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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

82MAJOR have their first music show win — and SEONG MO, who spent over a year presenting trophies on Show Champion as an MC, finally got to receive one

82MAJOR on HEAT, Their First Win, and What Comes Next

ZEROBASEONE, commonly known as ZB1, is a five-member boy group formed through the Mnet survival show &quot;Boys Planet&quot; in 2023. They originally debuted as a nine-member group — along with AND2BLE&#x27;s members Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin and Han Yujin — under WAKEONE Entertainment, with &quot;In Bloom&quot; setting first-week sales records that demonstrated the massive anticipation built through the survival show. As a project group with a limited contract period, ZB1 operates with an urgency to make every comeback count, and they have delivered with consistent chart-topping releases and sold-out concerts. The group&#x27;s strength lies in their strong individual star power combined with impressive group synergy, cultivated through the intense bonding of their competition experience. Their fandom, ZEROSE, mobilized quickly into one of the most organized fan bases in fourth-generation K-pop. ZB1 represents the continued power of the survival show format to create commercially dominant groups with built-in passionate audiences. On March 15, 2026, they held their last concert as a nine-member boy group, sparking sadness among fans, who had grown fond of the relationship that had developed between the nine boys. As YH Entertainment did not renew the contracts of Zhang Hao, Ricky, Kim Gyuvin, and Han Yujin with WAKEONE, ZB1 are now promoting their career as a five-member boy group, with Sung Hanbin, Kim Jiwoong, Seok Matthew, Kim Taerae, and Park Gunwook.

ZEROBASEONE

Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook, members of WakeOne’s ZEROBASEONE, have announced the September 21 release of their long awaited sub-unit project under the duo name ‘EMP’

ZEROBASEONE’s Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook Announce Mixtape Under Sub-unit ‘EMP’

BIGHIT MUSIC just opened its 2026 Global Audition, and the door is wide open. Any male born in 2008 or later can apply, from anywhere, with zero restrictions on category – singing, dancing, producing, whatever shows your talent best

BIGHIT MUSIC Opens 2026 Global Audition for Male Talent

Rookie groups have taken over this week’s latest K-pop releases with songs that are intense, dramatic, soft, and lighthearted

Comeback Corner: IU, YOUNGTAK, NAZE & MORE

TOMORROW X TOGETHER, often shortened to TXT, is a five-member boy group under BIGHIT MUSIC. The group consists of Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai. They debuted in March 2019 with The Dream Chapter: Star, becoming BigHit&#x27;s first boy group after BTS and immediately attracting heavy attention. TXT&#x27;s early identity centered on youth, friendship, imagination, and the strange emotional weather of growing up. Instead of debuting with a hard-edged performance image, they leaned into brightness, fantasy, and vulnerability on songs such as &quot;Crown,&quot; &quot;Run Away,&quot; and &quot;Blue Hour.&quot; That made the group feel distinct within fourth-generation boy-group trends, especially because their storytelling often treated adolescence as magical, confusing, and a little unstable. As their catalog developed, TXT added sharper pop-rock, emo, and dance influences through songs like &quot;0X1=LOVESONG,&quot; &quot;LO$ER=LOVER,&quot; &quot;Sugar Rush Ride,&quot; and &quot;Chasing That Feeling.&quot; The members&#x27; strengths map cleanly onto that evolution: Soobin&#x27;s calm leadership, Yeonjun&#x27;s performance charisma, Beomgyu&#x27;s color, Taehyun&#x27;s vocal focus, and Huening Kai&#x27;s bright tone all help the group move between softness and intensity. TXT&#x27;s fandom is known as MOA, short for Moments of Alwaysness. The group&#x27;s significance is tied to how carefully they built a coming-of-age identity across albums, videos, and performances. Rather than defining themselves through a single sound, TXT became a group about transition itself: childhood into adulthood, fantasy into reality, and polished idol pop into something more emotionally restless.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

When Dolce &amp; Gabbana named SOOBIN its newest ambassador, they led with skincare. Alongside the expected fashion portraits, his debut imagery puts glass skin and product front and center. It's not a random choice

SOOBIN, Dolce & Gabbana and the Growing Power of Male K-Beauty

KARD, stylized as 카드, is a trailblazing co-ed K-pop group under DSP Media, comprising members J.Seph, BM, Somin, and Jiwoo. The group officially debuted on July 19, 2017, with their EP Hola Hola, showcasing a distinctive blend of genres like reggaetón and moombahton that resonated globally.

