Set to deliver more zest and joy to the region, Southeast Asia’s leading eCommerce platform Lazada welcomes leading K-pop superstars SEVENTEEN as first Lazada Happiness Ambassadors ahead of its annual flagship 11.11 shopping festival – Lazada’s Biggest One-Day Sale, starting at midnight on 11 November. Comprised of 13 members, SEVENTEEN, one of South Korea’s most acclaimed K-pop groups, burst into the international music scene with their creative musical experimentation and electrifying performance acts. SEVENTEEN’s latest EP Your Choice debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart, and their list of accolades include being nominated for ‘Top Social Artist’ at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards and winning the ‘Main Prize’ for four years at the Seoul Music Awards.

Raymond Yang, Chief Operating Officer of Lazada Group, said, “It is my great delight to welcome our first-ever Lazada Happiness Ambassadors, SEVENTEEN, to the Lazada family. With their talent and lively personalities, I hope SEVENTEEN can inspire our consumers across Southeast Asia to stay bold and passionate in experimenting new ideas, and to continue pursuing goals and dreams with the trust that challenges along the way can be overcome.”

At Lazada’s signature 11.11 Super Show on 10 November, SEVENTEEN will take the main stage to perform their hit songs like “Left & Right” and “Ready to love”. The star-studded countdown Shoppertainment-packed virtual concert to 11.11 will also feature top local celebrities in Southeast Asia coming together to celebrate hope and joy, including appearances from Nora Danish and Dayang Nurfaizah from Malaysia. Across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, shoppers can also tune in to Lazada’s 11.11 Super Party concert via Lazada’s in-app livestream channel LazLive, as well as local broadcasting networks TV3 and Lazada social media platforms, across YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.

The 13-member K-pop group also stars in Lazada’s latest 11.11 short film, which transports the Lazada Happiness Ambassadors into Lazada World, a dynamic and fantastical realm filled with larger-than-life everyday objects and exclusive 11.11 rewards. Playfully dancing along to a special rendition of global hit song “Low” by Flo Rida, SEVENTEEN embarks on an adventure filled with surprising discoveries at every turn.

Speaking as a group, SEVENTEEN said, “Shooting Lazada’s 11.11 film was a fun and refreshing experience, and we are excited to be a part of the upcoming Lazada 11.11 Super Show. As the regional Happiness Ambassadors for Southeast Asia’s leading eCommerce platform, Lazada, we look forward to create even more meaningful experiences with everyone. Please continue to show support and love for Lazada and SEVENTEEN!”

In the Lazada 11.11 short film, Lazada’s pioneer brand ambassador and beloved mascot, Lazzie, makes a special cameo dancing the iconic shuffle moves alongside SEVENTEEN, sporting a new, refreshed look with blue and purple hues for their mane and an adorable snout in the shape of Lazada’s iconic heart-gram. In addition, Lazzie will continue to be featured in popular LazGame, Lazzie Star, from 6 November onwards in Malaysia, continuing the quest with consumers to “level up” to become a super star idol while unlocking exclusive vouchers and rewards to maximise shopping savings during Lazada 11.11 Our Biggest One-Day Sale.

Lazada will also launch a region-wide TikTok #HowLowCanYouGoLazada1111 Hashtag Challenge, inviting consumers to join in a fun and creative showcase by curating their own version of the dance shuffle moves from the Lazada’s 11.11 film in a freestyle 20-second TikTok dance video. Participants with the most creative dance moves stand to win up to RM1,111 worth of vouchers when they join the social media challenge happening from 26 October to 5 November.

Raymond Yang added, “Lazada is constantly finding new ways to fully immerse our customers with fun and experiential activities, both online and offline, to create a holistic and enjoyable shopping experience. Leveraging our strong Shoppertainment approach and working closely with our merchants to curate unbeatable promotions and rewards, we constantly challenge ourselves to deliver high impact and find meaningful ways to uplift the communities across Southeast Asia. I’m excited to celebrate another edition of our flagship 11.11 shopping festival as we pursue hope, dreams and progress in all aspects of our lives.”

Besides access to the lowest prices and free shipping1 during Lazada 11.11 Our Biggest One-Day Sale, consumers can anticipate an exciting line up of exclusive deals and interactive Shoppertainment activities that will unlock vouchers and Lazada Bonus rewards.

