TWS has made a strong debut in Japan, topping the Oricon Daily Singles Chart with their first-ever single!

According to Oricon's latest chart, released on December 4 (for December 3), TWS’s debut single Last Bell sold an impressive 62,477 copies on its first day, immediately securing the No. 1 spot on the Daily Single Ranking.

This is TWS’s second consecutive release to debut at No. 1 on the Oricon chart. Their mini album SUMMER BEAT! and their debut album Sparkling Blue both also topped the daily rankings, showing just how popular the group has become in Japan.

Even before their official debut in Japan, TWS was already making waves. They performed on major Japanese music programs like Best Hit Kayosai 2024 last month on Yomiuri TV and Nihon TV. On December 4, they also appeared on Fuji TV’s 2024 FNS Kayosai.

During their performance on FNS Kayosai, TWS wowed fans in school uniform outfits, delivering a perfectly synchronized dance to their debut track Our First Meeting Didn't Go as Planned. Their youthful energy and strong visuals left a lasting impression on the audience.

Since returning with Last Bell on November 25, TWS has been earning praise and winning new artist awards at major music ceremonies. With their title track The Last Festival, they are quickly becoming one of the most exciting rookie groups of 2024!

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The upcoming SBS drama Love Scout, starring Han Ji Min and Lee Jun Hyuk, is already making headlines—but for all the wrong reasons.

Recent revelations about the show’s co-director, Ham Joon Ho, have sparked controversy. It was revealed that Ham Joon Ho had faced legal issues in 2020 for assault and defamation while intoxicated.

This incident led to disciplinary action within SBS and has raised questions about his involvement in the new project.

On January 13, the production team of Love Scout released an official apology, saying, "We deeply regret causing concern with unpleasant news related to PD Ham Joon Ho."

They confirmed the allegations, stating, "It is true that PD Ham Joon Ho was accused of assault and defamation while intoxicated in early 2020. However, he sincerely apologized to all victims, and the matter was resolved through forgiveness and mutual agreement."

They added, "He also received legal punishment for the incident. Additionally, reports about his prior criminal record from five years ago are unrelated to this case, as they involve a misdemeanor."

The team explained that Ham Joon Ho was suspended from his duties following the incident and spent three years reflecting on his actions before returning to directing. They added, "We kindly ask for viewers’ understanding."

The controversy began after online posts brought up the 2020 incident, sharing a news article from that time. The article described an SBS drama department employee, referred to as “A,” causing a disturbance in Hannam-dong, Seoul, while intoxicated. Police booked “A,” and due to their prior criminal record, an arrest warrant was requested but later denied.

It was later confirmed that “A” was PD Ham Joon Ho. After serving his suspension, he made his directorial comeback with the SBS drama Payback before taking on Love Scout.

Despite the production team's apology, the controversy has cast a shadow over the highly anticipated drama, leaving viewers wondering how it will impact the show’s reception.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds!

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