KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

2026年10月28日〜31日にAlamodomeを席巻へ

KPOPWORLD Festival & Worldwide Dance Competition

idntt (아이덴티티; read as identity) is an upcoming 24-member boy group under MODHAUS. They are set to make their debut sometime in 2026. The group consists of members divided into 3 rotational sub-units consisting of 8 members each - uneverm8t, yesw8are and itsnotov8r.

idntt

新アルバム &lt;itsnotover&gt; にあたり、idntt はKPOPWORLD と対談し、これまで歩んできた道のり、このグループに求められてきたこと、そして決して手放したくないものについて語った。

idntt: The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

EPEX [‘i:peks] (이펙스), formerly known as C9ROOKIES (C9루키즈) is a 7-member South Korean boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of Wish, MU, A-Min, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, and Jeff. On November 21, 2025, it was announced that Keum had left the group. They debuted on June 8, 2021, with their first EP album, BIPOLAR Pt.1 : 불안의 서 (Prelude of Anxiety)

EPEX

三部作を締めくくるのは簡単だ。だが、その物語を実際に生きた人たちの手に返して終えるとなれば、話は別。EPEXの「Youth: Epilogue」は、2年にわたる3枚のアルバムで描いてきた青春の物語を締めくくる作品だ。

EPEX、Youthのエピローグ、主体性、そして成長を語る

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

7月14日、インナービューティーブランド LifePharm は、ジェンダーレスグループ XLOV が新たな Global Ambassadors に就任すると発表した。同ブランドは、K-POPアイドルのセルフケアとして紹介されている話題の栄養補助食品シリーズ「Mood Change Alpha Plus」で知られている。

XLOV、インナービューティーブランド LifePharm のアンバサダーに就任

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

2つの出来事、2つのまったく異なる対応――そして繰り返され続けるひとつのパターン。@chyandblack が、G-Dragon と RIIZE の Eunseok をめぐる連続した騒動を取り上げ、K-popファンが長年問い続けてきた「無知はいつ、過失になるのか？」という疑問を投げかける。

K-popアイドルが文化的な問題を繰り返すとき――それはいつ止まるのか？

今週は8曲がリリースされ、どれもほとんど似ていない。Taeyongは兵役を終えて、ラップ重視のスタイルをより洗練させた形で戻ってきた。aespaはG-Dragonを迎えてダークな方向へ舵を切り、NMIXXは「Crescendo」に続き、やがてカタルシスあふれる解放へと高まっていく楽曲を届けた。

Comeback Corner: Taeyong, aespa, NMIXX, & More

&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

&amp;TEAMが初の単独ドームコンサートを発表した。このニュースは、5月13日にK-Arena Yokohamaで行われた「2026 &amp;TEAM CONCERT TOUR 'BLAZE THE WAY'」初日公演中に明かされた。

&TEAM、Belluna Domeで初の単独ドームコンサート開催を発表

Cortis, is a South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Music. The group consists of five members: Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. They debuted on August 18, 2025, with the digital single “What You Want&quot; followed by their first EP, &quot;Color Outside the Lines&quot;. The group’s name is derived from the phrase “Color Outside the Lines,” reflecting their concept of creative freedom and nonconformity. Cortis has been promoted as a self-producing “creator crew,” with members participating in songwriting, choreography, and visual direction. Blending pop, hip-hop, and experimental elements, the group gained early attention for their performance skills, self-produced content, and strong rookie-year sales, establishing them as one of Big Hit Music’s newer generation acts.

CORTIS

CORTISは「REDRED」で未来のヒットを生み出すだけではなく、韓国文化に深く根づいた概念を掘り下げて、光の当たる場所へと引き出している

CORTISが「REDRED」で同調圧力の代償を探る

Anderson .PaakとDEANが、10年以上ぶりに再び共演。「Aftertaste」は現在配信中で、Dem Jointzがプロデュース。.PaakによるNetflixでの監督デビュー作K-POPS!に着想を得た楽曲だ。

Anderson .PaakとDEANが「Aftertaste」で再タッグ、K-POPS!アルバムが形を見せ始める

Seoul Cityは、Chang-dong地区を24時間365日のK-popカルチャーハブへと変えるために19億ドルを投じている。しかも、それは単なるコンサート会場にとどまらない。28,000席のSeoul Arenaに加え、市は博物館、展示スペース、ライブ配信インフラ、そして税制優遇と民間投資を可能にする特別な法的指定まで整備している。

