KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

David Yong's route into K-pop doesn't follow the standard idol playbook. After discovering the genre through BIGBANG and TWICE, the Singaporean entrepreneur drew on years of vocal training as he took on Korean-language study, dance lessons, and recording in Seoul

From Fan to Artist-Executive: David Yong on His K-pop Journey

The Seoul-born singer-songwriter is 17 years old, less than two years into her career, and already operating on her own terms – writing and producing her music

ZIN CHOI

NEXZ is a seven-member Japanese boy group formed by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Japan through the Japanese reality show Nizi Project Season 2. The group&#x27;s name means Next Z(G)eneration, and was coined by J.Y. Park to represent the wish for the group to lead JYPE into the future. The final episode premiered on December 15, 2023, revealing the debut lineup, ranked as follows: Tomoya, Haru, Yuki, Ken (So Geon), Yu, Yuhi (Hyui), and Seita. They debuted with the Korean song &quot;Ride the Vibe.&quot;

NEXZ

When NEXZ released "Mmchk" in April 2026, the seven-member group's first comeback of the year sold over 444,000 copies in its first week – a new career high – topped the Circle Chart retail album chart, and earned them their first number one on a Korean music broadcast

NEXZ: Nowhere Left But Up

Beyond the K-pop groups and the choreography that dominate headlines, another wave of singer-songwriters and independent artists from South Korea’s music scene has been building its own audience. DORI is part of that wave, though she arrived at it from an unlikely direction

DORI Speaks in Colour

ASTRO is a four-member boy group under Fantagio. Originally debuting as six members, the group entered the industry with their first mini album &quot;Spring Up&quot;, quickly gaining attention for their bright concept and strong performance skills. The original lineup consisted of MJ, JinJin, Cha Eun-woo, Moon Bin, Rocky, and Sanha, establishing a well-balanced team recognized for both musical and variety presence. In their early years, ASTRO built a steady discography with releases such as &quot;Summer Vibes&quot;, &quot;Autumn Story&quot;, and the &quot;Dream&quot; series, while also expanding their reach through concerts and international promotions. Their growth continued with their first full-length album &quot;All Light&quot; and subsequent releases including &quot;Blue Flame&quot;, &quot;Gateway&quot;, and &quot;All Yours&quot;, solidifying their place in the industry with a consistent sound and evolving image. The group also explored unit activities, including Moon Bin &amp; Sanha and JinJin &amp; Rocky, further showcasing their versatility. :contentReference[oaicite:0] Over time, ASTRO experienced significant changes, including Rocky’s departure and the passing of Moon Bin in 2023, marking a deeply emotional period for the group and fans. Despite these challenges, the group has continued activities as four members, releasing commemorative and special projects such as &quot;Circles&quot;, &quot;Twilight&quot;, and &quot;Moon&quot;, reflecting both their growth and enduring bond as they move forward together.

ASTRO

YOON SAN-HA has been in the industry longer than most people realise. He joined Fantagio as a trainee in his early teens, debuted as the youngest member of ASTRO in 2016

YOON SAN-HA Is Ready To Be Himself

To celebrate their debut mini album [QtoresQ], KB, JISUNG and NINE take us inside every track – the creative decisions, the personal moments, and the story behind the name that ties it all together. QQQ's exclusive track-by-track commentary with KPOPWORLD is live now

Track-By-Track With KPOPWORLD: QQQ Break Down [QtoresQ]

Released towards the end of 2025, Angel drop (Live) finds Meaningful Stone no longer interested in preserving a moment exactly as it was

Meaningful Stone: An Angel In Constant Motion

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

For the seven members of WHIB, their first mini album ROCK THE NATION arrives as a moment of consolidation. Since debuting in late 2023, the group have moved deliberately through a run of single albums – Cut-Out, Eternal Youth : Kick It, Rush of Joy, Bang Out

WHIB On Alignment and Entering Their First Mini Album Era

Ifeye is a South Korean girl group formed by Hi-Hat Entertainment. The group is composed of six members: Won Hwa-yeon, Taerin, Rahee, Kasia, Meu, and Sasha. The group debuted on April 8, 2025 with the Mini Album Erlu Blue.

