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

fromis_9 is a South Korean girl group originally formed through the survival show Idol School, known for their bright pop sound and steady growth across multiple generations of K-pop. The group currently consists of Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, and Baek Ji-heon, following several lineup changes that reshaped the group over time. Their name combines “From Idol School” with the idea of a promise to fans, reflecting their origins and commitment as a fan-driven group. Since debuting under Stone Music Entertainment with creative direction from Pledis Entertainment, they have navigated multiple agency transitions while maintaining a consistent musical identity. Fromis_9 They officially debuted in 2018 with “To Heart,” quickly gaining attention for their youthful concept and polished performances. Releases like “Love Bomb,” “Fun!,” and “Feel Good (Secret Code)” helped define their signature sound, blending energetic pop with catchy hooks and vibrant visuals. Over time, the group steadily built a loyal fanbase, achieving chart success and eventually earning their first music show win with “Talk &amp; Talk,” marking a major milestone in their career. Their continued releases, including “DM” and “Stay This Way,” further solidified their place as a dependable and evolving girl group within the industry. Fromis_9 As their career progressed, fromis_9 experienced significant changes, including member departures and shifts in management, ultimately reorganizing as a five-member group under a new agency. Despite these transitions, they continued to release music and expand their activities, including their first world tour and later projects like From Our 20’s. With their ability to adapt while maintaining their core identity, fromis_9 remains recognized for their resilience, consistent growth, and enduring connection with fans in an ever-changing K-pop landscape.

fromis_9

デビューから8年が経っても、fromis_9のJiwonは、まだ1ウォンの収入も受け取っていなかった。今週のYouTube番組で明かしたこの事実は、K-popの華やかな表舞台の裏に、アーティストの収入を事実上無期限で先送りするよう設計された金銭モデルがあることを、あらためて示している

8年、収入ゼロ：K-popスターの裏にある金銭的現実

HYBEの強力な3組が、「ICONIC BY MISTAKE」でYouTube米国チャート1位デビューを果たして歴史を作る一方、HUNTR/Xはグローバルチャートでのロングランを継続し、BIGHITの新人CORTISは米国ツアー完売で5世代の強さを証明した&nbsp;

LE SSERAFIM、ILLIT、KATSEYEがYouTube米国チャートで#1デビュー、「Golden」はチャートで1周年目前

KPop Demon Hunters は6月20日に公開1周年を迎え、その世界観が縮小する気配はまったくない。Maggie Kang の情熱作は、この1年で口コミで広がる Netflix の現象から、Oscar 受賞作、Billboard チャート首位獲得作へと駆け上がった。

Kpop Demon Hunters とその文化的インパクトを1年振り返る

Girls&#x27; Generation, also known as SNSD, is a girl group formed by SM Entertainment and debuted in August 2007. The classic lineup includes Taeyeon, Sunny, Tiffany Young, Hyoyeon, Yuri, Sooyoung, Yoona, Seohyun, and former member Jessica. They became widely known as &quot;The Nation&#x27;s Girl Group,&quot; a title that reflects both popularity and cultural familiarity. Their early rise reshaped the scale of girl-group success in Korea. &quot;Into the New World&quot; later became a symbolic debut song far beyond its initial chart life, while &quot;Gee&quot; turned Girls&#x27; Generation into a national phenomenon. &quot;Genie,&quot; &quot;Oh!,&quot; &quot;Run Devil Run,&quot; and &quot;The Boys&quot; showed different sides of the group: bright, polished, sleek, and ambitious. Their visuals and choreography were widely imitated, but the bigger point was how completely they entered everyday popular culture. Girls&#x27; Generation also helped define the modern idol member ecosystem. The group was large, but each member developed a recognizable public role through music, acting, variety, hosting, modeling, or solo work. Taeyeon&#x27;s solo career, Yoona and Sooyoung&#x27;s acting, Hyoyeon&#x27;s dance profile, Tiffany&#x27;s international activities, and the members&#x27; many television appearances helped make the group feel present even outside comeback cycles. Their Japanese promotions were another major part of their expansion, showing how a Korean girl group could build serious cross-market success without losing its domestic center. The group also weathered lineup change after Jessica&#x27;s departure in 2014, continuing as eight members while the original nine-member era remained a defining part of their history. The fandom is known as SONE. Girls&#x27; Generation&#x27;s legacy is difficult to reduce to records because so much of it became infrastructure for later girl groups: the large lineup with distinct personalities, the mix of national public recognition and fandom power, the Japan strategy, and the model of members becoming stars in their own right while still belonging to a group identity.

