KPOPWORLD #5

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BIGBANG is a South Korean boy group formed by YG Entertainment, debuting in 2006 and becoming one of the most influential acts in K-pop history. The current profile centers on G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, with T.O.P and Seungri tied to earlier chapters of the group. The group&#x27;s importance comes from how strongly it changed expectations for idol music and image. BIGBANG made self-production, individual fashion identity, and genre-blending central to its appeal, with G-Dragon&#x27;s songwriting and public style playing a major role in the group&#x27;s reputation. Musically, BIGBANG moved through hip-hop, R&amp;B, electronic pop, ballads, and festival-sized dance tracks without losing a recognizable identity. Songs such as &quot;Lies,&quot; &quot;Haru Haru,&quot; &quot;Fantastic Baby,&quot; and &quot;Bang Bang Bang&quot; became reference points for later idol groups trying to balance mainstream hooks with stronger artist branding. The members also became major solo figures, which helped the group feel less like a standard idol team and more like a collection of distinct pop stars. That individual power brought both longevity and complications, especially as military service, controversies, and member departures changed the group&#x27;s public shape. The fandom is known as V.I.P. BIGBANG is a defining second-generation group whose impact on K-pop music, fashion, performance, and global ambition is difficult to separate from the genre&#x27;s modern history.

BIGBANG

G-Dragonは2019年、Nikeの歴史上初めてSwooshとクリエイティブなコラボレーションを結んだアジア人ラッパーとなった。単なるアンバサダー契約ではなく、彼自身の美学に完全に基づいて構築されたパートナーシップだった。

G-DragonはいかにしてK-Pop史上最も重要なNikeとのパートナーシップを築いたのか

KiiiKiii is a five-member girl group under Starship Entertainment, consisting of Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya. The group began its rollout in 2025 with &quot;I Do Me&quot; and built its debut era around a confident, self-directed image. As a newer Starship group, KiiiKiii carries attention from the company&#x27;s girl-group history while needing a distinct identity of its own. Their early presentation leans youthful but assertive, with styling and performance choices that frame the members as a compact team rather than a loose collection of rookies. The fandom is known as TiiiKiii. KiiiKiii is still early in its career, but its debut identity is clear: a compact Starship girl group built around self-possession, youthful confidence, and a team image still being defined through its first releases.

KiiiKiii

ある種のマーケティング手法は、K-pop業界でおなじみのものになっている。初期のコンセプトフォトや映画のようなトレーラーから、ティーザー、マッシュアップに至るまで、新作アルバムには、発売前にファンがじっくり分析できる数々のコンテンツが用意される

K-popマーケティングの新時代：KiiiKiiiの旅行サイトが機能する理由

David YongのK-pop入りは、一般的なアイドルの王道ルートとは少し違う。BIGBANGやTWICEをきっかけにこのジャンルに触れたシンガポールの実業家は、長年にわたるボーカルトレーニングを土台に、韓国語の勉強、ダンスレッスン、そしてソウルでのレコーディングに挑んだ。

ファンからアーティスト兼エグゼクティブへ：David YongのK-popの歩み

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

NEXZが2026年4月に「Mmchk」をリリースした際、7人組によるその年最初のカムバック作品は初週売上44万4,000枚超を記録し、キャリアハイを更新。Circle Chartのリテールアルバムチャートで首位を獲得し、韓国の音楽番組で初の1位にも輝いた。

NEXZ: 上にしか行く道はない

K-popグループや振付が見出しを席巻する一方で、韓国の音楽シーンでは、シンガーソングライターやインディペンデント・アーティストたちによる別の波が、自分たちのファン層を着実に広げている。DORIもその波の一人だが、意外な方向からその世界にたどり着いた。

DORI、色で語る

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Music in 2010 and debuting on June 12, 2013, with the single album &quot;2 Cool 4 Skool&quot;. The group consists of seven members: RM (leader), Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The name BTS stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan (“Bulletproof Boy Scouts”), reflecting the group’s original concept of resisting societal expectations and criticism aimed at youth. Members RM, Suga, and J-Hope have played significant roles in songwriting and production throughout the group’s career. BTS first gained widespread attention with the [The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1 era], particularly the single I Need U, which earned the group their first Korean music show win in 2015. Their international breakthrough followed with releases such as Wings and the Love Yourself series. In 2018, &quot;Love Yourself: Tear&quot; became the first album by a Korean act to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The group achieved further global success with singles including &quot;Dynamite&quot;, &quot;Butter&quot;, and &quot;Permission to Dance&#x27;&quot;, all of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. BTS is among the best-selling artists in South Korean history and has received numerous international awards, while also participating in global initiatives such as the UNICEF Love Myself campaign. Between 2022 and 2025, BTS paused full-group activities as the members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service. The last member, Suga, was discharged in June 2025, marking the completion of service for all seven members. Following their reunion, the group confirmed they were preparing a new album and world tour for 2026. Their tenth studio album, &quot;ARIRANG&quot;, recorded between July and November 2025, was released on March 20, 2026, marking their first group release in more than three years. The album will be supported by the Arirang World Tour, beginning in April 2026.

