IVE Pre-releases New Song “REBEL HEART” in February, Maintaining Influence with Six Tracks on Melon’s 2024 Charts

K-pop girl group IVE is demonstrating its continued influence ahead of the release of a new song in February. Its agency, Starship Entertainment, announced last December that IVE’s third EP, “IVE EMPATHY,” is set to drop on February 3, marking a comeback approximately 9 months after the release of their second EP, “IVE SWITCH,” in April. **“REBEL HEART” to Be Pre-released on the 13th, Introducing a New Style Centered on the Theme of “EMPATHY”** IVE will release the title track “REBEL HEART” ahead of the album’s full release at 6 p.m. on the 13th (Monday). Starship Entertainment described the song as depicting the unity of rebels with distinct stories. The agency added that through “REBEL HEART,” IVE will once again showcase a new musical style rooted in confidence. The delay in releasing “IVE EMPATHY” was due to a postponement decided following the Jeju Air plane crash that occurred on December 29. Starship Entertainment chose to push back the release to honor the 179 victims of the accident. The EP’s title, “EMPATHY,” refers to emotional connection, and Starship Entertainment said it is eager to see how IVE, known for delivering diverse concepts with high quality, interprets and expresses this theme. **“LOVE DIVE” Enters Melon’s Annual Chart for Third Consecutive Year, Highlighting Enduring Influence** IVE has proven its dominance on South Korea’s largest music streaming platform in 2024 by having six of its songs make it onto Melon’s annual TOP100 chart. According to the chart released by Melon on January 9, IVE’s entries include “I AM” (21st), “HEYA” (26th), “LOVE DIVE” (60th), “Baddie,” “Kitsch,” and “After LIKE.” In particular, “LOVE DIVE” and “After LIKE,” released in 2022, have entered Melon’s annual chart for three years in a row, proving their lasting popularity. “LOVE DIVE” became a cultural phenomenon upon its release in 2022, won the grand prize at the Debut Year G-Dragon Awards, and topped the charts that year as a massive hit. IVE’s six members—Yujin, Gaeul, Lay, Wonyoung, Liz, and Leeseo—have established themselves as cultural icons who dominate social media among global fans. IVE began its first world tour last October, holding 37 concerts in 19 countries across Asia, the United States, Europe, and South America, attracting around 420,000 attendees. Their appearances at the Line Festival in the U.S. last year and Japan’s largest music festival, Summer Sonic 2024, further solidify their position as a group representing fourth-generation K-pop.