KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

KPOPWORLD #6 (KEYVITUP X VAYONN)

KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

Choi Yu Ree discusses Stay: Two, the closing chapter of her Stay series, exploring vulnerability, love, fear, and the quiet emotions that shape everyday life through her intimate songwriting.

Choi Yu Ree Is Staying True to Herself

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

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

After nearly a decade with THE BOYZ, KEVIN MOON is stepping into a new chapter as a solo artist with his debut project, FREECHILD

An Interview with KEVIN MOON – A Caged Bird Set Free

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?

A2O Entertainment, led by the return of SM founder Lee Soo-man, has announced the simultaneous debut of both a boy group and a girl group set for October 12, 2026

Lee Soo-man’s A2O Entertainment Set To Debut Boy and Girl Group Simultaneously

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

Deep Cut of the Week: ILLIT – “bamsopoong (Midnight Picnic)”

ENHYPEN is a boy group formed through the 2020 survival show I-LAND and managed by Belift Lab, currently made up of Jungwon, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki. They debuted in November 2020 with Border: Day One, arriving with a global audience already in place from the show and a concept organized around connection, transformation, and fate. Their early work used dark, dramatic imagery to pull away from brighter rookie formulas. "Given-Taken," "Drunk-Dazed," "Fever," and the later Dimension and Dark Blood eras leaned on supernatural metaphor, sharp choreography, and a push-pull between elegance and danger &mdash; which made them feel less like a survival-show byproduct than a group with an ongoing storyline. The member appeal is heavily performance-driven: Jungwon holds a steady center as leader, Jay and Jake bring international texture, Sunghoon's figure-skating background shapes his clean stage presence, Sunoo adds brightness and contrast, and Ni-ki anchors the dance line with rare precision for a maknae. Their fandom, ENGENE, grew fast because the group's identity rewarded close reading &mdash; music, lore, and member development all unfolding at once. As a fourth-generation act, ENHYPEN sit at the junction of survival-show fandom and global idol scale. They demonstrated that a group could debut with a transnational audience already watching, then hold it through consistent visual storytelling, polished performance, and songs that treated adolescence as mythic rather than ordinary.

ENHYPEN

Deep Cut Of The Week: ENHYPEN - “Too Close”

Deep Cut Of The Week: IU and Cha Eun Woo (feat Balming Tiger) - “Beautiful Person”

Anwaya Mane talks us through her favourite B-Side of the week.

Deep Cut

Deep Cut of the Week: ILLIT – “bamsopoong (Midnight Picnic)”

Deep Cut Of The Week: ENHYPEN - “Too Close”

Deep Cut Of The Week: IU and Cha Eun Woo (feat Balming Tiger) - “Beautiful Person”

Deep Cut of the Week: Baekhyun – “Love Comes Back”

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KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

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