CLOSE YOUR EYES (also shortened as CYE) is a seven-member boy group under UNCORE. They were formed through JTBC&#x27;s survival show PROJECT7. They made their debut on April 2, 2025, with the mini album &quot;Enternalt&quot;. PROJECT7 started airing on October 18, 2024, and the finale was broadcast live on December 27, 2024, revealing the group name, CLOSE YOUR EYES, and the seven winners, in order: Ma Jingxiang, Kenshin, Jeon Minwook, Seo Kyoungbae, Song Seungho, Jang Yeojun, and Kim Sungmin. Before joining PROJECT7, Jeon Minwook had already debuted as a member of the boy group BAE173 and the project group A-SIX. Additionally, Ma Jingxiang was a contestant on Boys Planet, while Jang Yeojun also participated in Boys Planet and was a contestant on Wild Idol.

CLOSE YOUR EYES

He talks discovering bossa nova for the first time, what collaborating with a featured artist changed for him, and where he feels most connected to the rest of the group

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' KENSHIN – The Playful Connector

Our conversation covers vulnerability in the studio, the nerves he's worked through since his earliest days, and what he hopes CLOSER will see differently this era

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' SONG SEUNGHO – The Steady Spark

KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

KPOPWORLD #6 (KEYVITUP X VAYONN)

KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

10cm stepped into horror for the first time – and did it on his own terms

10CM on Scoring Horror for Junji Ito, and Finding Comfort in the Dark

From reworking a jazz-funk classic on his own terms to what jazz has taught him about performing alongside the group, JINGXIANG reflects on curiosity, energy, and connection

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' MA JINGXIANG – The Curious Colour-Chaser

From knowing when a recording is right to imagining where the group's colour goes next, MINWOOK shares his outlook on instinct, identity, and encouragement within the team

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' JEON MINWOOK – The Instinct-Driven Idealist

JANG YEOJUN, who reflects on craft, gratitude, and responsibility

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' JANG YEOJUN – The Precision-Driven Performer

SEVENTEEN is a thirteen-member boy group formed by Pledis Entertainment, debuting in May 2015. The group is organized into three internal teams: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. That structure is more than branding; it explains how SEVENTEEN functions, with members contributing to songwriting, choreography, staging, and the division of energy across a very large lineup. The members are S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. Their nickname as &quot;self-producing idols&quot; comes especially from Woozi&#x27;s central role in music and Hoshi&#x27;s role in performance direction, but the larger appeal is how the group makes thirteen people feel coordinated rather than crowded. SEVENTEEN&#x27;s early music leaned bright, youthful, and rhythmically nimble, with songs like &quot;Adore U,&quot; &quot;Mansae,&quot; and &quot;Very Nice&quot; presenting them as a group with unusual stage chemistry. Later releases such as &quot;Don&#x27;t Wanna Cry,&quot; &quot;Home,&quot; &quot;Left &amp; Right,&quot; &quot;Rock with you,&quot; and &quot;Super&quot; widened the scale while keeping the choreography and vocal distribution clear. Their best songs often turn teamwork itself into the hook: repeated gestures, fast transitions, and formations that reward watching the whole stage. The group&#x27;s growth into one of K-pop&#x27;s top album sellers came from consistency as much as spectacle. SEVENTEEN built trust through steady comebacks, strong variety content, and concerts that emphasized the members&#x27; humor as well as precision. Their fandom, CARAT, became part of that identity, following a group that could be technically impressive without losing warmth. SEVENTEEN&#x27;s legacy is tied to durability. Few large idol groups have kept such a clear group image while allowing so many individual personalities to stand out. As their scale expanded under the wider HYBE era, they remained recognizably Pledis-born: performance-first, member-driven, and unusually good at turning the mechanics of a big team into something emotionally easy to understand.

