SEOUL -- Thanks to a helping hand from SM Entertainment founder and producer Lee Soo-man who has launched many K-pop groups, Loona's new album "#" mesmerized global fans, topping iTunes' song charts in 56 countries. This is the first time that Lee has produced for non-SM artists.
The album containing its title track So What and five other songs set a new record in iTunes' song charts as a K-pop girl group, according to Loona's management agency, Blockberry Creative, a subsidiary of Polaris Entertainment.
At a press showcase on February 5, Loona members expressed gratitude to Lee, saying he assessed the group's potential after watching a dance cover of NCT 127's hit song Cherry Bomb. In the dance cover released in May last year, Loona impressed K-pop fans with sharp dance moves. NCT 127 is the second sub-unit of NCT, a K-pop boy group formed by SM.
The comeback album of Loona, which debuted in 2016, carried a message that girls do not hesitate to challenge and move on to the world, along with a high-quality music video showing an intense performance. From teaser images, the girls have presented various storytelling while delivering messages to the world and revealing the group's characteristics.
The album reflects a new trend in South Korea's music community which requires boy and girl groups to foster strong dance and singing capabilities.