Big Bang to release new album Feb 24

Big Bang [YG Entertainment]

Korean boy band Big Bang will release a new album on February 24, according to a press release by their agency YG Entertainment on Monday.

The upcoming release, the boys' third full-length album, will mark their return to the local music scene for the first time in over two years -- their last regular release as a five-member group was "Remember" in November 2008.

YG also said that the boys will make their comeback through their annual "BIG SHOW" concert this year, set to take place at the Gymnastics Stadium of the Olympic Park in Seoul from February 25 to 27.

Korean idol groups usually stage their comeback performances through televised shows and hold concerts after having promoted their album first but Big Bang wanted to present their new music to fans directly, YG explained.

The upcoming concert will also feature performances of songs by G-Dragon and T.O.P, promoting album "GD&T.O.P" as a duo unit since mid-December last year, and member Seungri, set to release a solo mini-album on January 20.

Tickets for the show will available on online shopping mall and reservation website G-Market from January 18 to 20.

Big Bang's return to the K-pop scene has been much-anticipated by fans -- known as one of the biggest idol names in the country, the group composed of members G-Dragon, T.O.P, Seungri, Daesung and Taeyang, has released a number of smash-hit songs which swept music charts for several weeks.

Then in the summer of 2009, Big Bang crossed over to the Japanese music market where several of their singles placed in the top slots of the prestigious Oricon chart.

They are set to hold a total 160,000-strong crowd to their nationwide tour in Japan set to take off in May.

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Jessica Kim jesskim@