記録を打ち立てたアルバム。韓国史上最大のコンサート。MadonnaやShakiraと並ぶワールドカップのハーフタイム出演。そしてBTSは、結局Grammysを辞退した

「アジア」部門のGRAMMYsは名誉であるはずだった。BTSはノーと言った。

ENHYPENがSan Diego Comic-Conで初のK-popグループとして歴史を作り、Twilightの監督 Catherine Hardwicke とキャストの Peter Facinelli、Ashley Greene とともに登場。THE BOYZの法廷闘争が続く一方で、NewJeansは4周年を記念してSNSに復帰した。

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年7月20日 - 24日）

記憶に残るクリエイティブなアルバムパッケージは、グループのビジュアルアイデンティティを確立し、ファンに購入を促すためのK-pop業界における重要なマーケティング戦略だ。初期は標準的なジュエルケースだったが、やがてK-popアルバムは、それ自体がコレクションアイテムへと進化していった。

SM EntertainmentはK-popアルバムパッケージのルールを書き換えている

K-popの契約制度は、1990年代にこの業界が誕生して以来、何度も変化を重ねてきた。13年契約の“奴隷契約”から、再交渉の選択肢付きで7年へと短縮された現在まで

K-popの契約制度を解説――そして、多くのアーティストがBig Labelを離れている理由

ATEEZ is an eight-member boy group formed by KQ Entertainment, consisting of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. They debuted in October 2018 with Treasure EP.1: All to Zero, launching a pirate-and-treasure storyline that gave their early music a cinematic frame. ATEEZ stood out because their performances felt oversized in the best way. Even before they had the company power of larger labels behind them, the group built attention through intense facial expressions, full-bodied choreography, live-stage energy, and songs designed to explode in concert. &quot;Wonderland,&quot; &quot;Answer,&quot; &quot;Guerrilla,&quot; &quot;Bouncy,&quot; and &quot;Crazy Form&quot; all show that instinct for scale: big chants, dramatic builds, and a sense that every chorus is meant to be shouted back. The members&#x27; roles support that theatrical style. Hongjoong anchors the group as leader and producer, Mingi gives the rap line a deep tone, Jongho brings unusually strong high notes, and San, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, and Wooyoung shape much of the performance identity. ATEEZ&#x27;s fanbase, ATINY, became known for strong international support, helping the group grow from a smaller-agency act into a major global touring name. ATEEZ&#x27;s significance comes from proving how far performance identity can carry a group when it is consistent. Their concepts can be loud, dark, playful, or rebellious, but the core remains theatrical and physical. They made intensity feel like a worldview, not just a comeback style.

ATEEZ

ATEEZは『GOLDEN HOUR Part.5』で1つのビジュアル世界を作ったわけではない。彼らが作り上げたのは3つだった。ラグジュアリーなフォーマリズム、ストリートウェアのマキシマリズム、エディトリアルなボヘミアニズム――それぞれがファッションの参照地図の異なる領域から引かれている。

ATEEZはいかにして『GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5』でこれまでで最も野心的なファッション・ナラティブを築いたのか

KARD is a four-member South Korean co-ed group under DSP Media, consisting of J.Seph, BM, Somin, and Jiwoo. They officially debuted on July 19, 2017 with Hola Hola after a pre-debut project series that introduced the group through &quot;Oh NaNa,&quot; &quot;Don&#x27;t Recall,&quot; and &quot;Rumor.&quot; The group&#x27;s significance starts with its lineup structure. Co-ed idol groups are rare in modern K-pop, and KARD made that format feel central rather than novelty-based. Their performances are built around contrast: male and female vocal colors, rap and vocal handoffs, and choreography that lets the four members interact as a unit instead of splitting into separate halves. Musically, KARD became closely associated with tropical house, dancehall, Latin-pop, and club-oriented pop, sounds that helped them connect quickly with international audiences. &quot;Hola Hola&quot; established the bright version of that identity, while later singles such as &quot;Gunshot,&quot; &quot;Ring The Alarm,&quot; and &quot;Icky&quot; leaned into sharper performance energy and heavier rhythmic production. The fandom is known as Hidden KARD. KARD became one of K-pop&#x27;s clearest examples of a stable co-ed act with a global audience. Their longevity matters because they kept a distinct lane through military hiatuses, changing industry trends, and a market where most idol teams follow same-gender formats.