Girls' Generation

Girls’ GenerationのリーダーでソロアーティストのTAEYEONが、6月29日に日本のヒット曲「晩餐歌」の韓国語リメイクをリリースし、新プロジェクトJ-POP REMAKE の第1弾を飾る。

TAEYEON、Tuki.の「晩餐歌」でJ-popリメイクプロジェクトを先導

Hearts2Hearts, stylized as H2H, is a South Korean girl group formed by SM Entertainment. The octet consists of Carmen, Jiwoo, Yuha, Stella, Juun, A-na, Ian, and Ye-on. They debuted on February 24, 2025, with the single album &quot;The Chase&quot; and its title track of the same name. The group’s name is intended to reflect their mission to connect with global fans through music filled with emotion and heartfelt messages. Their debut release &quot;The Chase&quot; achieved strong commercial performance, with first-week sales topping domestic charts and earning the group their first music show win shortly after debut. In June 2025, Hearts2Hearts released the digital single “Style”, followed by their first EP “Focus” in October 2025, which included the pre-released track “Pretty Please”, They also released the digital single “Rude!” in February 2026. Hearts2Hearts has performed at major events including SMTOWN Live 2025, international showcases, and festivals across Asia, building a growing global presence.

Hearts2Hearts

M EntertainmentのHearts2Heartsが、同社を代表する夏テーマのヒット作シリーズの次章となる2ndミニアルバムLemon Tangをリリースした。先行公開曲「RUDE!」の話題性に続き、本作はHanteoチャートとCircleチャートの両方で1位を獲得した。

Hearts2Hearts、SMの夏シリーズの成功を『Lemon Tang』で継続

ARrC is a boy group under Mystic Story. The group debuted on August 19, 2024 with the EP AR^C and the title track &quot;S&amp;S (sour and sweet).&quot; Its lineup includes Hyunmin, Andy, Choi Han, Doha, Kien, Rioto, and Jibeen. Former member Ziwoo left in January 2025. The group&#x27;s name stands for &quot;Always Remember the real Connection,&quot; pointing to a concept built around communication and connection with listeners. ARrC&#x27;s releases include Dummy, nu kidz: out the box, HOPE, and Ctrl+Alt+Skiid, with a sound that moves through youthful pop, hip-hop textures, and performance-focused tracks. On June 23, 2026. Mystic Story announced that ARrC’s activities officially ends and that all members will embark on a new journey to pursue their own paths moving forward.

ARrC

MYSTIC STORYは、デビューから2年、SM Entertainmentが同社株式を売却してから1年後に、第5世代ボーイグループARrCの解散を発表した。

MYSTIC STORY、ARrCの解散を発表

CLASSy, formerly known as CLASS:y, is a 7-member girl group formed through the MBC survival show, My Teenage Girl. The group is managed by K-TIGERS Entertainment for Korean promotions and Universal Music Japan for Japan promotions. The members are Hyungseo, Chaewon, Hyeju, Riwon, Jimin, Boeun, and Seonyou. They debuted on May 5, 2022, with their first mini album, Y: CLASS IS OVER. They made their Japanese debut on June 22, 2022 with the single, Shut Down -JP Ver.-. On November 14, 2025, it was announced that they had left M25 and joined K-TIGERS Entertainment. On June 10, 2026, CLASS:y announced their rebrand to the name CLASSy on their YouTube channel with the video, New Chapter, New CLASSy.

CLASSy

CLASSyが戻ってきた。RE:BOOT [AFTER TEARS]が本日リリースされる。グループにとって約1年半ぶりの新作であり、K-Tigers Entertainmentの新体制下では初のリリースでもある。今回の再始動には改名も含まれていて、CLASS:yからCLASSyへと表記を変更し、リセットを正式に打ち出した。

CLASSyがRE:BOOT [AFTER TEARS]で帰ってくる

OH MY GIRL is a girl group formed by WM Entertainment, debuting in April 2015. The group became known for their ethereal, fairy-tale-like concepts and dreamy musical style, which set them apart from the girl-crush trend dominating K-pop at the time. Early releases like &quot;Closer&quot; and &quot;LIAR LIAR&quot; established their whimsical identity, while members Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Jiho, Binnie, and Arin each brought distinct charms. OH MY GIRL&#x27;s breakthrough came with &quot;Nonstop&quot; and &quot;Dun Dun Dance&quot; in 2020 and 2021, which became massive domestic hits and propelled the group to mainstream fame after years of steady growth. Their appearance on the survival show &quot;Queendom&quot; was also a pivotal moment. OH MY GIRL proved that patience and artistic consistency could pay off in an industry that often favors instant success. Their fandom, Miracle, has been a devoted force throughout the group&#x27;s journey from underdog to one of K-pop&#x27;s beloved acts. On May 8, 2025, WM Entertainment announced that Arin and YooA had decided not to renew their contracts with the company. However, they would still promote as members of Oh My Girl.