Upcoming series The King's Affection tells the story of a twin sister who has to take her brother’s place as crown prince when he dies. Yi Hwi (Park Eun-bin) must hide her identity as well as her affection for her teacher Jung Ji-un (Rowoon). There’s plenty of romance and intrigue in store for us in this historical drama. Check out some reasons why you’re going to fall in love with the series here.

1) Unique Premise
The story of a female king has never been told in K-drama history. Park Eun-bin shared, “All of the kings we’ve had historically were males, so a female king can only exist in our imaginations.” She also commented, “I thought it was a unique role that would not come by often.” The King’s Affection will definitely feature some uncommon circumstances as Yi Hwi disguises herself as her twin brother and navigates keeping her true identity secret while acting as the crown prince.

2) Touching Romance
Hwi struggles from great isolation as she keeps her identity hidden. However, things change when she develops feelings for Ji-un. Rowoon explained how his character is very different from Yi Hwi and said, “Hwi has to hide herself, but Jung Ji-un has no reason to do that. Ji-un doesn’t need to hide his character, so that’s why he’s so appealing to Hwi. I think we are drawn to each other because the other person has something that they themselves don’t have.” Despite their affection for each other, they must be cautious due to Hwi’s great secret.

3) Beyond Romance
While their sweet romance is a large part of the story, there are many other elements to enjoy. Director Song Hyun-wook said, “There’s not only romance but also politics, action, and humor. It’s truly a myriad of various genres.” The palace is full of people vying for more power, and interesting dynamics will play out as individuals pursue their goals. We can also look forward to action and mystery, in particular involving Yi Hwi’s bodyguard Kim Ga-on (Choi Byung-chan). Furthermore, there are humorous and lighthearted moments to enjoy as well.

4) Beautiful Young Cast
The main cast is full of the hottest rising stars: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, and Jung Chaeyeon. Director Song Hyun-wook praised them saying, “They’re really outstanding actors and actresses.” The director further complimented all of them and mentioned how tall, funny, and confident Rowoon is. He also talked about how Nam Yoon-su’s smile is extremely attractive. There’s definitely no shortage of gorgeousness to enjoy amongst the cast. And of course, they’re very talented on top of that!

5) Historical Setting
One of the best things about a historical drama is the fascinating visuals. From the extravagant palaces to the quaint villages, the locations will transport you to a whole new world. Director Song Hyun-wook added, “Korean historical architecture is also really beautiful, and we tried to include that in the series as well.” In addition to the sights, the exquisite hanbok fashion will be a delight to our eyes. Dignified royal robes and lovely, colorful dresses will contribute to the charm of the series.

Are you ready for The King’s Affection? Tune in when it premieres on 11 October 2021, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday 10:30 PM MYT, only on Netflix!

Image courtesy of Neflix

Worldwide phenomenon, Monsta X, have officially infiltrated Mainstream Top 40 Radio Airplay with their English-language single "One Day." Released on September 10th, "One Day" has peaked at number 38 for the week of October 16th [Billboard]. Released through Intertwine (BMG) in collaboration with Starship Entertainment; "One Day" is about having lost or broken up with someone, and the feeling of knowing that it might feel better at some point, but you’re stuck in your current emotion and not able to realize that. Named by Grammy.com as “one of k-pop’s most prolific groups,” this English-language release is a continuation of their first all English-language debut album, ALL ABOUT LUV. Released in February 2019 that album ranked at No.5 on the Billboard 200 Chart, making it only the 3rd K-Pop group to chart within the top 10, and was one of the first-ever full English pop albums from Korea.

The band will also be celebrating their 2nd English-language album release in December with iHeart Radio Jingle Ball performances:
December 13: Philadelphia
December 14: Washington DC
December 16: Atlanta
December 19: Miami

Check out their "One Day" music video below!

You may know her as Yeo Da-kyung in The World of the Married and as the sweet Yu Na-bi starring alongside Song Kang in Nevertheless. In My Name, Han So-hee does a 180-degree turn as Jiwoo, who enters a criminal underworld and goes undercover as a police officer in order to find her father’s killer.

Watch Han So-hee as she leaves the world of luxury and comfort behind for bruises and bloodstains. It won’t be pretty but it will be an adventure that keeps you at the edge of your seat as she charges into the pursuit of revenge.

Check out the reasons why you should catch Han So-hee in My Name below:

1. Han So-hee as Jiwoo is everything
Jiwoo has had it tough since childhood, but her life takes a tragic turn when she witnesses her father's murder on her 17th birthday. Feeling like she has no choice but to avenge her father, Jiwoo approaches her father's long-time friend Mujin (Park Hee-soon) - the head of the largest drug ring in Korea - to help her find her father's killer.

