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

人々は繰り返し「K-popは終わりか」と問う。しかし本当の問題は、それを判断するための指標を誤っていることだ。

K-popは終わりか――それとも私たちはその変化を読み誤っているだけか？

ALPHA DRIVE ONE, also shortened as ALD1, is an eight-member project boy group under WAKEONE. The lineup consists of Leo, Junseo, Arno, Geonwoo, Sangwon, Xinlong, Anxin, and Sanghyeon. The group was formed through Boys II Planet, continuing the survival-show project group model that has become central to modern K-pop fandom. Their early rollout included the pre-debut single &quot;Formula&quot; before their official 2026 debut, giving the team a staged introduction rather than a single launch moment. The fandom is known as ALLYZ. ALPHA DRIVE ONE is defined by its formation, lineup, debut structure, and five-year project framework, giving fans a clear sense of both the group&#x27;s origin and the limited-contract timeline around its future.

ALPHA DRIVE ONE

ALPHA DRIVE ONE、デビュー・ミニアルバム「EUPHORIA」で早くも勝利の一周を飾る

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.

BTS、史上最大規模の2026-2027ワールドツアーを発表

DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR が示す、音楽を越えたHYBE初のグローバル試験

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

新年の始めに音楽をリリースする主要なK-popスターの一人でいることは簡単なことではありません。さらに、シングルやミニアルバムではなくデビューのフルアルバムを年の初めに出すというのは別次元の挑戦です。

CHUUの『XO, My Cyberlove』が2026年を好スタート

Stray Kids is an eight-member boy group under JYP Entertainment, consisting of Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. The group was introduced through the 2017 survival program Stray Kids and officially debuted in March 2018 with I Am Not, following the pre-debut release &quot;Hellevator.&quot; Former member Kim Woojin left in 2019. The group&#x27;s identity is unusually tied to self-production. Before debut, Bang Chan had already gathered the members around a team-first concept, and the production trio 3RACHA -- Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han -- became the engine behind much of Stray Kids&#x27; sound. That gave the group a different center of gravity from many idol acts: the music often felt like it came from inside the team rather than being assigned to them. Musically, Stray Kids are known for dense rap writing, aggressive electronic textures, sudden rhythmic switches, and choruses built for performance impact. &quot;God&#x27;s Menu,&quot; &quot;Back Door,&quot; &quot;Thunderous,&quot; &quot;Maniac,&quot; and &quot;S-Class&quot; made their style easy to identify: noisy in the intentional sense, but organized around hooks, slogans, and choreography that fans could immediately hold onto. Their lyrics often return to pressure, self-definition, ambition, and the awkward process of growing into confidence. The members&#x27; contrast is a major part of the group&#x27;s appeal. Bang Chan anchors the team as leader and producer; Changbin and Han give the rap line speed and personality; Lee Know, Hyunjin, and Felix shape the performance image; Seungmin and I.N bring clearer melodic balance. Rather than smoothing those differences out, Stray Kids usually lean into them, making their songs feel crowded, restless, and unmistakably theirs. Stray Kids became one of the defining global boy groups of the fourth generation, with a fandom known as STAY and major touring success across Asia, North America, Europe, and beyond. Their rise helped prove that a self-producing idol group could scale internationally while keeping a specific sonic fingerprint. Even when the group experiments with genre or language, the core idea remains stable: Stray Kids make high-impact pop out of tension, noise, teamwork, and control.

Stray Kids

Stray Kidsがスタジアム時代の優位性をさらに強化 — ‘Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience’

