KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

KPOPWORLD #6 (KEYVITUP X VAYONN)

KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

Choi Yu Reeは、親密なソングライティングを通して、脆さ、愛、恐れ、そして日々の暮らしを形づくる静かな感情を掘り下げたStayシリーズの締めくくりとなるStay: Twoについて語る。

Choi Yu Reeは自分らしさを貫く

LOONA (이달의 소녀, &quot;Girl of the Month&quot;) is a girl group formed by Blockberry Creative with one of the most ambitious pre-debut projects in K-pop history. From 2016 to 2018, each of the twelve members was individually introduced with her own solo single, music video, and lore before the full group debuted in August 2018. This elaborate rollout created an intricate &quot;LOONAVERSE&quot; mythology that captivated fans who dissected every visual clue and narrative connection. LOONA&#x27;s music spans a remarkable range of styles — from Chuu&#x27;s bubbly &quot;Heart Attack&quot; to the cinematic grandeur of &quot;Butterfly&quot; to the girl-crush energy of &quot;PTT (Paint the Town).&quot; The group gained a uniquely devoted international fandom, Orbits, who turned LOONA into an internet phenomenon long before the group achieved mainstream domestic success. Despite significant company controversies and member departures, LOONA&#x27;s creative ambition and the quality of their discography have ensured their place in K-pop history as one of the most artistically inventive groups of their generation.

LOONA

LOONAからソロアーティストとしての進化まで。Yvesが自身の歩み、創作のアイデンティティ、そして成長の裏にある苦悩について、2026年の率直で飾らない会話の中で語る。

Yvesのセルフイメージ

K-popのプロモーションサイクルで最も重要な要素があるとすれば、それは音楽番組、ひいては音楽番組での1位だろう

音楽番組の「1位」って実際何？ そしてグループはどうやって獲得するの？

SM創業者Lee Soo-manが復帰したA2O Entertainmentが、2026年10月12日にボーイズグループとガールズグループを同時にデビューさせると発表した

Lee Soo-manのA2O Entertainment、ボーイズグループとガールズグループを同時デビューへ

BLACKPINK is a four-member South Korean girl group under YG Entertainment &mdash; Jisoo, Jennie, Ros&eacute;, and Lisa &mdash; who debuted on August 8, 2016 with Square One and its double single "Boombayah" and "Whistle." As YG's first girl group since 2NE1, they were positioned not as a large idol ensemble but as four sharply drawn performers, each with her own vocal tone, visual identity, and role. The name itself encodes that duality: "black" for a hard, self-assured edge, "pink" for glamour and pop accessibility. Jennie and Lisa's clipped rap sections anchor the percussive center of most songs while Jisoo and Ros&eacute; supply melodic lift, a structure recognizable across producers, languages, and markets &mdash; from the sparse whistle hook of their debut to the heavy drops of "DDU-DU DDU-DU." Scarcity shaped their ascent as much as output did. They released comparatively few songs in their early years, which turned each comeback into an event rather than a routine promotional beat. The tradeoffs were real, but attention concentrated on a tight set of songs, videos, and stage moments: "Kill This Love," "How You Like That," "Pink Venom," and "Shut Down" became templates for a global-facing K-pop built on impact, visual clarity, and instantly repeatable hooks. Their reach came from more than charts &mdash; they linked the idol system to global pop, luxury fashion, digital fandom, and festival culture, becoming the first Korean girl group at Coachella in 2019 and the first K-pop act to headline it in 2023. Western collaborations, fashion-house partnerships, and an enormous social footprint carried them to audiences with no prior interest in Korean music. All four built substantial solo careers in music, acting, fashion, and brand work, making the group a clear case of group and solo identities reinforcing each other. After renewing with YG for group activities, their individual paths grew more independent while BLACKPINK continued as a shared brand and performing unit. Their real significance lies less in records broken than in normalizing a model where a K-pop girl group functions at once as an idol act, a global pop project, and four standalone celebrity careers. Their fandom is called BLINK.

BLACKPINK

BLACKPINK’s JISOO is bringing her solo universe into streetwear with “JISOO CLICK by Off-White,” a limited-edition Fall/Winter 2026 capsule inspired by her single “CLICK”

JISOO Makes It “CLICK” With New Off-White Collaboration

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

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）

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.

