THE BOYZ is an eleven-member boy group formed by Cre.Ker Entertainment (now an independent group), debuting in December 2017. The group gained significant attention for their performance abilities, particularly after their appearance on the Mnet competition show &quot;Road to Kingdom&quot; in 2020, where they won first place with theatrical, visually stunning stages that showcased their storytelling through dance. Their &quot;Road to Kingdom&quot; victory was a turning point, elevating THE BOYZ from a mid-tier group to one of the most respected performance-focused acts in K-pop. Songs like &quot;The Stealer,&quot; &quot;THRILL RIDE,&quot; and &quot;MAVERICK&quot; have highlighted their versatility. THE BOYZ&#x27;s fandom, THE B, has grown steadily, supporting the group through sold-out concerts and strong album sales. The group is widely regarded as having some of the best synchronized choreography and stage presence in the industry. On March 19, 2026, nine members of The Boyz filed for the termination of their exclusive contracts with One Hundred Label, citing issues including unpaid settlements and a breakdown of trust. The agency disputed the claims and rejected the termination, resulting in a legal dispute between the parties. As of April 23, 2026, the court ruled in favor of the nine members, granting the boys an injunction to end the validity of their contracts. The members who were involved are officially free from their ties with One Hundred Label, however the last member still remains as of right now. The group is currently continuing forward as an independent group, being one of the most successful of their peers to make such move.

THE BOYZ

In the midst of the various changes THE BOYZ have gone through in the last few months, its members are still determined to forge a path together as a group and alone, on their own terms

JACOB: Flying Solo

WHIB is a seven-member boy group under C-JeS Entertainment, consisting of members Kim Junmin, Haseung, Jinbeom, UGeon, Leejeong, Jaeha, and Wonjun. Originally an octet, they debuted on November 8, 2023, with the single album Cut-Out. The group was first teased in November 2021 as the trainee group M.I.C, which stood for “Made in C-JeS.” On September 7, 2023, it was revealed that the group would debut as an eight-member group under the name WHIB, along with introductions to the new members. In 2025, members LeeJeong, Junmin and Wonjun competed on the Mnet survival show Boys II Planet, ranking 12th, 13th, and 62nd, respectively. On October 16, it was announced that member Inhong had departed from the group. WHIB released their first mini album, ROCK THE NATION, on January 29, 2026.

WHIB

Always thinking about ways to support the team, JEONG brings a distinctly group-minded perspective to his role in WHIB

An Interview with WHIB’s LEE JEONG – The Team Player Who Brings WHIB Together

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&amp;TEAM is a nine-member Japanese boy group under YX Labels (formerly HYBE Labels Japan). The group was formed through the survival program &quot;&amp;Audition - The Howling&quot; and debuted in December 2022 with their first extended play &quot;First Howling: Me&quot;. The group consists of EJ, Fuma, K, Nicholas, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki, and Maki, with EJ serving as the leader. Several members, including K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki, previously participated in the survival show I-LAND before being selected for HYBE&#x27;s Japanese global debut project. Before their official debut, the group released the digital single Under the Skin, which introduced their storyline and concept. Their debut EP, First Howling,e followed shortly afterward, marking the beginning of the group&#x27;s &quot;First Howling&quot; series of releases. Although primarily active in Japan, &amp;TEAM promoted internationally and later expanded into Korea with Korean-language releases and promotions. Their fandom name is LUNÉ, representing fans who support the group like the moon lighting the night sky.

&TEAM

&amp;TEAM's first-ever U.S. performances weren't just a KCON debut, they were a test. On the Artist Stage, the group played to a packed, barricade-close crowd

&TEAM's KCON 2026 Debut Stands Out

TNX (an acronym for The New Six) is a five-member boy group under P NATION. Originally debuting as six members, the group was formed through the SBS survival program LOUD, a collaboration project between J.Y. Park and PSY. They officially debuted on May 17, 2022 with their first mini album Way Up. The group’s lineup was finalized during the finale of LOUD in 2021, where Kyung Jun, Tae Hun, Hyun Soo, Jun Hyeok, Hwi, Sung Jun, and Tanaka Koki were selected for P NATION’s upcoming boy group. However, in January 2022, P NATION announced that Tanaka Koki would not debut with the team in order to continue training, leading the group to debut as six members under the name TNX. On their debut day, they also introduced their fandom name THX, meaning “Together with TNX.” Following their debut, TNX continued building their discography with releases such as Love Never Dies, Boyhood, and the digital single &quot;Fuego&quot;, while also participating in the survival competition Road to Kingdom : Ace of Ace in 2024. During this period, member Jun Hyeok temporarily paused activities due to anxiety before later returning to the group. In October 2024, it was announced that member Kyung Jun would enlist in the military and depart from the group following the completion of his service, reducing TNX to five members. The group continued activities with releases including the mini album For Real? in 2025 and the digital single &quot;Call Me Back&quot; in 2026, maintaining their growth under P NATION.