ifeye

ifeye are back with their third EP, As if – and it's clear that 2025 was just the beginning. From the cult following that grew around "r u ok?" to a buzzed-about KCON LA set, the six-member group spent their debut year proving they could hold a room

ifeye: The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

KANGMIN's first solo release, Free Falling, is three tracks and no filler. From the intro's stubborn self-reckoning to the falsetto-driven title track to a closing song born from one unguarded moment in a mirror, Free Falling is an honest piece of work from an artist who clearly had something to say

Track-By-Track With KPOPWORLD: KANGMIN’s “Free Falling”

82Major (stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed by Great M Entertainment. The group consists of six members: Cho Seong-il, Yoon Ye-chan, Nam Seong-mo, Hwang Seong-bin, Park Seok-joon and Kim Do-gyun. The group&#x27;s name is a combination of South Korea&#x27;s calling code (+82) and the word ‘major’, expressing their desire to become a group that represents Korea. They debuted on October 11, 2023, with the single album On.

82MAJOR

On “Trophy”, rising six-member group 82MAJOR – Seongil, Yechan, Seongmo, Seongbin, Seokjoon, and Dogyun – don’t sound like a group pausing to celebrate what they’ve achieved

82MAJOR on Confidence, Control, and What Comes After “Trophy”

QQQ is a 3-member independent South Korean project boy group. The group is the first sub-unit of OnlyOneOf, announced on December 21, 2025, consisting of KB, Jisung (formerly known as Love), and Nine. They debuted on February 26, 2026 with their first mini album QtoresQ.

To celebrate the release of [QtoresQ], KB, JISUNG and NINE have shared the ten tracks that soundtracked their new era – and the picks say a lot about who QQQ are

Kurated: QQQ’S 10 Essential Tracks For The [QtoresQ] Era

AtHeart is a seven-member girl group under Titan Content. The lineup consists of Arin, Michi, Katelyn, Bome, Seohyeon, Aurora, and Nahyun. The group introduced its members gradually from 2024 into 2025, released the pre-debut single Good Girl (AtHeart), and officially debuted on August 13, 2025 with Plot Twist. Their fandom is known as Heartbeat. AtHeart&#x27;s early identity centers on polished pop, individual member visibility, and a social-media-friendly rollout that lets each member show a distinct personality. After debut, the group expanded the Plot Twist era with Plot Twist (English ver.) and Plot Twist (Remixes), then continued with singles such as Shut Up and Butterfly Doors.

AtHeart

Moving through K-pop as a rookie demands resilience. For AtHeart, that adjustment has come quickly, shaped by equal parts patience and momentum

AtHeart on Growth, Timing, and Moving Forward Together

Billlie is a seven-member girl group under MYSTIC Story, consisting of Moon Sua, Suhyeon, Haram, Tsuki, Sheon, Siyoon, and Haruna. They debuted in 2021 with &quot;RING X RING.&quot; The group became known for an unusually developed narrative concept built around mystery, memory, and the repeated question of what happened to &quot;Billlie.&quot; Rather than using lore only as decoration, Billlie&#x27;s albums, videos, and styling often connect back to that story world. Musically, Billlie has moved through experimental pop, rock touches, jazzier textures, and bright dance tracks while keeping a theatrical edge. Tsuki&#x27;s viral performance moment helped bring broader attention to the group, but the team&#x27;s appeal is broader than one fancam: the members are presented as characters inside a larger pop project. The fandom is known as Belllie&#x27;ve. Billlie&#x27;s appeal comes from the balance between concept, lineup, and musical personality, with the lore adding texture without overwhelming the group&#x27;s pop identity.

Billlie

Since their debut, Billlie have built a reputation as one of K-pop’s most conceptually driven acts – a group whose music, visuals, and narratives are stitched together across chapters rather than confined to single releases

Interview: Inside Billlie’s False Awakening

TUNEXX have arrived with SET BY US ONLY – a debut that doesn't ease you in. Across four tracks, the seven-member group move through old-school swagger, electronic hip-hop, R&amp;B warmth

Track-By-Track With KPOPWORLD: TUNEXX’s ‘SET BY US ONLY’

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

Formed as the winning participants of survival show Project 7 (2024) and made up of seven members chosen by a global audience, CLOSE YOUR EYES arrived with attention already trailing behind them

CLOSE YOUR EYES Learning How to Be Seen

Big Ocean have never made music about easy wins. THE GREATEST BATTLE isn't about to change that. Their third mini album, available now, opens with "Alive" – a declaration of presence

Interview