KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

KPOPWORLD #6 (KEYVITUP X VAYONN)

KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

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

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

KEYVITUP is a five-member boy group under iNKODE, formed through the agency’s INTHE X Project. The lineup—Sena, Hyunmin, Taehwan, Rukia, and Jaein—was introduced step by step through pre-debut content, building anticipation around a team designed with a strong performance focus and a clear concept from the start. As part of a dual-group rollout, KEYVITUP was positioned with a trendy and dynamic identity, contrasting with its counterpart group. This concept highlights a more energetic and performance-driven style, setting the tone for their music and overall image even before debut. They are set to make their debut with the self-titled EP KEYVITUP, marking the official beginning of their activities. With pre-debut exposure, international stage appearances, and a defined concept, the group enters the scene with momentum and a clear direction moving forward.

KEYVITUP

最新のデジタルカバーでは、HYUNMIN、TAEHWAN、SENA、JAEIN、RUKIAに、デビューのこと、自分たちらしいサウンドを見つけていく過程、自分たちの音楽を作り上げていくこと、5人をつなぐケミストリー、そしてKEYVITUPをこれからどこへ導いていきたいのかについて話を聞いた。

KEYVITUP - The KPOPWORLD デジタルカバー

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？

KickFlip is a seven-member boy group under JYP Entertainment, consisting of Kyehoon, Amaru, Donghwa, Juwang, Minje, Keiju, and Donghyeon. The group was formed through the SBS audition program Loud and debuted in 2025. The group&#x27;s identity connects JYP&#x27;s idol training system with a more youthful, agile performance image. Because several members were already known from a survival-show context, KickFlip&#x27;s debut carried built-in curiosity around how the lineup would translate from trainee competition to a working group. The fandom is known as WeFlip. KickFlip is still early in its career, with its public identity centered on formation, lineup, and debut positioning rather than a long-established legacy.

KickFlip

KickFlipが新たな章を始動する準備を整えた。2027年の初ワールドツアーを前に、JYP Entertainmentの新人グループはKPOPWORLDに、ニューアルバム『KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1』について語った。

KickFlipがKICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1を語る、初のワールドツアーを前に

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

NewJeansのカムバックの可能性がK-pop業界全体をどう変えるのか

K-popの現在のEDMブームをめぐる議論では、ひとつの根本的な点が見落とされている。ダンスミュージックは、実は一度も消えていなかったのだ。最新の特集で、Chyenne Tatumは、ハウスの要素を取り入れた第1世代グループのサウンドから、2015年のディープハウス期に至るまで、このジャンルの電子的ルーツをたどっている。

K-popにおけるEDMは新しいトレンドではない――だが、今まさにルネサンスを迎えている

KPOPWORLDは毎週、見出しの向こう側にあるK-popの実際の変化を掘り下げ、その意味を考える

先週のK-popを読み解く（2026年4月26日 - 5月1日）

MAMAMOO is a four-member vocal powerhouse girl group formed by RBW Entertainment, debuting in June 2014. Consisting of Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa, the group immediately stood out for their exceptional live vocals, jazz and retro-influenced sound, and playful on-stage chemistry. Their debut track &quot;Mr. Ambiguous&quot; showcased a level of vocal ability rare among rookie groups and earned critical acclaim. Over the years, MAMAMOO built a reputation as one of K-pop&#x27;s most talented and entertaining live acts, with hits like &quot;Um Oh Ah Yeh,&quot; &quot;Décalcomanie,&quot; &quot;Starry Night,&quot; and &quot;HIP.&quot; Each member has also found significant solo success, with Hwasa in particular becoming a cultural icon. The group&#x27;s fandom, MooMoo, appreciates their authenticity and musicality. Though members eventually moved to different agencies, MAMAMOO has continued to reunite for group activities, proving the strength of their bond.

MAMAMOO

MAMAMOOが帰ってきた――今回はアリーナ公演での来日ならぬ来米だ。Solar、Moon Byul、Whee In、そしてHwa Saの4人は、今年8月に全7公演のアメリカ・ツアーを行うことを確定させた。再集結後、数年ぶりのフルグループでの米国公演となり、ニューヨークやシカゴ、ロサンゼルスなどがルートに含まれている。

MAMAMOO、12周年とグループ再結成を記念して2026年のアメリカ・ツアーを発表

今週のComeback Cornerは、1つのプレイリストに約15年分のK-popが詰まった内容です

Comeback Corner: 82MAJOR、NEXZ、LEE CHAEYEON ほか

ILLIT is a South Korean girl group formed through the 2023 reality survival show R U Next?. The group is managed by Belift Lab, a subsidiary of HYBE, and debuted in March 2024 with the EP &quot;Super Real Me&quot;. ILLIT consists of five members: Yunah, Minju, Moka, Wonhee, and Iroha, though former member Youngeso left before the group officially debuted despite making the final line up. The group quickly gained global attention with their debut title track Magnetic, which became a viral hit on social media platforms and achieved high placements on international music charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and the Billboard Global 200. Their sound combines elements of Kpop, electronic pop, and dreamy pop aesthetics. ILLIT&#x27;s concept focuses on youthful energy and individuality, presenting a soft yet modern pop style that has helped establish the group as one of the notable fifth-generation Kpop girl groups.

ILLIT

ILLITが帰ってきた――そして、あなたに先に動くのを待ったりはしない。4枚目のミニアルバム MAMIHLAPINATAPAI が本日リリースされ、リードシングル「It's Me」を軸に据えている。グループにとって初めてのテクノ挑戦であり、これまでで最も大胆な自己宣言だ。

ILLIT、新ミニアルバム MAMIHLAPINATAPAI で勝負に出る

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.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TOMORROW X TOGETHERが5月24日に7周年記念コンサートを世界の映画館で上映します。韓国や日本にいない場合、これがライブで観られる唯一のチャンスです。

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