TNX have spent four years building a reputation on performance. With "Die Another Day," they went looking for it somewhere new

TNX Talk Rock, Live Vocals, and Refusing to Hold Back

XLOV is a South Korean boy group formed by 257 Entertainment and currently managed by [WM Entertainment]. The group consists of four members: Wumuti, Rui, Hyun, and Haru. They debuted on January 7, 2025, with the single album I&#x27;mma Be. XLOV gained attention for promoting a genderless concept, incorporating androgynous styling and performances that challenge traditional gender norms in Kpop. The group&#x27;s name combines &quot;X,&quot; representing the unknown and negation, with &quot;LOV,&quot; symbolizing incomplete love, while their fandom name, EVOL, represents the completion of that concept. Several members were previously known through survival programs before debut. Wumuti, Rui, and Haru participated in Boys Planet, while Wumuti was also active in the project group WATERFIRE before helping form XLOV. The group is particularly noted for Wumuti&#x27;s involvement in songwriting and production, including contributions to their debut release. Since debuting, XLOV has released music including I&#x27;mma Be and I ONE, earning recognition for their distinctive concept, performance style, and growing international fanbase. In 2026, the group&#x27;s management structure changed following the acquisition of 257 Entertainment by WM Entertainment through RBW. Their music primarily incorporates elements of hip-hop, R&amp;B, and pop, while their visual identity and performances have distinguished them as one of the more unconventional rookie acts of the fifth generation of Kpop.

XLOV

Since debuting in January 2025, XLOV have made genderless styling the foundation of their entire identity, not just a look one member occasionally reaches for

How XLOV’s Genderless Styling Is Breaking the K-Pop Mould

CHOI YU REE returns with Stay: Two, the companion EP to last year's Stay: One – but this isn't a sequel that continues the story

Track-By-Track: Choi Yu Ree’s Stay: Two

A songwriter and composer within the group, JUNMIN approaches music from the melody up, while embracing WHIB’s ability to move between different sounds and styles

An Interview with WHIB’s KIM JUNMIN – The Melody-Minded Music Maker

Once driven by the need to do everything perfectly, he has learned to trust his own strengths, find his individual style, and enjoy the process more freely

An Interview with WHIB’s WONJUN – The Perfectionist Learning to Trust Himself

There are two very distinct vibes battling it out in this week’s releases: subdued and stress-free vs. carefree and reckless — both sides impeccably executed across the board

Comeback Corner: NCT 127, TUIDE, XG & MORE

Expanding his skills across both singing and rap, JAEHA is discovering new sides of himself as a performer while drawing support from the older members

An Interview with WHIB’s JAEHA – The All-Rounder Finding His Range

Beyond K-pop, Southeast Asian genres like P-pop are gaining international attention. Leading the charge is boy band SB19, who are coming to San Antonio to show exactly why

KPOPWORLD Festival Spotlight: SB19

The first KPOPWORLD Festival &amp; Worldwide Dance Competition lands at San Antonio's Alamodome from 28–31 October, with the promise of two action-packed nights of live music

Spotlight: The KPOPWORLD Festival 2026 Line-Up

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, SEVENTEEN’s Vernon revealed his stance on the over-Westernization of K-pop in recent years compared to the industry’s distinct and experimental sounds in its early years

K-pop Has Always Been Westernized, But When Did the Inspiration Turn Into a Chase?

WAYF BOYS' debut MV opens with an argument in a moving car and ends with a member dropping his pants in front of police - and somewhere in between, the group makes its whole thesis clear

WAYF BOYS Debut Like They've Already Won

The seven-member group – SEOHEE, SEOYEON, ELENA, JIA, SAKI, SEAH, and YI HANI – have officially debuted as the first act under HYBE's ABD label, releasing their debut EP TUNE &amp; PLAY today

TUIDE Officially Debut with ‘TUNE & PLAY’

&nbsp;This week’s column breaks down MTV VMA Best K-pop snubs, the fallout from RM and j-hope attending a Chris Brown concert, and why U.S. labels are signing rookie groups like WAYF BOYS

Last Week In K-pop, Interpreted (August 17 - August 21, 2026)

TEN's first project under his own company, ILLIMNT, has a release date. 'OUTWEST,' a single album dropping September 4, marks his first non-commemorative release since leaving SM Entertainment

An Interview with WHIB’s WONJUN – The Perfectionist Learning to Trust Himself

Comeback Corner: NCT 127, TUIDE, XG & MORE

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JACOB: Flying Solo

An Interview with WHIB’s LEE JEONG – The Team Player Who Brings WHIB Together

News

An Interview with WHIB’s JAEHA – The All-Rounder Finding His Range

KPOPWORLD Festival Spotlight: SB19

Spotlight: The KPOPWORLD Festival 2026 Line-Up

K-pop Has Always Been Westernized, But When Did the Inspiration Turn Into a Chase?

WAYF BOYS Debut Like They've Already Won

How XLOV’s Genderless Styling Is Breaking the K-Pop Mould

TUIDE Officially Debut with ‘TUNE & PLAY’

Last Week In K-pop, Interpreted (August 17 - August 21, 2026)

TEN Announces Single-Album ‘OUTWEST’ for September

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