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

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

dodree is the first Subunit of the girl group DDDD 25. The unit is composed of members Na Yeongjoo and Lee Songhyun. They debuted on January 21, 2026, with the single album &quot;Just Like A Dream&quot;.

dodree

dodree calls their sound "K-rossover Pop" – pansori vocals, gayageum riffs, and dance moves pulled from traditional Korean line-drawing movement, subverted within their growing catalog by utilising modern elements like trap beats and dreamy synths

dodree: The Mysterious Duo Under JYP

Missed The Rose at Coachella? No stress. We built a playlist for each K-pop artist’s Coachella set! Here’s everything The Rose performed.

The Rose Coachella Recap Playlist

Missed ATEEZ at Coachella? No stress. We built a playlist for each K-pop artist’s Coachella set! Here’s everything ATEEZ performed.

ATEEZ Coachella Recap Playlist

Missed LE SSERAFIM at Coachella? No stress. We built a playlist for each K-pop artist’s Coachella set! Here’s everything LE SSERAFIM performed.

LE SSERAFIM Coachella Recap Playlist

Featured MV of the Day: “Shopper” by IU

With a band name that sounds like the new musical from Always Sunny’s Charlie Kelly, Bye Bye Badman has some of the smoothest sounds we’ve encountered in the K-indie circuit.

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Wave” by Bye Bye Badman

NCT Dream is currently on tour promoting the mini album DREAM()SCAPE.&nbsp;

Is “Breathing” the Best Song from DREAM()SCAPE?

Check out this English translation cover of “Smart” by LE SERRAFIM performed by Kenyan indie pop artist Semo!

Fan Spotlight: “Smart” by LE SERRAFIM cover

Check out this English translation cover of “Love Wins All” by IU performed by indie pop artist ysabelle!

Fan Spotlight: Love Wins All - IU (English Cover) by ysabelle

Clean guitar tones and groovy bass guitar – each with their own tasty licks – run wild in this excellent indie track from Dasutt.

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Lunch Time” by Dasutt

This song by Korean Indie rock band BIG PANTS GUYS features unique vocal textures you won’t find in idol music. Down-home, nasally everyman vocals sweetened by vocoder sit front and center in the mix.&nbsp;

Daily K-indie Spotlight: “2U” by BIG PANTS GUYS

While this song may not be streamed nearly as much as “Magnetic” (the smash hit from this record) it features a tight groove and brilliant harmonies.&nbsp;

ILLIT’s SUPER REAL ME – KPOPWORLD’s Top Pick!

With powerful, impassioned vocal delivery, Leeseul’s “Little Miss Narcissist” is a solid pop song that uses spooky soundscapes and tight production to thrill listeners in a big way.&nbsp;

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