K-pop’s summer songs are slowing down

For years, K-pop’s formula for a summer hit was straightforward: bright hooks, energetic choreography and songs designed to soundtrack festivals, beaches and vacations.

From Red Velvet’s “Red Flavor” to Sistar’s “Touch My Body,” summer releases were often built around high-energy choruses meant to beat the heat.

This year, however, the mood has changed.

Rather than turning up the tempo, several artists have opted for slower, more restrained songs that lean into the season’s lingering warmth inst