SEVENTEEN

JEONGHAN and JOSHUA of SEVENTEEN have announced that they will return as a new sub-unit on October 19, under the name JxJ

SEVENTEEN’s JEONGHAN and JOSHUA Form New Sub-unit JxJ

IVE is a six-member girl group formed by Starship Entertainment, debuting in December 2021. The group includes former IZ*ONE members Wonyoung and Yujin alongside Gaeul, Rei, Leeseo, and Liz. IVE&#x27;s concept centers on self-confidence and self-love, encapsulated by their motto &quot;I HAVE&quot; -- a declaration of owning one&#x27;s identity rather than chasing external validation. From their first single, &quot;Eleven,&quot; IVE established a style built around poise rather than maximal force. &quot;Love Dive,&quot; &quot;After Like,&quot; and &quot;I Am&quot; strengthened that image with sleek hooks, elegant choreography, and lyrics that frame confidence as something cool and self-possessed. The group stood out in a crowded fourth-generation field by feeling polished early: less like rookies chasing impact and more like a brand arriving already defined. IVE&#x27;s appeal also comes from contrast inside the lineup. Yujin gives the group a strong leader and performance anchor, Wonyoung brings a highly visible center presence, Liz adds vocal brightness, Rei gives the rap line a distinctive tone, Gaeul sharpens the dance and rap texture, and Leeseo adds youthful energy without making the group feel overly cute. Starship&#x27;s presentation often uses that balance to make IVE feel fashionable, direct, and easy to recognize. The fandom is known as DIVE, and IVE quickly became one of the defining girl groups of their generation through a mix of public-friendly singles, strong visual identity, and high-profile members. Their significance is not just that they produced hit songs, but that they helped re-center a graceful, self-assured pop image in modern K-pop: glamorous without being distant, confident without needing to shout, and accessible without feeling generic.

On October 5, 2026, IVE unveiled the tracklist for their upcoming mini album ‘Looks Can Kill,’ with popular singer-songwriter Zara Larsson making an appearance in its credits

Zara Larsson Credited as a Composer on IVE’s “Glow Motion”

VIVIZ is a three-member girl group consisting of SinB, Eunha, and Umji — three former members of the beloved group GFRIEND. After GFRIEND&#x27;s sudden disbandment in 2021, the trio signed with BPM Entertainment and redebuted as VIVIZ (Visual, Vivid, and Illusion) in February 2022. Their formation was a testament to the bond between the members and their determination to continue performing together. VIVIZ gained significant attention through their appearance on Mnet&#x27;s &quot;Queendom 2,&quot; where they showcased their growth and versatility to a wide audience. Their releases, including &quot;BOP BOP!&quot; and &quot;LOVEADE,&quot; lean into retro-pop and dance-pop territory. For fans of GFRIEND, known as Buddies, VIVIZ represents a bittersweet continuation — different in name and sound, but carrying forward the spirit of the friendship that defined one of K-pop&#x27;s most popular girl groups. VIVIZ has carved out their own space as a mature, confident trio while honoring the legacy they helped build.

VIVIZ

Eunha, SinB and Umji of girl group VIVIZ have signed an exclusive contract with UNCORE, the agency announced on October 5, 2026

VIVIZ Trio Sign With UNCORE, Possible Name Change

Stray Kids is an eight-member boy group under JYP Entertainment, consisting of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. The group was introduced through the 2017 survival program Stray Kids and officially debuted in March 2018 with I Am Not, following the pre-debut release &quot;Hellevator.&quot; Former member Kim Woojin left in 2019. The group&#x27;s identity is unusually tied to self-production. Before debut, Bang Chan had already gathered the members around a team-first concept, and the production trio 3RACHA -- Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han -- became the engine behind much of Stray Kids&#x27; sound. That gave the group a different center of gravity from many idol acts: the music often felt like it came from inside the team rather than being assigned to them. Musically, Stray Kids are known for dense rap writing, aggressive electronic textures, sudden rhythmic switches, and choruses built for performance impact. &quot;God&#x27;s Menu,&quot; &quot;Back Door,&quot; &quot;Thunderous,&quot; &quot;Maniac,&quot; and &quot;S-Class&quot; made their style easy to identify: noisy in the intentional sense, but organized around hooks, slogans, and choreography that fans could immediately hold onto. Their lyrics often return to pressure, self-definition, ambition, and the awkward process of growing into confidence. The members&#x27; contrast is a major part of the group&#x27;s appeal. Bang Chan anchors the team as leader and producer; Changbin and Han give the rap line speed and personality; Lee Know, Hyunjin, and Felix shape the performance image; Seungmin and I.N bring clearer melodic balance. Rather than smoothing those differences out, Stray Kids usually lean into them, making their songs feel crowded, restless, and unmistakably theirs. Stray Kids became one of the defining global boy groups of the fourth generation, with a fandom known as STAY and major touring success across Asia, North America, Europe, and beyond. Their rise helped prove that a self-producing idol group could scale internationally while keeping a specific sonic fingerprint. Even when the group experiments with genre or language, the core idea remains stable: Stray Kids make high-impact pop out of tension, noise, teamwork, and control.