Seoulが24時間365日のK-Entertainmentタウンになることの意味

Tenは、本人の公式発表がなくても、今週立ち上がったバンコク拠点の制作会社に自分の名を色濃く刻み込みながら、静かに独自の何かを築きつつある。

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年5月4日 - 8日）

HYBEが、ガールズグループの制作に特化したまったく新しいレーベルABDを立ち上げた。クリエイティブ面を率いるのは、SEVENTEEN、After School、IZ*ONE、TWSを手がけてきたSung Soo Hanだ。

HYBEが新レーベル「ABD」を立ち上げ

今週のComeback Cornerでは、2組のボーイズグループのデビュー、活動を再開したガールグループ、そして10年以上の時を経て実現したカルチャー・リユニオンを取り上げる。

Comeback Corner: Billlie, B:DAWN, YUHZ & More

CIX (an acronym for Complete In X) was a four-member boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of members BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, and Hyunsuk. Originally debuting as a five-member group on July 23, 2019, with the EP &#x27;Hello&#x27; Chapter 1. Hello, Stranger. On August 4, 2024, C9 Entertainment announced the termination of Bae Jinyoung&#x27;s contract, confirming his departure from both the company and the group. On February 27, 2019, C9 Entertainment revealed the first member of their upcoming boy group, Bae Jin Young (former Wanna One), followed by Seung Hun on March 6, Hyun Suk on March 13, Kim Sehoon on March 20, Yong Hee on March 27, and BX on April 3. However, Kim Sehoon did not debut with the group due to past involvement in school violence. On May 20, 2019, the group&#x27;s social media accounts were changed from C9BOYZ to CIX, which stands for &quot;Complete In X.&quot; A video titled &quot;CIX - Leader Film&quot; was released, introducing the group name and logo. On May 24, C9 Entertainment announced that the members of CIX would star in a 10-episode reality show, &quot;Hello CIX,&quot; to be released on V Live. On June 26, 2019, C9 Entertainment revealed a teaser for CIX&#x27;s debut EP, &#x27;Hello&#x27; Chapter 1. Hello, Stranger, set for release on July 23. The group&#x27;s debut included the title track &quot;Movie Star.&quot; On August 26, CIX signed with Warner Music Japan for their Japanese promotions. On October 30, the group&#x27;s 100th-day anniversary, they revealed their fandom name, FIX, meaning &quot;Faith In X.&quot;

7年、8枚のミニアルバム、そして一つの道に収まることを拒んだディスコグラフィーを経て、CIXは4月30日に正式に解散した

CIXを振り返る：これまでの歩みをたどって

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

KARINAとNINGNINGが月曜夜にMet Galaへ初登場し、ただ会場に溶け込むつもりはなかった。タイミングにも意図がある。aespaは5月11日にニューシングル「WDA (Whole Different Animal)」をリリースする。

KARINAとNINGNINGがPradaとGucciでMet Galaに初登場

NewJeans is a girl group launched by ADOR in 2022, originally introduced with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. Their debut was unusual: instead of a long teaser cycle, ADOR introduced the group through a surprise rollout led by &quot;Attention&quot;, followed quickly by &quot;Hype Boy&quot;, &quot;Cookie&quot; and their first EP. The group&#x27;s early image felt deliberately low-friction compared with much of fourth-generation K-pop. NewJeans leaned into natural styling, soft choreography, conversational vocals, and production influenced by 2000s R&amp;B, UK garage, jersey club, and light dance-pop. That understated approach became the point: records like &quot;Ditto&quot; and Super Shy were catchy without feeling overbuilt, helping shift the broader sound of girl-group pop toward smoother textures and shorter, replayable hooks. NewJeans&#x27; impact is also inseparable from presentation. Their videos, graphic design, choreography, and fashion choices treated the group less like a traditional idol launch and more like a youth-culture project with a specific visual world. That made the members feel immediately recognizable even when the songs were restrained. The fandom is known as Bunnies or Tokkis. The group&#x27;s later public story became tied to major corporate conflict around ADOR and HYBE, but their musical impact remains clear. NewJeans changed the temperature of K-pop quickly: softer, more casual, more design-conscious, and still massively public-facing. Their catalog is short compared with older top groups, but the influence of their first run is already large.

NewJeans

NewJeansが音楽をリリースしなくなってから、もう2年近くになる――それでも、この2年間のK-popには彼女たちの影響が色濃く残っている。今、ADORが彼女たちがコペンハーゲンで新曲の制作に取り組んでいることを認めたことで、焦点は「いつ戻るのか」だけではなくなっている

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