7月13日、NCTの第5世代ユニットNCT WISHが、日本シングルアルバムYO-I-DON! / BOY MEETS GIRLをリリースした。アルバムには、6月22日に先行公開された「BOY MEETS GIRL」と、新たなタイトル曲「YO-I-DON!」の2曲が収録されている。

NCT WISH、ソールドアウトの日本ファンミーティングを経て日本シングル『YO-I-DON! / BOY MEETS GIRL』をリリース

SEVENTEEN is a thirteen-member boy group formed by Pledis Entertainment, debuting in May 2015. The group is organized into three internal teams: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. That structure is more than branding; it explains how SEVENTEEN functions, with members contributing to songwriting, choreography, staging, and the division of energy across a very large lineup. The members are S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. Their nickname as &quot;self-producing idols&quot; comes especially from Woozi&#x27;s central role in music and Hoshi&#x27;s role in performance direction, but the larger appeal is how the group makes thirteen people feel coordinated rather than crowded. SEVENTEEN&#x27;s early music leaned bright, youthful, and rhythmically nimble, with songs like &quot;Adore U,&quot; &quot;Mansae,&quot; and &quot;Very Nice&quot; presenting them as a group with unusual stage chemistry. Later releases such as &quot;Don&#x27;t Wanna Cry,&quot; &quot;Home,&quot; &quot;Left &amp; Right,&quot; &quot;Rock with you,&quot; and &quot;Super&quot; widened the scale while keeping the choreography and vocal distribution clear. Their best songs often turn teamwork itself into the hook: repeated gestures, fast transitions, and formations that reward watching the whole stage. The group&#x27;s growth into one of K-pop&#x27;s top album sellers came from consistency as much as spectacle. SEVENTEEN built trust through steady comebacks, strong variety content, and concerts that emphasized the members&#x27; humor as well as precision. Their fandom, CARAT, became part of that identity, following a group that could be technically impressive without losing warmth. SEVENTEEN&#x27;s legacy is tied to durability. Few large idol groups have kept such a clear group image while allowing so many individual personalities to stand out. As their scale expanded under the wider HYBE era, they remained recognizably Pledis-born: performance-first, member-driven, and unusually good at turning the mechanics of a big team into something emotionally easy to understand.

SEVENTEEN

本日、2026年7月13日、PLEDIS EntertainmentはSEVENTEENの13人全員が2度目の契約更新を選択したことを発表した。デビューから11年、そして兵役義務による入隊が進むなか、グループは、帰りを心待ちにするファンに「永遠」を約束している。

SEVENTEEN、PLEDIS Entertainmentとの2度目の契約更新を確認

&nbsp;今夏の勢いはまだまだ続く。RIIZEのbass house、BABYMONSTERのdance-pop-country、i-dleの艶やかな新曲、PagaehunのY2Kティーンクラッシュ感、そしてSEVENTEENのV8によるPharrellプロデュースの新鮮なR&amp;B/ヒップホップまで勢ぞろい&nbsp;

Comeback Corner: i-dle、BABYMONSTER、RIIZE ほか

ARTMS is a 5-member South Korean girl group under MODHAUS. The group consists of JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, HeeJin, and Choerry from the currently inactive girl group LOONA. They first rebooted the LOONA sub-unit ODD EYE CIRCLE on July 12, 2023. They debuted on May 31, 2024, with their first album, DALL.

ARTMS

ARTMSが、カムバック作＜Hyper-Ego＞に先立ち、4度目となるワールドツアー＜Art of BLUE BLOOD＞を発表した。9月5日と6日のソウル公演を皮切りに、10月には北米、11月にはヨーロッパへと展開する。

ARTMS、＜Hyper-Ego＞カムバックを前に＜Art of BLUE BLOOD＞ワールドツアー開催を発表

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

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

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Music that debuted on June 12, 2013, with the single album 2 Cool 4 Skool. Its seven members are RM (leader), Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, with RM, Suga, and J-Hope contributing heavily to songwriting and production. The name stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan (&ldquo;Bulletproof Boy Scouts&rdquo;), reflecting a concept of resisting the pressures placed on young people.
The group broke through in 2015 with &ldquo;I Need U&rdquo; and reached a global audience with Wings and the Love Yourself series, whose Love Yourself: Tear became the first album by a Korean act to top the Billboard 200 in 2018. &ldquo;Dynamite,&rdquo; &ldquo;Butter,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Permission to Dance&rdquo; each hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. BTS is among the best-selling artists in South Korean history and partnered with UNICEF on the Love Myself campaign. Full-group activities paused from 2022 to 2025 for the members&rsquo; mandatory military service, completed when Suga was discharged in June 2025. Their tenth studio album, ARIRANG, arrived on March 20, 2026, followed by the Arirang World Tour beginning that April.

BTSがTottenham Hotspur Stadiumで迎えた2日目の夜には、また違った感情があった。長らく待ち望まれていた再会への期待は前夜の時点ですでに満たされており、7月7日はその再会が本当は何を意味していたのかを祝う夜となった。

BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' ロンドン公演：説明不要だった2日目の夜

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。

新闻

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

KARDを形作る9曲リスニングマップ