Hot atop the charts is Yunga [ASX], the ninth track off Yoo Seung Jun's album Over and Over. Most of the people I've talked with thought this was a boring CD, but it sure seems to be producing hits.

Yoo Seung Jun is facing tough competition for the top spot. Right now, the mixed-up Youngwon (Forever) [ASX] by Sky is placing just as well (if not better) than Yunga. Sky might have a slight advantage in that it is fronted by the singer/actor Choi Jin Young.

Several new songs have joined the rankings this week. The first notable is Neomahneun Moreugil (Hope You're In the Dark) [RealAudio], a sultry R&B song by the new group As One. Korean-Americans Crystal Chae (20) and Min-Young Yi (22) comprise this duo. You might recognize their California voices from previous collaborations Yoo Seung Jun.

Lee Soo Young is seeing some success with her new delicate and gentle single, I Believe [ASX]. Upon first listening, I thought the opening bars had a distinct Chinese influence. At first the notion was subtle, but by the end of the song the effect was strong enough to make one wonder if they are listening to the Dragon soundtrack.

Also moving into the R&B genre is Fly to the Sky. Their song Day By Day [ASX] hit the charts quickly and is climbing fast. My guess is that Fly to the Sky shares the same synthesizer as the rest of the SM entertainment groups. This title song performed by Hwan Hee and Brian is smooth and sweet, but the synthesized background is lame.

G.O.D. has a new single as well, entitled Aesoo [ASX]. This song is a bit different for them, opening with a Euro guitar sound followed by rap in the middle, all with a bit on the salsa underpinnings. Their rap style, and how they drag out the words to me is appealing.

Also new to the charts is 2000 Daehanmingook's Ahreumdaeun 21C [ASX]. Their rhythm and overall feel to this song is appealing (better than most of the album), but the "hangook, mingook" chant became tiring. Many might like the rap in this one because it is pretty tight.

With a completely different tune is Jo Sung Mo's Gashinamoo (Thorn Tree) [ASX], the first track on his new album Jo Sung Mo Classic. Gashinamoo has an incredibly lyrical opening reminiscent of a celtic air. The song breaks into a simple piano line followed by vocals invoking an aura of fragility around the artist. Jo Sung Mo articulates each word with such deliberateness?it creates a haunting, melancholy effect. The song ends with an echo of the sweeping air from the beginning of the piece. This by far is my favorite ballad of the season.

Although Jinju appeared on a couple of rankings a few weeks ago, this is the first time I've heard her Leaving Me [RealAudio] on the radio. This song carries a more mature tone than some of the songs on her debut album. It should -- it has been four years since she released the first album. The percussion, and her warm, jazzy vocal quality makes for good listening.

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