As her quest for revenge leads her down a dark path, watch as So-hee transforms from a damsel in distress to one of the most headstrong members of Mujin's organisation.

2. Han So-hee gained 10kg of muscle for the role
Taking inspiration from female-led action films such as Atomic Blonde and The Old Guard, So-hee prepared for the physically demanding role by working with martial arts directors and even gained 10kg of muscle from all her training. The actress also carried around a knife so that she could get used to the feeling.

3. Han So-hee takes emotionally charged action scenes in her stride Director Kim Jin-min wanted the action in the series to be realistic and reflect Jiwoo as an undercover agent who is risking her life. It needed to showcase the characters’ desperation to survive and it definitely came alive on screen. Watch as Han So-hee single-handedly takes down a group of bad guys with flair in the clip HERE.

4. Han So-Hee and Ahn Bo-Hyun’s on-screen chemistry
Jiwoo is transferred to the Narcotics Unit and ends up joining a sting operation to take down Mujin where she has to balance between investigating her own crime boss and maintaining her cover. This is where she meets ace detective Jeon Pildo (Ahn Bo-hyun) and they become partners. Their prickly relationship takes a surprising turn when the pair opens up about their past to each other. Watch as this friendship blooms with some trust and understanding.

Which of these reasons have you hooked? Don’t miss out when My Name is released on 15 October 2021, only on Netflix!

Image courtesy of Netflix

South Korean Rapper, Singer-Songwriter, and Record Producer, B.I, has teamed up with Indonesian Artist, Afgan, and Manchester-based Electronic Artist, Bipolar Sunshine. Out today via IOK and Transparent Arts, B.I x Bipolar Sunshine x Afgan - Lost At Sea (Illa Illa 2) is a fusion of cultures from all across the globe; effortlessly putting together their talents into one track.

B.I speaks on the collaboration; “Bipolar Sunshine was an artist that I always enjoyed listening to, his unique vocals have such a distinct sound that I’ve always imagined what it would be like to be on a track together. I try listening to as much music as possible from all around the world, so that I myself can evolve as a producer. I also think Indonesia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in Asia. Especially in terms of music, and I learn a lot from listening to music created by Indonesian artists. When I first heard Afgan’s voice, his soulful vibe really made an impression on me and as a producer, I really love how he represents a new age of artist. I thought the balance of this collaboration was just perfect.”

The original version of “Illa Illa,” which TIME Magazine listed as one of “The Best K-Pop Songs of 2021 So Far,” was part of B.I’s first full-length studio album, Waterfall, released back in June. The music video for “Illa Illa” broke a record of 12.7 million views in 24 hours, making B.I the most viewed male solo artist debut music video within the first 24 hours. Additionally, his album Waterfall was #1 on iTunes in 24 countries. Most simply put, this track is about hope, B.I elaborates; “I wrote the song wishing that it could provide comfort to those that listen to it. Everyone has their own struggles whether it be with relationships, work, family, loneliness. As much as it can seem difficult at the time, there is a beach in the distance. To remember that every chapter that closes just means that a new chapter is about to begin.”

Referred to as a “record-breaking hit” by Teen Vogue, B.I’s initial release of “Illa Illa,” which has been streamed over 30 million times across all platforms to date, continues to infiltrate markets across the globe. Starting in Seoul, Korea: this Remix has now joined forces with Manchester’s very own Bipolar Sunshine, who has billions of streams under his belt and collaborations with artists like DJ Snake, and Jakarta’s fastest rising star, Afgan, who has five solo albums under his belt, countless number one hits, and over 44 million Spotify streams with over 1 million listeners across a staggering 79 countries just in 2019.

Afgan says of the Remix- "I just feel so honored that I got to be a part of this track. I love the song and I think it was beautifully written. The lyrics are very deep and vulnerable and I think it’s important for us to show vulnerability sometimes because it can bring out the strengths that we didn't know we have as a human being. For me, I personally think B.I and Bipolar Sunshine both are such great artists. I respect their artistry. I respect their talent and I’m so happy I got to be a part of this song. I can’t wait for everybody to hear this collaboration. I think it’s gonna be really dope. I hope you like it."

Stream B.I x Bipolar Sunshine x Afgan - Lost At Sea (Illa Illa 2) HERE