KARD - Bold and Unique

Sometimes, a group looks like they have it all, and still don’t make it as big as they expected. You can have all the right connections, be incredibly talented, and have everything in place on paper and still not blow up. Such was the case for boy group HOTSHOT. The group was well prepared for their debut, had lots of friends and connections to the industry, and were experienced with competition shows, yet their legacy is not quite as large as one would have expected for their seven years of activity.The group debuted in 2014 with the single “Take a Shot” under Star Crew Entertainment. They released a few albums in both Korea and Japan, but other activities meant the group wouldn’t release as much music as other groups who had been around as long.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9s2N7d2aLYThe group was incredibly well prepared for their debut. Almost all of the members had experience within the K-pop industry before their debut with HOTSHOT. Timoteo was originally a trainee with SM and was planned to debut as part of EXO. Nah Tae Hyun was a part of several dance crews, and even had the opportunity of teaching some of his moves to Taeyang from BIGBANG! The other three members also had experience in several different fields that helped boost the group all around, and the group made a statement when they first debuted.Secondly, the group had lots of experience with survival shows. Although many groups are founded thanks to survival shows, these guys were seasoned veterans of this kind of attention and competition. Members of HOTSHOT competed, at some point, on The Unit, Produce 101, and Superstar K2. each of them left these shows having made a statement such as an A-rank or 90% audience scores. These guys knew how to please a crowd.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy7gVWBY1P0Lastly, the members of HOTSHOT were and still are well connected to the rest of the K-pop world. There are countless photos of the members spending time with other idols. Some of these were idols debuting around the same time or through similar programs, but others were people they met at other functions. Timoteo is friends with SHINee’s Taemin and EXO’s Kai, and that friend group also has close ties to Jimin from BTS. Other members are friends with members of VIXX, Super Junior, MONSTA X, FTISLAND, Girl’s Day, and more! These connections certainly helped them find a place in a cutthroat environment.Unfortunately, all these strengths couldn’t keep the group afloat, and in 2021, HOTSHOT announced they were disbanding. This announcement wasn’t much of a surprise to most fans, as the general consensus online seemed to be disappointment, but understanding. The writing had been on the wall for a few years at that point. The members have all followed their own paths afterwards, with some joining other groups, some debuting solo, and a few with rumored acting careers in the works.

HOTSHOT: Unrecognized Potential

The Korea Music Content Association (KMCA) has introduced new guidelines aimed at enhancing the fairness and transparency of K-pop award ceremonies. These measures were established to address various challenges that have emerged due to the increasing number of award ceremonies in the industry.

KMCA Unveils New Guidelines to Elevate Fairness in K-Pop Award Ceremonies

Industry insiders and various media outlets have reported that girl group NewJeans has been selected as the 2024 honorary ambassadors for the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO). The announcement, made on&nbsp;

NewJeans Rumored to Become 2024 Honorary Ambassadors for Korea Tourism Organization

Oh My Girl, stylized as OMG, is a South Korean girl group managed by WM Entertainment, known for their captivating music and charismatic performances. Originally formed with eight members, the group now consists of six: Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Yubin, and Arin.&nbsp;

Oh My Girl - Get to Know the Classic Kpop Girl Group

Standing out in K-pop is a hard task; there’s always a fine balance between being too different from the crowd and alienating potential fans and looking like the rest of the crowd without anything special.&nbsp;

B.A.P: Standing Out from the Crowd

BTS fans have another treat on the horizon as Disney+ announced the upcoming release of "Are You Sure?!", a series featuring Jimin and Jungkook's unforgettable pre-enlistment trip. Set to premiere on ...

BTS's Jimin and Jungkook Star in New Disney+ Series "Are You Sure?!"

In exciting news for K-pop fans, SHINee's Taemin has been confirmed as the host for the upcoming revamped season of Mnet's boy group survival show, “Road to Kingdom,” which is set to launch later this year. This announcement has generated significant buzz, as Taemin's involvement brings a new level of anticipation to the already highly anticipated show.Since debuting with SHINee in 2008, Taemin has consistently impressed audiences with his exceptional skills as the group's main dancer and vocalist. His successful solo career, which began in 2014, has further cemented his reputation as a versatile all-round artist, excelling in both vocal performance and dance. Taemin's extensive experience and talent make him a perfect fit for the role of host and mentor on “Road to Kingdom.”Taemin has long been a role model for many in the K-pop industry, inspiring countless boy group members with his dedication and expertise. His decade-long career and profound understanding of the industry make him an ideal mentor for the contestants on “Road to Kingdom.”&nbsp;The rebranded “Road to Kingdom” promises a fresh format, incorporating enhanced reality elements to fully showcase the contestants' hidden charms. The show is set to premiere in September, and with Taemin in the mix, fans can expect a captivating season that highlights the next generation of K-pop talent.https://open.spotify.com/track/4vLqN0bIxIQjlet2mIMBnx?si=2971d1c706674125&nbsp;

Taemin of SHINee to Host Revamped Season of “Road to Kingdom”

BTS member Jimin has once again proven his global appeal with the pre-release track from his upcoming solo second album. The track is called "Smeraldo Garden Marching Band.

Jimin of BTS Soars with Pre-Release Track from New Solo Album 

Formed through the intense competition of YG Treasure Box, Treasure emerged with members like Choi Hyun-suk, Jihoon, Yoshi, and more, solidifying their lineup through talent and perseverance.

Get to Know Treasure

Idol groups often rely on the popularity of their label and appearance on survival programs to gain popularity, but ASTRO didn’t. Despite lacking this exposure, ASTRO had a gradual but consistent rise in popularity.

Astro: A Steady Climb

Kim Seok-jin, better known as Jin from BTS, is set to mark his return to the small screen with a special appearance on MBC's "Relax and Rest." Following the completion of his military service, Jin recently joined the cast of this unique variety show, as reported by Star News on the 1st of this month.&nbsp;

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