KARD

2016年のプレデビューから、まもなくリリースされる初であり最後のフルアルバムまで、男女混成グループKARDは、K-pop業界におけるミックスグループの可能性に挑み、その定義を塗り替えてきた。韓国にラテン要素を取り入れた音楽を広めたグループとして知られている。

KARDを形作る9曲 リスニングマップ

第3世代K-popグループが別れやほろ苦い節目を迎える中——WinWinのNCT離脱からKARDの最後のアルバムまで——業界は急速に変化している。一方で、Red Velvetのカムバックポスターに入っていたAIの透かしが、ジャンルにおけるテクノロジーの役割をめぐってファンの激しい議論を呼んでいる。&nbsp;

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年7月6日 - 10日）

aespa is a four-member girl group debuted by SM Entertainment in November 2020, consisting of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The group introduced a concept centered on virtual &quot;ae&quot; counterparts, blending real and digital worlds into an elaborate sci-fi universe often associated with KWANGYA. That metaverse-inspired setup positioned aespa at the intersection of idol pop, technology branding, and SM&#x27;s long-running taste for high-concept worldbuilding. Musically, aespa made a sharp first impression with an aggressive, synth-heavy style that matched the digital concept without depending on it completely. &quot;Black Mamba&quot;, &quot;Next Level&quot; and &quot;Savage&quot; used sudden beat changes, metallic textures, and big vocal climaxes to create a sound that felt more angular than most mainstream girl-group pop. The approach could be polarizing, but it made aespa instantly identifiable. The group&#x27;s later singles showed how flexible that identity could become. &quot;Drama&quot; pushed the cinematic side of aespa, while Supernova turned their electronic edge into something brighter, stranger, and more playful. Karina and Winter often serve as the visual and performance center of the group, Giselle gives the rap sections a casual sharpness, and Ningning brings a vocal power that lets aespa&#x27;s biggest choruses land with real force. aespa’s fandom is known as MY, and the group became one of the key fourth-generation acts by making high-concept idol pop feel commercially central rather than niche. Their importance is tied to that blend: they are an SM vocal group, a performance group, a fashion-forward girl group, and a sci-fi pop project at the same time. Even when the lore becomes less prominent, the idea remains clear: aespa turns futurism into a pop language.

aespa

aespaのLEMONADEは、自分たちのアイデンティティに十分な自信を持つグループだからこそ、その輪郭を少しずつ押し広げていけるのだと示すサウンドだ。hyperpop、rock、R&amp;Bの抑制、そのすべてが、K-popでも屈指の存在へと押し上げたtech-houseの土台の上に並んでいる。

aespaのLEMONADE：人生がレモンをくれるなら、力に変えよう

NCT, short for Neo Culture Technology, is a boy group project under SM Entertainment. The system was built around multiple units, changing combinations, and regional expansion rather than a single fixed lineup, making NCT one of SM&#x27;s most ambitious idol structures. The project began publicly through NCT U in 2016, then expanded through fixed or semi-fixed units such as NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT WISH. Each unit carries a different role: Seoul-based performance, youth-to-adult growth, Chinese-language promotion, rotational experiments, and the final new-team expansion. NCT&#x27;s music is often associated with dense production, experimental structures, and performance-heavy arrangements. The group&#x27;s system allowed SM to place members in songs by concept, which helped produce very different sounds under the same brand without asking every unit to serve the same identity. The project also made member identity central to the fan experience. NCTzen follows not only the full brand but also unit dynamics, cross-unit collaborations, and individual member activities, which makes the profile more complex than a normal group page. NCT is both a group brand and a structure for multiple teams. That structure shaped how SM approached global boy-group promotion from the mid-2010s onward, making the project as much about organization and unit design as individual songs.

今年、SM Entertainmentとの契約を終えた4人のNCTメンバーのうち、WINWINの離脱は多くのファンにとって最も予想できたものだった。NCT 127からWayVへと続いた10年間は、次第に中国での並行した俳優活動へとシフトしていった

WINWINがNCTとWayVを離脱しても驚きがない理由

BB GIRLS is a South Korean girl group currently consisting of three members under BBGIRLS Company and GLG. The group was originally formed by Brave Entertainment as Brave Girls, debuting on April 8, 2011, with the single album &quot;The Difference&quot;. Following years of lineup changes and steady releases, the group experienced a major resurgence in 2021 when their song &quot;Rollin’&quot; went viral, propelling them to the top of Korean music charts and earning them their first music show win years after its initial release. This unexpected breakthrough revitalized their career and led to further promotions, including releases like &quot;Chi Mat Ba Ram&quot; and continued group activities. On February 16, 2023, all members departed from Brave Entertainment, marking the end of their activities under the agency. On the same day, they released the digital single &quot;Goodbye&quot; as a farewell to their time with the company. Shortly after, the members signed with Warner Music Korea to continue as a group, later rebranding as BB GIRLS on May 3 due to trademark restrictions on their former name. In 2024, the group transitioned once again following the end of their contract with Warner Music Korea, continuing as a trio under their own agency, BBGIRLS Company, in partnership with GLG. Despite lineup changes, BB GIRLS have remained active, releasing new music such as &quot;Love 2&quot; and the special single &quot;Wish List&quot;, while continuing to build on their legacy in the industry.

