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SHINee performs in London, gears up for Japanese album release

Hallyu idol group SHINee was one of the featured artists at the recently concluded sixth installment of the annual London Korean Film Festival. Apparently, getting SHINee for the festival, held at the Odeon West End Theater in Leicester Square, was a coup for the festival organizers, because, according to the England-based Korean Cultural Center, SHINee is the most widely recognized K-Pop star in the United Kingdom.

As featured artists for the 6th Annual London Korean Film Festival, Onew, Jonghyun, Minho, Key, and Taemin entertained a maximum-capacity crowd on November 3 at the festival's grand opening. According to sources, English SHAWOLs - as SHINee fans are known - lined up the streets prior to the SHINee showcase, singing the boy band's songs and participating in impromptu performances of the group's hit songs, many of which were performed at the showcase, including "Replay," "Juliette," "Ring Ding Dong," and "Lucifer." Demand for tickets was so high that representatives of the Odeon Theater noted that SHINee was the first act ever in the history of the venue to crash its online ticket reservation system.

"The tickets for SHINee's showcase sold faster than tickets to 'Harry Potter,'" representatives told sources.

The London showcase is only the latest in a series of English takeovers by the popular K-pop group. Earlier in the year, SHINee earned the enviable position of becoming the first Asian singers to perform a top bill at Abbey Road Studios. The English recording industry's respect for SHINee was underscored by the unprecedented media coverage of their concert at the Odeon, with reporters from many local and international news outlets, including CNN, The Times, The Guardian, and The Independent, in attendance.

The day after the showcase, SHINee returned to Korea to continue preparations for the release of "THE FIRST," its first full-length Japanese release, which drops on December 7 all across Japan. Featuring SHINee's first three Top 3 singles "Replay - You Are My Everything," "Juliette," and "Lucifer," the 12-track album will be released in three editions, ranging from US$37 for a regular version, to a special limited edition US$80 box edition which includes a deluxe CD, a 88-page photobook, a limited edition button, a full MP3 version of the album, a 2012 calendar, and DVD with jacket shooting footage. The prices are high but with all the add-ons, fans will surely have a lot of "SHINee stuff" to treasure.

SHINee is indeed taking over the world with their talent and irresistible idol charms. Are you a SHAWOL? How does it feel to see your idols shine in the world stage? Share your thoughts with us!

Catherine Deen blogs for Yahoo! Philippines OMG! She lives, eats and breathes Korean music, cuisine, telenovelas, and pop culture. Follow her on Twitter @cathsdeen.