Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon, Red Velvet’s Wendy and EXO’s D.O. all announced solo releases at the same midnight in Korea. Here are the titles, dates and U.S. times for each.
K-pop fans woke up Sunday to a pile-up of good news. At midnight Korea time on Monday, Nov. 9, which was 10 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, three of the biggest solo voices of the second and third generations all announced new music at once.
Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon has a full album coming. Red Velvet’s Wendy has a new mini album. And EXO’s Doh Kyung Soo, better known as D.O., is up first with a single this week.
Soompi reported all three announcements. Here’s the calendar, with U.S. times, so nobody misses a drop.
When does D.O.’s single “Darling” come out?
D.O. goes first. His new single, “Darling,” arrives Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m. Korea time. That’s 4 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Nov. 11, so East Coast fans will be streaming it with their morning coffee.
He kicked things off with two concept teaser images at midnight, according to Soompi.
D.O. hasn’t been with SM Entertainment, EXO’s longtime label, for a while. He left SM in 2023, and in November 2025 he signed with Blitzway Entertainment, Soompi and Tenasia reported at the time. He’s still a member of EXO.
It’s a busy stretch for EXO fans in general. Soompi reported earlier this month that EXO members Kai and Sehun will debut as a new unit in December.
When is Wendy’s “Gleam Hour” release date?
Red Velvet’s Wendy is back with her fourth solo mini album, “Gleam Hour,” on Monday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m. Korea time. In the U.S., that’s 4 a.m. Eastern on Monday, Nov. 23.
Wendy posted a release schedule along with the announcement, Soompi reported. Her agency had already hinted at it in October. It told Sports Kyunghyang she would “release a new album this November” with “a different charm.”
This will be her second solo project since she left SM in 2025 and moved to the agency ASND. Her third mini album, “Cerulean Verge,” came out in September 2025, led by the title track “Sunkiss,” according to Sports Kyunghyang.
She’s also been busy on stage. Sports Kyunghyang reported she recently guested at “Disney Hits LIVE!” at the Taipei Music Center. That’s a fun little crossover for anyone who reads this site for both the Mouse and the music.
What do we know about Taeyeon’s “Unspecial” album?
Taeyeon saved the biggest swing for last. Her fourth full-length album, “Unspecial,” comes out Monday, Nov. 30, at 6 p.m. Korea time, which is 4 a.m. Eastern that Monday.
She announced it with a teaser titled “’Unspecial’ Curtain Raiser,” Soompi reported.
That “full-length” part is the big deal. Taeyeon’s last full album was “INVU,” which came out in February 2022, so “Unspecial” is her first in almost five years. She’s stayed busy in between, with the mini album “Letter To Myself” in November 2024 and “Panorama: The Best of TAEYEON,” a compilation marking her 10th solo anniversary, in November 2025.
Unlike the other two, Taeyeon is still with SM Entertainment.
Is there a teaser video for any of the comebacks yet?
Not on YouTube, at least not as of Sunday afternoon. The first announcements came as images and posts on X. Music videos usually drop alongside the releases themselves, so expect those on Nov. 11, Nov. 23 and Nov. 30.
Why are so many K-pop stars making comebacks in November?
Late fall is a crowded season in K-pop. Artists want new music out before year-end award shows and the holiday rush, and fans tend to see a cluster of releases between November and December every year.
This trio has a lot of history together, too. All three came up through SM Entertainment, and their groups helped define a whole era of the label’s sound. Girls’ Generation debuted in August 2007, which means the group’s 20th anniversary lands in August 2027.
How can U.S. fans listen?
New K-pop releases usually hit Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music at the same time as the Korean release. For U.S. listeners on the East Coast, that’s 4 a.m. Eastern for all three, and 1 a.m. Pacific.
Here’s the cheat sheet:
D.O., “Darling” (single): Wednesday, Nov. 11
Wendy, “Gleam Hour” (mini album): Monday, Nov. 23
Taeyeon, “Unspecial” (full album): Monday, Nov. 30
Release details can shift as more teasers come out, so we’ll update if any dates change.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
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Hat Tips:
Soompi (Nov. 8-9, 2026), all three comeback announcements, titles, dates and times, and the Kai and Sehun unit report
Sports Kyunghyang (Oct. 14, 2026), Wendy’s agency quote, “Cerulean Verge” and the Taipei appearance
Tenasia (Nov. 5, 2025), D.O.’s Blitzway signing
Asia Economy (Nov. 17, 2025), Taeyeon’s “Panorama” compilation
Korea JoongAng Daily (Oct. 29, 2024), Taeyeon’s “Letter To Myself”
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