컴백 (keombaek): why every K-pop release is a "comeback"

📅 Meaning

A new release and the promotion cycle around it: teasers, a music video, music show stages and variety appearances. A group active all year can have several comebacks without ever going away.

Origin

A Konglish use of the English word “comeback.” The Korea Times quotes an expert saying some terms like this grew out of industry practice: groups promote a release, take a break to prepare, then “come back.”

✍️ Examples

1. 다음 달에 컴백한대!
   Daeum dal-e keombaek-handae!
   They’re making a comeback next month!

2. 이번 컴백 콘셉트 너무 좋아.
   Ibeon keombaek konsepteu neomu joa.
   I love this comeback’s concept.

💡 Usage tip

컴백 is used for any new release after a group’s debut. Before debut, it’s 데뷔 (debwi). A group’s first release after a long break is still just called a 컴백.