After making their official debut, many idols promote multiple singles or release mini albums before coming out with a full-length studio album (albums containing at least 10 to 12 tracks). Perhaps there is a strategic reason for the tendency to postpone the making of full-length albums: less music to consume could equal to more time spent getting to know each member; promoting one song at a time may save on production cost and allow for improvement on the quality of that song. I’m sure there are many reasons for the strategies each company chooses to pursue for a new group, but in my opinion it is such a treat for fans to receive full-length albums from our favorite idols.

The release date of a full-length studio produced album differs from group to group.

BIGBANG – 4 Months

BIGBANG debuted on August 19, 2006 at the YG Family 10th Year Concert. Four months later they released their first studio album, “Big Bang Vol. 1 – Since 2007,” on December 22, 2006.

SHINee – 3 Months

The boys from SM debuted on May 25, 2008 on “Inkiyago” with the single “Reply.” Three months later they released their first studio album, “The Shinee World,” on August 28, 2008.

2PM – 1 Year and 2 Months

2PM debuted on September 4, 2008 through their single “10 Out of 10.” They did not release a studio album until a year later. On November 10, 2009, the group released “01:59PM.”

BEAST – 1 Year and 7 Months

BEAST debuted on October 16, 2009 through “Music Bank.” Almost two years later, they released their first studio album “Fiction and Fact” on May 17, 2011.

CNBLUE – 2 Months

CNBLUE debuted officially in Korea on January 14, 2010 with the single “I’m a Loner.” However, their first studio album, “Thank U,” was released in Japan on March 20, 2010.

INFINITE – 1 Year and 1 Month

INFINITE debuted officially on June 9, 2010 with a showcase for “Come Back Again.” Their first full length studio album, “Over The Top,” was released on July 21, 2011.

TEEN TOP – 2 Years and 7 Months

TEEN TOP made their official debut on July 10, 2010 through “Music Core.” Their first full length studio album, “No. 1,” was released more than two years later, on February 25, 2013.

Block B – 1 Year and 6 Months

Block B officially debuted with a music video of their single “Freeze” on April 13, 2011. They released their first studio album, “Blockbuster,” on October 16, 2012.

B1A4 – 11 Months

B1A4 made their official debut on April 23, 2011 through “Music Core” with their single “O.K.” They released their first studio album, “Ignition,” on March 14, 2012.

B.A.P – 2 Years

B.A.P made their debut on January 27, 2012 through the release of the MV for “Warrior.” Two years later they released their first studio album, “First Sensibility,” on February 3, 2014.

EXO – 1 Year and 2 Months

EXO debuted on April 8, 2012 with “MAMA.” “XOXO,” the group’s first studio album, was released a little over a year later, on June 3, 2013.

VIXX – 1 Year and 6 Months

VIXX officially debuted with a music video of their single “Super Hero” on May 24, 2012. They released their first studio album, “Voodoo,” a year later on November 25, 2013.

BTS – 1 Years and 2 Months

BTS officially debuted with a music video for their single “No More Dream” on June 13, 2013. They released their first studio album, “Dark & Wild,” on August 19, 2014.

GOT7 – 10 Months

GOT7 made their official debut through “M! Countdown” by performing their single “Girls Girls Girls” on January 16, 2014. They released their first studio album, “Identity,” on November 18, 2014.

WINNER – 6 Days

WINNER made their official debut on August 06, 2014 through a showcase. Less than one week later, on August 12, 2014, they released the digital version of their first full length studio album “2014 S/S.”

SEVENTEEN – 11 Months

SEVENTEEN officially debuted with a showcase on May 26, 2015. Eleven months later, on April 25, 2016, their first full-length studio album, “Love & Letter,” was released.

iKON – 3 Months

iKON officially debuted on September 15, 2015. Several months later, they released their first studio album “Welcome Back” on December 23, 2015.

“Why don’t you have a boyfriend yet?” ask my relatives. I shrug and tell them I’m too busy, declining to mention the fact that I am actually in multiple parasocial relationships with my favorite celebrities. It’s the fan-girl life for me and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Join me, somilha, as I consume more K-pop, more dramas and anything I can get my hands on through the internet.