OH MY GIRL

OH MY GIRLのカムバックが、適切な楽曲を選定するために必要な時間を理由にWM Entertainmentによって2027年へ延期された。メンバーのソロプロジェクトが先行し、1年以上ぶりとなるグループとしての本格的なリリースは来年に持ち越されることになった。

OH MY GIRL、カムバックを2027年に延期

IVE is a six-member girl group formed by Starship Entertainment, debuting in December 2021. The group includes former IZ*ONE members Wonyoung and Yujin alongside Gaeul, Rei, Leeseo, and Liz. IVE&#x27;s concept centers on self-confidence and self-love, encapsulated by their motto &quot;I HAVE&quot; -- a declaration of owning one&#x27;s identity rather than chasing external validation. From their first single, &quot;Eleven,&quot; IVE established a style built around poise rather than maximal force. &quot;Love Dive,&quot; &quot;After Like,&quot; and &quot;I Am&quot; strengthened that image with sleek hooks, elegant choreography, and lyrics that frame confidence as something cool and self-possessed. The group stood out in a crowded fourth-generation field by feeling polished early: less like rookies chasing impact and more like a brand arriving already defined. IVE&#x27;s appeal also comes from contrast inside the lineup. Yujin gives the group a strong leader and performance anchor, Wonyoung brings a highly visible center presence, Liz adds vocal brightness, Rei gives the rap line a distinctive tone, Gaeul sharpens the dance and rap texture, and Leeseo adds youthful energy without making the group feel overly cute. Starship&#x27;s presentation often uses that balance to make IVE feel fashionable, direct, and easy to recognize. The fandom is known as DIVE, and IVE quickly became one of the defining girl groups of their generation through a mix of public-friendly singles, strong visual identity, and high-profile members. Their significance is not just that they produced hit songs, but that they helped re-center a graceful, self-assured pop image in modern K-pop: glamorous without being distant, confident without needing to shout, and accessible without feeling generic.

IVEは、6月20日にAucklandのSpark Arenaで8,000人を動員し、ニュージーランドにおけるK-popコンサートの最多販売記録を樹立した。K-popがこれまで優先してきたとは言いがたいこの地域において、新たな指標となる出来事だ。

IVE、ニュージーランドで動員記録を更新

Stray Kids is an eight-member boy group under JYP Entertainment &mdash; Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. Introduced through the 2017 survival program Stray Kids, they debuted in March 2018 with I Am Not, following the pre-debut release "Hellevator"; former member Kim Woojin departed in 2019. Their identity is unusually bound to self-production: Bang Chan had already assembled the members around a team-first concept before debut, and the production trio 3RACHA &mdash; Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han &mdash; became the engine behind much of the group's sound, giving them a different center of gravity from idol acts handed their material. Musically they're known for dense rap writing, aggressive electronic textures, abrupt rhythmic switches, and choruses built for performance impact. "God's Menu," "Back Door," "Thunderous," "Maniac," and "S-Class" made that style instantly legible: noisy by design, but organized around hooks, slogans, and choreography fans could grab hold of, with lyrics circling pressure, self-definition, ambition, and the clumsy work of growing into confidence. The members' contrast drives much of the appeal &mdash; Bang Chan anchors as leader and producer, Changbin and Han give the rap line speed and personality, Lee Know, Hyunjin, and Felix shape the performance image, and Seungmin and I.N supply melodic balance. Rather than sanding those differences down, the group leans into them, which is why their songs feel crowded, restless, and unmistakably their own. Stray Kids became one of the defining global boy groups of the fourth generation, with a fandom called STAY and major touring success across Asia, North America, and Europe. Their rise proved a self-producing idol group could scale internationally without losing a specific sonic fingerprint. Whatever genre or language they experiment with, the core holds: high-impact pop built out of tension, noise, teamwork, and control.

Stray Kids

Stray Kidsが帰ってきた。新曲、新アルバム、そして新しいワールドツアーまで、すべてを一度に発表。「RUN IT」は6月24日にリリースされ、8月には『THIS &amp; THAT』が続き、＜RUN IT＞ World Tour も控えている。

Stray Kidsが新曲「RUN IT」とアルバム、ワールドツアーを同時発表

先週のK-popでは、CLCのKwon Eunbinが26歳で引退を発表し、TWSのShinyuが行方不明の子どもを支援するキャンペーンに参加し、Grammy Awardsが新たなAsian Pop部門を導入して賛否を呼んだ。出来事は違っても、根底にあるテーマは同じ。片手で与え、もう片手で奪う業界だということだ。

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年6月15日 - 19日）

第2世代のノスタルジーが全開。SecretはVivaldiをサンプリングした逸品で12年ぶりに帰還し、JeAは初のセルフディレクションによるソロプロジェクトを始動。A-Plusは2010年代半ばのK-drama風ポップをよみがえらせ、JUN. KはR&amp;Bへ回帰。HOSHIは2000年代初頭のダンスR&amp;Bの空気をまとった。

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