Stray Kids

JYP Entertainment has declared that Stray Kids did not submit any music for the 2027 Grammy Awards, several weeks following BTS’ decision to do the same

Stray Kids Join BTS in Withdrawing from the Grammy Awards

Concert ticket reselling has become an increasingly visible problem in K-pop, with tickets for high-demand shows being resold for many times their original price

The K-pop Ticket Reselling Problem

K-pop’s influence on fashion week has become part of the system

K-Pop Showed Its Power In New York, London, and Milan for SS27

AMPERS&amp;ONE is a seven-member South Korean boy group under FNC Entertainment. The group debuted on November 15, 2023 with their first single album Ampersand One. The lineup consists of Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell, and Seungmo. Prior to their debut, FNC Entertainment announced plans to launch a new boy group and later confirmed that former Boys Planet contestants Kamden and Jiho would be part of the lineup. The group name, AMPERS&amp;ONE, was revealed along with the opening of official social media accounts, followed by the introduction of each member through individual profile releases. The group officially debuted with the single album Ampersand One. They returned the following year with their second single album One Hearted and later released their first mini album One Question. During this period, the group also held their first fan meeting, “&amp;Dear. My First _,” in Seoul. AMPERS&amp;ONE expanded their activities internationally through a series of fan meetings in Asia and their first tour in the United States. They continued their releases with the mini album Wild &amp; Free, followed by their third mini album Loud &amp; Proud. The group later participated in the U.S. leg of P1Harmony’s “P1ustage H: Most Wanted” tour as an opening act, marking one of their earliest large-scale international touring experiences. On February 6th the group won their first ever award, the &quot;Rising Star Male Idol&quot; award at the 2026 Korea First Brand Awards. &quot;Definition&quot; with be their fourth mini album.

AMPERS&ONE

AMPERS&amp;ONE closed out their first-ever European tour in London, and they left little doubt that they’re ready for bigger stages

AMPERS&ONE Live in London: A Live Debut Worth Remembering

ILLIT is a South Korean girl group formed through the 2023 reality survival show R U Next?. The group is managed by Belift Lab, a subsidiary of HYBE, and debuted in March 2024 with the EP &quot;Super Real Me&quot;. ILLIT consists of five members: Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha, though former member Youngeso left before the group officially debuted despite making the final line up. The group quickly gained global attention with their debut title track Magnetic, which became a viral hit on social media platforms and achieved high placements on international music charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. Their sound combines elements of Kpop, electronic pop, and dreamy pop aesthetics. ILLIT&#x27;s concept focuses on youthful energy and individuality, presenting a soft yet modern pop style that has helped establish the group as one of the notable fifth-generation Kpop girl groups.

ILLIT

ILLIT’s debut title track “Magnetic” has earned a Triple Platinum certification in Japan, according to the Recording Industry Association of Japan on October 2

ILLIT Becomes Fastest Overseas Female Artist to Hit Triple Platinum in Japan with “Magnetic”

TWICE is a nine-member girl group formed by JYP Entertainment through the survival show Sixteen. The lineup consists of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, with members from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. They debuted in October 2015 with &quot;Like Ooh-Ahh,&quot; introducing the bright, kinetic identity that would make them one of the central girl groups of K-pop&#x27;s third generation. The group&#x27;s early rise was built on an unusually clear pop formula: big choruses, memorable gestures, colorful styling, and personalities that were easy for viewers to distinguish. A run led by &quot;Cheer Up&quot; and &quot;TT&quot; turned TWICE into a national-level phenomenon in Korea, while their Japanese members helped the group cross naturally into Japan&#x27;s idol and pop markets. Rather than relying on a single vocal or dance center, TWICE worked because the lineup felt balanced as a whole: playful, approachable, and tightly rehearsed. As the members grew older, TWICE gradually expanded beyond the cute and school-age image attached to their first hits. The move from &quot;Fancy&quot; through &quot;I Can&#x27;t Stop Me&quot; kept the group&#x27;s melodic accessibility while bringing in sleeker dance-pop, disco, synth-pop, and more mature performance styling. That evolution mattered because it let TWICE remain recognizable without staying frozen in their debut concept. TWICE also became one of the clearest examples of a K-pop girl group building a long international career without losing its domestic base. Their Korean and Japanese discographies developed side by side, and later global touring brought the group to arenas and stadiums far beyond East Asia. The fandom is known as ONCE, a name that matches the group&#x27;s long-running emphasis on mutual loyalty between the members and their audience. Their legacy is not only commercial. TWICE helped define what a modern large girl group could be: member-driven, visually bright, musically immediate, and durable enough to age into a second phase. They normalized the idea that a top K-pop girl group could keep all members active across many years, shift concepts without abandoning its core warmth, and still feel like a complete team even as individual members developed solo work, acting, modeling, and unit activities.

