(Photo courtesy of BLITZWAY MUSIC and ANTENNA)

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] From Sung Si-kyung and Kim Feel to DOH KYUNG SOO, KYUHYUN, and ATEEZ's SAN, an unlikely lineup of artists has come together for ATEEZ's ‘BAD’ dance challenge. With SAN, the original performer, taking center stage, Sung Si-kyung and Kim Feel drew laughter with their slightly awkward yet endearing dance moves, while DOH KYUNG SOO and KYUHYUN impressed with their effortless execution of the choreography.

How did these artists end up participating in a challenge for a song released back in June? DOH KYUNG SOO and KYUHYUN have attracted even more attention by releasing new music on the very same day.
 

DOH KYUNG SOO released his new digital single ‘Darling’ on November 11 at 6 PM KST. The ballad captures the happiness that comes from simply looking at someone you love. Beginning with a gentle piano melody, the song gradually builds emotion as additional instruments join in, while DOH KYUNG SOO's delicate vocals leave a lasting impression.

Notably, DOH KYUNG SOO brings a slightly different emotional perspective to each of his love songs. Rather than expressing a desire to possess or rush someone he loves, ‘Darling’ portrays the pure happiness of simply having that person in his life. It captures the feeling of discovering traces of a loved one in everyday moments, cherishing those memories, and waiting patiently.

The song also serves as a heartfelt message from DOH KYUNG SOO to his fans. Through its lyrics, he expresses his sincere wish for the people he loves to receive even more love, while quietly watching over and supporting them.

Following the music video's release, fans noticed a series of numbers written on a cassette tape featured as a prop. The numbers represented meaningful dates throughout DOH KYUNG SOO's career, including his birthday, EXO's debut date, his acting debut, solo debut, first concert, and the release date of his new single. These subtle details made the video particularly special for longtime fans.

‘Darling’ arrives approximately two months after DOH KYUNG SOO released his fourth mini-album ‘DOPAMINE’ on September 8. The album previously topped Hanteo's Weekly Music Chart, demonstrating his strong chart performance.

He is currently meeting fans around the world through his ‘2026–2027 DOH KYUNG SOO CONCERT TOUR [DAY OFF]’. Having completed performances in Seoul and Macau, he will continue the tour in Bangkok, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo, Taipei, and other cities.

 


KYUHYUN also unveiled his new EP ‘CONTINUE’ on November 11, marking his first album release in approximately a year since ‘The Classic’ last November.

The album's title reflects his determination to continue writing new stories while building on the musical journey he has pursued so far.

The title track ‘약속’ (Promise) is a ballad expressing gratitude toward someone who has remained by his side for many years, along with a heartfelt promise to stay together in the future. Its sincere, unembellished lyrics and KYUHYUN's expressive vocals create a warm and understated emotional atmosphere.

Fans who listened to the new song recalled moments when they had found comfort in KYUHYUN's music and performances, expressing their continued support for the artist.

The EP features five tracks in total. Alongside the title song, B-sides including ‘끝나지 않는 계절’, ‘FILAMENT’, ‘괜찮은 줄 알았는데’, and ‘돛단배’ explore different stories of love, separation, longing, and comfort.

Spanning genres from ballads to pop rock and city pop, the album further broadens KYUHYUN's musical range.

KYUHYUN previously demonstrated his consistent album performance when his EP ‘The Classic’ ranked No. 3 on Hanteo's Weekly Album Chart.

Celebrating his 20th debut anniversary this year, he continues his musical activities with the new release and his upcoming Asian tour, ‘KYUHYUN ASIA TOUR 'CONTINUE'’.

The tour will begin at Jangchung Arena in Seoul with three performances from December 18 to 20, followed by concerts in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei, Kobe, Kaohsiung, and other cities.

KYUHYUN has also introduced some unconventional promotional activities for the album. In collaboration with B Mart, the quick-commerce service operated by food delivery platform Baedal Minjok, he promoted the release using the "cabbage tuna rice bowl", a recipe he previously introduced that gained attention online.

 

(Photo courtesy of ‘The Seasons’ Instagram)

The participation of DOH KYUNG SOO and KYUHYUN in the challenge also reflects the different sides of their respective careers.

As a member of EXO, DOH KYUNG SOO has delivered powerful performances on stage, while his solo music has largely focused on showcasing his vocals. Each of his solo love songs presents a different emotional atmosphere, revealing charms distinct from those he displays during group activities.

Likewise, KYUHYUN, who has built a career as both a SUPER JUNIOR member and solo singer, demonstrated his years of idol experience by performing the choreography with ease.

Combined with Sung Si-kyung and Kim Feel's endearingly awkward yet entertaining performances, the challenge offered plenty of amusement simply through its unexpected combination of artists.

Meanwhile, ATEEZ, the group behind the original song, is also preparing for a comeback.

ATEEZ is scheduled to release its 15th mini-album ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.6’ on November 13.

As ‘BAD’, the title track of the group's 14th mini-album ‘GOLDEN HOUR : Part.5’, released in June, gains renewed attention through dance challenges featuring unexpected combinations of artists, anticipation is also growing for the group's upcoming activities with its new album.

The episode of KBS2's ‘The Seasons – Sung Si-kyung's Ear Boyfriend’, during which the challenge was filmed, is scheduled to air at a later date.

Returning with distinct musical styles, DOH KYUNG SOO and KYUHYUN are drawing attention to the achievements they may accomplish with their latest releases, particularly after previously recording strong results on Hanteo's charts.

Having already generated buzz through their participation in ATEEZ's ‘BAD’ challenge, the two artists are also attracting interest in the variety of activities they will showcase alongside their new music.

DOH KYUNG SOO's digital single ‘Darling’ and KYUHYUN's EP ‘CONTINUE’ were released on various online music streaming platforms on November 11 at 6 PM KST.

 yeonwoo38@hanteo.com