mnet’s “MIX&MATCH” along with their six new songs during the showcase/concert.
Meanwhile, iKON will be releasing their six new songs on September 15 and the latter half of the album on October 1. They will officially debut with the release of their regular album, which consists of 12 tracks – scheduled to take place on November 2.
2015. 9. 9.
