KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

Jay Park が初開催となる KPOPWORLD Festival のヘッドライナーを務める。その背景にある彼の歩みを知っていれば、この起用がいかに納得できるかがわかるはずだ。

KPOPWORLD Festival Spotlights: Jay Park

KPOPWORLD Festivalの2組目のヘッドライナーとして、インディーロックバンドThe Roseが新鮮な本物感を届ける

KPOPWORLD Festival スポットライト：The Rose

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

何もかも完璧にこなさなければならないという思いに駆られていた彼は、自分の強みを信じ、自分だけのスタイルを見つけ、もっと自由にその過程を楽しめるようになった

WHIBのWONJUNに聞く――自分を信じることを学んだ完璧主義者

WONHOは、いつだって人の目を引く方法を知っていた。MONSTA Xでの4年間、そして今ではソロアーティストとして6年。

KPOPWORLD Festival スポットライト：Wonho

&amp;TEAM is a nine-member Japanese boy group under YX Labels (formerly HYBE Labels Japan). The group was formed through the survival program &quot;&amp;Audition - The Howling&quot; and debuted in December 2022 with their first extended play &quot;First Howling: Me&quot;. The group consists of EJ, Fuma, K, Nicholas, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki, and Maki, with EJ serving as the leader. Several members, including K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki, previously participated in the survival show I-LAND before being selected for HYBE&#x27;s Japanese global debut project. Before their official debut, the group released the digital single Under the Skin, which introduced their storyline and concept. Their debut EP, First Howling,e followed shortly afterward, marking the beginning of the group&#x27;s &quot;First Howling&quot; series of releases. Although primarily active in Japan, &amp;TEAM promoted internationally and later expanded into Korea with Korean-language releases and promotions. Their fandom name is LUNÉ, representing fans who support the group like the moon lighting the night sky.

&TEAM

YX Labelsの9人組ボーイグループ&amp;TEAMが、2026年9月8日に2枚目となる韓国語EP『Mark on Me』でカムバックする予定です

&TEAM、2枚目の韓国EP『Mark on Me』をリリースへ

MONSTA X is a boy group formed through the survival show No.Mercy and debuted under Starship Entertainment in May 2015. The group is associated with a powerful performance image built around Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M, with Wonho as a former member. Their sound often leans muscular: EDM drops, hip-hop percussion, dark synths, and choruses designed for heavy choreography. MONSTA X became one of the most forceful performance groups of their generation through a run that moved from the breakthrough energy of &quot;Dramarama&quot; to the sharper drama of &quot;Love Killa.&quot; At the same time, their vocal line and later English-language work showed a smoother R&amp;B and pop side that softened the edges without removing the group&#x27;s intensity. MONSTA X became especially important in the bridge between Korean idol promotion and Western touring. They pursued English-language releases, appeared on American media, and built a strong international audience while keeping a clear group identity. Their fandom, Monbebe, is known for loyalty through lineup changes, military service periods, solo work, and long gaps between full-group schedules. The group&#x27;s legacy rests on consistency and stamina. MONSTA X did not need to reinvent themselves every comeback; they refined a recognizable image of power, charisma, and emotional loyalty. That made them a template for later boy groups that wanted to look tough on stage while still building a close, fan-centered identity off it.

MONSTA X

MONSTA XのKIHYUNは、2025年の『YOUTH』に続く2作目のソロEP『BORDERLINE』を今年前半にリリースした。

KIHYUN: The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

TNX (an acronym for The New Six) is a five-member boy group under P NATION. Originally debuting as six members, the group was formed through the SBS survival program LOUD, a collaboration project between J.Y. Park and PSY. They officially debuted on May 17, 2022 with their first mini album Way Up. The group’s lineup was finalized during the finale of LOUD in 2021, where Kyung Jun, Tae Hun, Hyun Soo, Jun Hyeok, Hwi, Sung Jun, and Tanaka Koki were selected for P NATION’s upcoming boy group. However, in January 2022, P NATION announced that Tanaka Koki would not debut with the team in order to continue training, leading the group to debut as six members under the name TNX. On their debut day, they also introduced their fandom name THX, meaning “Together with TNX.” Following their debut, TNX continued building their discography with releases such as Love Never Dies, Boyhood, and the digital single &quot;Fuego&quot;, while also participating in the survival competition Road to Kingdom : Ace of Ace in 2024. During this period, member Jun Hyeok temporarily paused activities due to anxiety before later returning to the group. In October 2024, it was announced that member Kyung Jun would enlist in the military and depart from the group following the completion of his service, reducing TNX to five members. The group continued activities with releases including the mini album For Real? in 2025 and the digital single &quot;Call Me Back&quot; in 2026, maintaining their growth under P NATION.

TNXのKurated KPOPWORLDプレイリストは、「Die Another Day」そのものへのコメントとしても機能している

Kurated: “Die Another Day”の制作中にTNXにインスピレーションを与えた10曲

歌とラップの両方でスキルを広げながら、JAEHAは先輩メンバーたちの支えを受けつつ、パフォーマーとして新たな自分を見つけている

WHIBのJAEHAにインタビュー – 自分の幅を広げるオールラウンダー

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

ここ数か月でTHE BOYZにさまざまな変化があったなかでも、メンバーたちはグループとして、そして個人として、それぞれのやり方で共に道を切り開いていこうと強い意志を持ち続けている。

JACOB: ソロで飛び立つ

常にチームを支える方法を考え、WHIBでの役割に独自のグループ志向の視点をもたらすJEONG

WHIBのLEE JEONGにインタビュー ― WHIBをひとつにするチームプレーヤー

WHIBのラッパーUGEONは、素晴らしいパフォーマンスとは単にトラックをなぞることではなく、その場の空気を読み、瞬間ごとにエネルギーを生み出すことだと知っている

WHIBのUGEONへのインタビュー – ステージを自分のものにすることを知るパフォーマー

TNXは4年間、パフォーマンスで評価を築いてきた。「Die Another Day」で彼らは、その評価をロックという新たな場所で探し求めた

TNX、ロック、ライブボーカル、そして一切手を抜かない姿勢を語る

家族の影響を受け、長年の練習によって形づくられたJINBEOMは、準備を本能にまで落とし込むべきだという信念を持ってパフォーマンスに向き合っている

WHIBのJINBEOMにインタビュー ― スポットライトの裏で輝く、規律あるパフォーマー

もともとは主に音楽を「歌うこと」に集中していたHASEUNGは、今ではジャンル、作詞作曲、そしてクリエイティブなプロセスへの理解を深め、周囲のメンバーを支える音楽的な存在へと成長している

WHIBのHASEUNGとのインタビュー ― より広い音楽的視野を持つボーカリスト

グループ内で作詞・作曲を手がけるJUNMINは、メロディから音楽を組み立てる一方で、WHIBがさまざまなサウンドやスタイルを行き来できる強みも大切にしている

Interview