Korean six-man group Shinhwa has drawn attention not only in Korea but also throughout Asia with its soon-to-be-released eighth feature album. The new album, scheduled to be released on Thursday some one year and nine months after its seventh album, posted the most advance orders at Hot Tracks, Korea's largest record shop, as well as at HMV, Japan's largest record chain.

The group's agency Good Entertainment Media Group said Monday that the group's new album has been on the top of the advance order list at Hot Tracks since it started taking advance orders from May 3. "In Japan as well, the album has topped the advance order list of record chain HMV. In addition, its first Japanese single to be released in June is ranked second on HMV's weekly advance order list," the agency added.

To celebrate the release, the group will hold a concert entitled "Shinhwa, 2006 Tour 'State of the Art'" in Seoul on May 13 and 14, which will mark the beginning of its Asian tour. At the concert, Shinhwa will perform new songs, including "Once in a Lifetime," the title song of the eighth album, and "We Have a Sun in Our Heart" from its Japanese single album. It will also show the music video for "Once in a Lifetime," shot in Japan, for the first time at the concert.

After the concert in Seoul, Shinhwa plans to hold another concert in Busan and embark on its Asian tour including Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore from June 1.

Source: KBS Global