デビューから1年、XLOVはルーキーというよりも、偶然グループという形を取った挑発のように感じられる

XLOVの1年：拒絶に基づく芸術性

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

JOOHONEY、2枚目のミニアルバム 光 (INSANITY)でソロカムバック

ONEUS (원어스) is a five-member boy group currently under B.WAVE Entertainment. Formed by RBW as a six-member group, they debuted on January 9, 2019, with their first mini album, Light Us. The group&#x27;s name carries the meaning of &quot;one us,&quot; symbolizing unity between the members and their fans, and is also interpreted as &quot;one world&quot; in Korean. RBW introduced ONEUS in 2018 alongside their brother group ONEWE. Prior to debut, the two groups released the collaboration single &quot;Last Song.&quot; ONEUS officially debuted in January 2019 with Light Us and later released the mini albums Raise Us and Fly With Us. They made their Japanese debut in August 2019 with the single &quot;Twilight&quot; and subsequently released the Japanese single &quot;808.&quot; During this period, member Ravn temporarily halted activities due to health concerns before later rejoining the group. In 2020, ONEUS released the single album In Its Time and participated in Mnet&#x27;s competition program Road to Kingdom, where they ultimately ranked fifth. They later released the mini album Lived and the digital single &quot;Bbusyeo.&quot; In 2021, the group released their first studio album Devil, followed by the mini album Binary Code and additional Japanese releases. They launched the ONEUS Theatre project and released the mini album Blood Moon in November, earning their first music show win with &quot;Luna.&quot; They also collaborated with ONEWE on the single &quot;Stay.&quot; Toward the end of the year, Ravn temporarily suspended activities.

ONEUS

ONEUSは12月13日、ロンドンのIndigo at The O2で2025年ヘッドライン・ワールドツアー H_OUR, US の英国公演を行い、会場を熱狂の渦に包んだ

ONEUS ロンドン公演：TOMOONにとって完璧以上の夜

Season’s GreetingsはK-popのエコシステムの中で重要な位置を占める。年の変わり目に発売され、マーチャンダイズとライフスタイルアイテム、あるいは儀礼の間のどこかに位置づけられる

机の上から日常へ：2026年のSeason’s Greetingsを読み解く

BTSは“復帰”しているわけではない――ポジショニングを再設定している

TOMORROW X TOGETHER, often shortened to TXT, is a five-member boy group under BIGHIT MUSIC. The group consists of Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai. They debuted in March 2019 with The Dream Chapter: Star, becoming BigHit&#x27;s first boy group after BTS and immediately attracting heavy attention. TXT&#x27;s early identity centered on youth, friendship, imagination, and the strange emotional weather of growing up. Instead of debuting with a hard-edged performance image, they leaned into brightness, fantasy, and vulnerability on songs such as &quot;Crown,&quot; &quot;Run Away,&quot; and &quot;Blue Hour.&quot; That made the group feel distinct within fourth-generation boy-group trends, especially because their storytelling often treated adolescence as magical, confusing, and a little unstable. As their catalog developed, TXT added sharper pop-rock, emo, and dance influences through songs like &quot;0X1=LOVESONG,&quot; &quot;LO$ER=LOVER,&quot; &quot;Sugar Rush Ride,&quot; and &quot;Chasing That Feeling.&quot; The members&#x27; strengths map cleanly onto that evolution: Soobin&#x27;s calm leadership, Yeonjun&#x27;s performance charisma, Beomgyu&#x27;s color, Taehyun&#x27;s vocal focus, and Huening Kai&#x27;s bright tone all help the group move between softness and intensity. TXT&#x27;s fandom is known as MOA, short for Moments of Alwaysness. The group&#x27;s significance is tied to how carefully they built a coming-of-age identity across albums, videos, and performances. Rather than defining themselves through a single sound, TXT became a group about transition itself: childhood into adulthood, fantasy into reality, and polished idol pop into something more emotionally restless.

新闻

K-popは終わりか――それとも私たちはその変化を読み誤っているだけか？

ALPHA DRIVE ONE、デビュー・ミニアルバム「EUPHORIA」で早くも勝利の一周を飾る

BTS、史上最大規模の2026-2027ワールドツアーを発表

DARK MOON: THE BLOOD ALTAR が示す、音楽を越えたHYBE初のグローバル試験

CHUUの『XO, My Cyberlove』が2026年を好スタート

Stray Kidsがスタジアム時代の優位性をさらに強化 — ‘Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience’

XLOVの1年：拒絶に基づく芸術性

JOOHONEY、2枚目のミニアルバム光 (INSANITY)でソロカムバック

ONEUS ロンドン公演：TOMOONにとって完璧以上の夜

机の上から日常へ：2026年のSeason’s Greetingsを読み解く

BTSは“復帰”しているわけではない――ポジショニングを再設定している

Gayo Daejeon 2025のYEONJUN：スターの再誕

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