SEOUL — NCT Dream, the K-pop boy band, is set to release a new album on Monday, designed to offer solace to young people facing disillusionment and criticism in their daily lives. At a press conference in a Seoul hotel, member Mark spoke about the group's fifth EP, "Dream()scape," highlighting its dedication to inspiring those who feel they lack a dream.
According to Yonhap News Agency, their latest work continues NCT Dream's tradition of instilling hope and dreams through their music, this time focusing on listeners who struggle to find their own aspirations. The album's unique title, "Dream()scape," symbolizes a retreat from reality, with the brackets suggesting an escape or a doorway into a new realm.
The EP consists of six tracks, with the lead single "Smoothie" embodying a groovy hip-hop dance vibe underscored by a strong 808 bass and a rhythmic snare pattern. The song represents the resilience of youth, using the metaphor of consuming a 'smoothie' to overcome negative judgments and self-doubt. Interestingly, the smoothie referenced in the music video is depicted as black, signifying the group's desire to confront and dispel adverse thoughts and perceptions.
Renjun, another member of the group, expressed the song's theme as an assertion of individuality and determination to ignore the negativity often encountered in daily life. The choice of "Smoothie" as the album's main track was discussed, with Haechan noting its suitability for performance and Mark praising its compelling chorus.
NCT Dream also announced their upcoming third world tour, "The Dream Show 3," starting in Seoul in May. The tour will extend across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Jaemin shared his excitement for the tour, reflecting on the growth of the group since their initial world tour and expressing eagerness to share their new material with fans globally.
SEOUL — Hur Young-in, the chairman of South Korea's bakery conglomerate SPC Group, was interrogated by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office on Monday regarding accusations of labor law infringements. The investigation focuses on allegations that he coerced bakers at a subsidiary to resign from their labor union.According to Yonhap News Agency, Hur, aged 75, faced questioning as a suspect in the afternoon over potential violations of labor union and relations laws. This development follows a request from the Ministry of Labor and Employment around one year and five months ago, urging the prosecution to indict officials at PB Partners, an SPC company. They were suspected of pressuring employees at Paris Baguette, another SPC affiliate, to cancel their membership in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a notable labor group, from 2019 to 2022.
The allegations extend to possible involvement by SPC Group in discriminating against KCTU members in terms of promotion opportunities. This session comes shortly after SPC Group's CEO, Hwang Jae-bok, was arrested and charged with labor law violations. Prosecutors claim to have acquired a statement from Hwang indicating that he was following directives from Hur.