KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

KPOPWORLD #6 (KEYVITUP X VAYONN)

KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

LOONA (이달의 소녀, &quot;Girl of the Month&quot;) is a girl group formed by Blockberry Creative with one of the most ambitious pre-debut projects in K-pop history. From 2016 to 2018, each of the twelve members was individually introduced with her own solo single, music video, and lore before the full group debuted in August 2018. This elaborate rollout created an intricate &quot;LOONAVERSE&quot; mythology that captivated fans who dissected every visual clue and narrative connection. LOONA&#x27;s music spans a remarkable range of styles — from Chuu&#x27;s bubbly &quot;Heart Attack&quot; to the cinematic grandeur of &quot;Butterfly&quot; to the girl-crush energy of &quot;PTT (Paint the Town).&quot; The group gained a uniquely devoted international fandom, Orbits, who turned LOONA into an internet phenomenon long before the group achieved mainstream domestic success. Despite significant company controversies and member departures, LOONA&#x27;s creative ambition and the quality of their discography have ensured their place in K-pop history as one of the most artistically inventive groups of their generation.

LOONA

From LOONA to her evolution as a solo artist, Yves opens up about her journey, creative identity, and the challenges behind her growth in an honest, unfiltered conversation in 2026

The Self-Image of Yves

KEYVITUP is a five-member boy group under iNKODE, formed through the agency’s INTHE X Project. The lineup—Sena, Hyunmin, Taehwan, Rukia, and Jaein—was introduced step by step through pre-debut content, building anticipation around a team designed with a strong performance focus and a clear concept from the start. As part of a dual-group rollout, KEYVITUP was positioned with a trendy and dynamic identity, contrasting with its counterpart group. This concept highlights a more energetic and performance-driven style, setting the tone for their music and overall image even before debut. They are set to make their debut with the self-titled EP KEYVITUP, marking the official beginning of their activities. With pre-debut exposure, international stage appearances, and a defined concept, the group enters the scene with momentum and a clear direction moving forward.

KEYVITUP

For our latest Digital Cover, we sit down with HYUNMIN, TAEHWAN, SENA, JAEIN, and RUKIA to talk about their debut, finding their sound, writing and shaping their own music, the chemistry that holds them together, and where they want to take KEYVITUP next

KEYVITUP - The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

If there’s one aspect of the K-pop promotional cycle that’s considered the most integral, it’s music shows and, consequently, music show wins

What Actually Is a Music Show Win – and How Do Groups Get Them?

KickFlip is a seven-member boy group under JYP Entertainment, consisting of Kyehoon, Amaru, Donghwa, Juwang, Minje, Keiju, and Donghyeon. The group was formed through the SBS audition program Loud and debuted in 2025. The group&#x27;s identity connects JYP&#x27;s idol training system with a more youthful, agile performance image. Because several members were already known from a survival-show context, KickFlip&#x27;s debut carried built-in curiosity around how the lineup would translate from trainee competition to a working group. The fandom is known as WeFlip. KickFlip is still early in its career, with its public identity centered on formation, lineup, and debut positioning rather than a long-established legacy.

KickFlip

KickFlip are ready to kick off a new chapter. Ahead of their first world tour in 2027, the JYP Entertainment rookies sit down with KPOPWORLD to discuss their new album KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1

KickFlip Talk KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1 Ahead of First World Tour

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 us through the writing process behind the album's closing track, how he's grown since debut, and what drives him to keep reaching further

Meet The Member An Interview with CLOSE YOUR EYES' SEO KYOUNGBAE – Always Climbing Higher

PURPLE K!SS has been making music as a girl group under RBW since 2020. The group consists of six members: Na Go-eun, Dosie, Ireh, Yuki, Chaein and Swan.

Watch the Moment PURPLE K!SS shared their behind-the-scenes moments 

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Shining” by JAURIM

LISA of the globally and critically acclaimed K-pop girl group BLACKPINK released a teaser image for her upcoming comeback.

BLACKPINK’s LISA is about to embrace her inner “ROCKSTAR”

UNIS is one of the newest players in the idol game. Their debut EP, We Unis, dropped a mere 3 months ago on March 27, 2024.

See the moment UNIS took over @Style magazine

In case you couldn’t tell by our back-to-back spotlights, we’ve been on a bit of a n@di kick lately. This song is a collaboration between n@di and the Korean indie singer/songwriter Binn, whose voice has such a distinct, soulful flavor to it.

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Two Trees” by Binn (feat. n@di)

Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survivor finalists Bitsaeun, Seunghun, Jay Chang, and Kim Minseo are poised to make their official debut as B.D.U. Their debut mini album, wishpool, is set to drop on June 26, 2024.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced B.D.U in the 80s

WayV’s latest mini album dropped on June 3, 2024. Entitled Give Me That, its title track from the NCT unit has over 5 million streams already.

Watch the moment WayV wowed the world with their dancing

This is a smooth K-indie ballad with jazzy undertones. n@di’s sweet lead vocal swoops and soars in such a pure fashion.

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Letter” by n@di

Is it possible for a group as huge and as recognizable as NewJeans to “debut” 2 years after they became a band and topped charts all around the world? Apparently yes. NewJeans is about to make their official Japanese debut.

NewJeans looks surprisingly natural in these “Supernatural” concepts

Did you know that K-pop megastars BTS and the British rock band Coldplay have collaborated on a song?

Collab Corner: BTS X Coldplay

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Loved, hoped, lost” by GYE0M

The South Korean actor Seo In Guk, known for his roles in shows like Master’s Sun, Hello Monster, Doom At Your Service, and Death’s Game, has also accomplished the impressive feat of managing a simultaneous music career ever since he won Superstark K in 2009.

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