BB GIRLS

業界で10年、3度の活動休止、そして数え切れないほどのメンバー変遷を経て、かつてBrave Girlsとして知られていたBBGIRLSは、K-popでも屈指の興味深い再起の物語を歩んできた。小さな成功をいくつか重ね、カルト的な人気を集め、解散寸前にまで追い込まれながらも

BB GIRLSの10年の歩み：ささやかな始まりからバイラル成功へ

PRISTIN was a ten-member girl group formed by Pledis Entertainment, debuting in March 2017 with Hi! PRISTIN and the title track &quot;Wee Woo.&quot; The lineup included Lim Nayoung, Zhou Jie Qiong, Minkyeung, Gyeongwon, Eunwoo, Yaebin, Park Xiyeon, Shannon Bae, Yehana, and Kyla. The group arrived with unusually high anticipation because several members were already known from Produce 101 and I.O.I-related activity, while others had been introduced through the pre-debut PLEDIS Girlz project. PRISTIN&#x27;s early image mixed bright pop, self-introduction, and strong trainee reputation, positioning them as a group with both performance polish and member familiarity. PRISTIN&#x27;s active period was short, ending with disbandment in 2019, which made the group a frequent example of unrealized potential in late-2010s K-pop. Their subunit PRISTIN V showed a sharper concept, and many members continued in entertainment after the group ended. The fandom name was HIgh.

PRISTIN

2017年に力強いデビューと人気タイトル曲で華々しくスタートしたかと思えば、その後は徐々に表舞台から姿を消し、わずか2年後に解散。PRISTINの浮沈は、ここ10年で最も不運で、そしてもどかしい軌跡のひとつだった。

PRISTINはいかにしてK-popで最も有望視された存在のひとつから、ひとつの記憶になったのか

XLOV is a South Korean boy group formed by 257 Entertainment and currently managed by [WM Entertainment]. The group consists of four members: Wumuti, Rui, Hyun, and Haru. They debuted on January 7, 2025, with the single album I&#x27;mma Be. XLOV gained attention for promoting a genderless concept, incorporating androgynous styling and performances that challenge traditional gender norms in Kpop. The group&#x27;s name combines &quot;X,&quot; representing the unknown and negation, with &quot;LOV,&quot; symbolizing incomplete love, while their fandom name, EVOL, represents the completion of that concept. Several members were previously known through survival programs before debut. Wumuti, Rui, and Haru participated in Boys Planet, while Wumuti was also active in the project group WATERFIRE before helping form XLOV. The group is particularly noted for Wumuti&#x27;s involvement in songwriting and production, including contributions to their debut release. Since debuting, XLOV has released music including I&#x27;mma Be and I ONE, earning recognition for their distinctive concept, performance style, and growing international fanbase. In 2026, the group&#x27;s management structure changed following the acquisition of 257 Entertainment by WM Entertainment through RBW. Their music primarily incorporates elements of hip-hop, R&amp;B, and pop, while their visual identity and performances have distinguished them as one of the more unconventional rookie acts of the fifth generation of Kpop.

XLOV

K-popはこれまでも、スタイリング、コンセプト、パフォーマンスにおいてジェンダーを巧みに取り入れてきた。だが最近、XLOVのリーダーWumutiは、その点をより鋭く指摘した。genderlessnessが、意図を持って生きられるものではなく、注目を集めるために借用された表層的な美学やバズワードになりつつある危うさだ。

Feature

「アジア」部門のGRAMMYsは名誉であるはずだった。BTSはノーと言った。

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年7月20日 - 24日）

SM EntertainmentはK-popアルバムパッケージのルールを書き換えている

K-popの契約制度を解説――そして、多くのアーティストがBig Labelを離れている理由

ATEEZはいかにして『GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5』でこれまでで最も野心的なファッション・ナラティブを築いたのか

KARDを形作る9曲リスニングマップ

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年7月6日 - 10日）

aespaのLEMONADE：人生がレモンをくれるなら、力に変えよう

WINWINがNCTとWayVを離脱しても驚きがない理由

BB GIRLSの10年の歩み：ささやかな始まりからバイラル成功へ

PRISTINはいかにしてK-popで最も有望視された存在のひとつから、ひとつの記憶になったのか

K-popにおける“Genderlessness”は進歩の兆しなのか、それとも概念のままなのか？

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