TWICE

NAYEON of TWICE has released a new single with Brazilian DJ Alok, titled “Bye Bye Inhibitions”

TWICE’s NAYEON Collaborates with Brazilian DJ Alok on “Bye Bye Inhibitions”

ALPHA DRIVE ONE, also shortened as ALD1, is an eight-member project boy group under WAKEONE. The lineup consists of Leo, Junseo, Arno, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin, and Sanghyeon. The group was formed through Boys II Planet, continuing the survival-show project group model that has become central to modern K-pop fandom. Their early rollout included the pre-debut single &quot;Formula&quot; before their official 2026 debut, giving the team a staged introduction rather than a single launch moment. The fandom is known as ALLYZ. ALPHA DRIVE ONE is defined by its formation, lineup, debut structure, and five-year project framework, giving fans a clear sense of both the group&#x27;s origin and the limited-contract timeline around its future.

ALPHA DRIVE ONE

ALPHA DRIVE ONE are taking UNBREAKABLE : 少年 BEAST stateside

ALPHA DRIVE ONE Release UNBREAKABLE : 少年 BEAST in the U.S. for the First Time

If you’re ready to hit the dance floor, then this week’s K-pop releases are for you. Check out our latest picks in this week’s Comeback Corner column

Comeback Corner: JUN, CHANYEOL, CRAVITY & MORE

KARD is a four-member South Korean co-ed group under DSP Media, consisting of J.Seph, BM, Somin, and Jiwoo. They officially debuted on July 19, 2017 with Hola Hola after a pre-debut project series that introduced the group through &quot;Oh NaNa,&quot; &quot;Don&#x27;t Recall,&quot; and &quot;Rumor.&quot; The group&#x27;s significance starts with its lineup structure. Co-ed idol groups are rare in modern K-pop, and KARD made that format feel central rather than novelty-based. Their performances are built around contrast: male and female vocal colors, rap and vocal handoffs, and choreography that lets the four members interact as a unit instead of splitting into separate halves. Musically, KARD became closely associated with tropical house, dancehall, Latin-pop, and club-oriented pop, sounds that helped them connect quickly with international audiences. &quot;Hola Hola&quot; established the bright version of that identity, while later singles such as &quot;Gunshot,&quot; &quot;Ring The Alarm,&quot; and &quot;Icky&quot; leaned into sharper performance energy and heavier rhythmic production. The fandom is known as Hidden KARD. KARD became one of K-pop&#x27;s clearest examples of a stable co-ed act with a global audience. Their longevity matters because they kept a distinct lane through military hiatuses, changing industry trends, and a market where most idol teams follow same-gender formats.

KARD

Three years after their last London show, KARD returned to a room so packed that security had to ask fans to move closer together

Zara Larsson Credited as a Composer on IVE’s “Glow Motion”

VIVIZ Trio Sign With UNCORE, Possible Name Change

Exclusive

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' KENSHIN – The Playful Connector

Meet The Member: An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' SONG SEUNGHO – The Steady Spark

News

Stray Kids Join BTS in Withdrawing from the Grammy Awards

The K-pop Ticket Reselling Problem

K-Pop Showed Its Power In New York, London, and Milan for SS27

AMPERS&ONE Live in London: A Live Debut Worth Remembering

ILLIT Becomes Fastest Overseas Female Artist to Hit Triple Platinum in Japan with “Magnetic”

TWICE’s NAYEON Collaborates with Brazilian DJ Alok on “Bye Bye Inhibitions”

ALPHA DRIVE ONE Release UNBREAKABLE : 少年 BEAST in the U.S. for the First Time

Comeback Corner: JUN, CHANYEOL, CRAVITY & MORE

KARD Prove Their Chemistry Is Bigger Than Any Contract in London

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