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

THE BOYZ is an eleven-member boy group formed by Cre.Ker Entertainment (now an independent group), debuting in December 2017. The group gained significant attention for their performance abilities, particularly after their appearance on the Mnet competition show &quot;Road to Kingdom&quot; in 2020, where they won first place with theatrical, visually stunning stages that showcased their storytelling through dance. Their &quot;Road to Kingdom&quot; victory was a turning point, elevating THE BOYZ from a mid-tier group to one of the most respected performance-focused acts in K-pop. Songs like &quot;The Stealer,&quot; &quot;THRILL RIDE,&quot; and &quot;MAVERICK&quot; have highlighted their versatility. THE BOYZ&#x27;s fandom, THE B, has grown steadily, supporting the group through sold-out concerts and strong album sales. The group is widely regarded as having some of the best synchronized choreography and stage presence in the industry. On March 19, 2026, nine members of The Boyz filed for the termination of their exclusive contracts with One Hundred Label, citing issues including unpaid settlements and a breakdown of trust. The agency disputed the claims and rejected the termination, resulting in a legal dispute between the parties. As of April 23, 2026, the court ruled in favor of the nine members, granting the boys an injunction to end the validity of their contracts. The members who were involved are officially free from their ties with One Hundred Label, however the last member still remains as of right now. The group is currently continuing forward as an independent group, being one of the most successful of their peers to make such move.

THE BOYZ

THE BOYZとして約10年を過ごした後、KEVIN MOONはソロアーティストとして新たな章へ。デビュー作『FREECHILD』を携えて、その第一歩を踏み出す

KEVIN MOONインタビュー――檻の中の鳥が自由を手にするまで

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？

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

SF9 (Sensational Feeling 9) is a nine-member boy group formed by FNC Entertainment, debuting in October 2016. The group — Youngbin, Inseong, Jaeyoon, Dawon, Zuho, Rowoon, Taeyang, Hwiyoung, and Chani — first gained attention through the Mnet dance competition show &quot;d.o.b&quot; (Dance or Band). Their early releases leaned into a sleek, sexy concept, with &quot;Roar&quot; and &quot;O Sole Mio&quot; showcasing their polished performance skills. SF9 found broader mainstream recognition largely through member Rowoon, who became one of South Korea&#x27;s most in-demand actors, starring in hit dramas that introduced the group to wider audiences. Musically, the group delivered consistent quality with tracks like &quot;Now or Never,&quot; &quot;Good Guy,&quot; and &quot;Trauma,&quot; blending pop with R&amp;B and dance music. Their fandom, FANTASY, has remained loyal through the ups and downs of the competitive K-pop landscape. SF9 represents a group that balanced idol and acting careers effectively, with multiple members pursuing dual paths in music and drama.

6年ぶりのステージ復帰は、単なるノスタルジーを超える重みを帯びていた。その間、メンバーの入隊、脱退、編成の変化が相次ぎ、グループのケミストリーを容易に崩しかねない状況が続いてきた。

SF9 Live in London：再創造と不屈の証

Wonder Girls were a girl group formed by JYP Entertainment, debuting in February 2007. The group — whose most well-known lineup included Sunye, Yeeun, Sohee, Yubin, and Hyerim — became one of the defining acts of second-generation K-pop. Their 2007 single &quot;Tell Me&quot; sparked a national dance craze in South Korea, with the retro choreography being replicated everywhere from schools to military barracks. Follow-up hits &quot;So Hot&quot; and &quot;Nobody&quot; were equally massive. Wonder Girls made history as the first K-pop group to enter the Billboard Hot 100, with &quot;Nobody&quot; charting in 2009 during their ambitious attempt to break into the American market. While their U.S. promotions had mixed results, the group&#x27;s pioneering efforts helped pave the way for future K-pop acts in the West. In their later years, Wonder Girls reinvented themselves as a self-playing band, releasing the critically acclaimed album &quot;Reboot.&quot; The group disbanded in 2017, but their legacy as trailblazers in K-pop&#x27;s global expansion is firmly established.

Wonder Girls

SUNMI、初のアルバム『HEART MAID』を発表

SHINee is a boy group formed by SM Entertainment, debuting in May 2008 with &quot;Replay.&quot; The group consists of Onew, Jonghyun, Key, Minho, and Taemin. SM promoted them as a &quot;contemporary band,&quot; a phrase that fit their role as trendsetters in music, choreography, styling, and performance. SHINee&#x27;s catalog moved quickly from the smooth youthfulness of &quot;Replay&quot; into sharper electronic pop and hybrid performance tracks. Later records like &quot;View&quot; and &quot;1 of 1&quot; showed how far they could push taste while staying accessible, bringing deep house, retro R&amp;B, and fashion-conscious presentation into mainstream idol pop. Their dances were often technical without feeling stiff, and their vocals gave even experimental tracks a polished center. The members built unusually strong individual identities: Onew as a warm vocalist, Jonghyun as a songwriter and one of K-pop&#x27;s most expressive singers, Key as a style and variety standout, Minho as an athletic performer and actor, and Taemin as a solo performer whose work influenced later idols. Jonghyun&#x27;s death in 2017 remains an important and painful part of SHINee&#x27;s history, and the group&#x27;s later activities are often understood through both grief and continuity. SHINee&#x27;s fandom is known as Shawol. Their legacy is deep because they were not only popular; they were influential in ways that became part of K-pop&#x27;s basic vocabulary. Later groups inherited their emphasis on difficult choreography, distinctive styling, strong solo identities, and the idea that idol pop could be both polished and genuinely adventurous.

SHINee

ONEW、2026年に『ONEW the Live: Percent (%)』USツアー開催を発表

TWICE is a nine-member girl group formed by JYP Entertainment through the survival show Sixteen. The lineup consists of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, with members from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. They debuted in October 2015 with &quot;Like Ooh-Ahh,&quot; introducing the bright, kinetic identity that would make them one of the central girl groups of K-pop&#x27;s third generation. The group&#x27;s early rise was built on an unusually clear pop formula: big choruses, memorable gestures, colorful styling, and personalities that were easy for viewers to distinguish. A run led by &quot;Cheer Up&quot; and &quot;TT&quot; turned TWICE into a national-level phenomenon in Korea, while their Japanese members helped the group cross naturally into Japan&#x27;s idol and pop markets. Rather than relying on a single vocal or dance center, TWICE worked because the lineup felt balanced as a whole: playful, approachable, and tightly rehearsed. As the members grew older, TWICE gradually expanded beyond the cute and school-age image attached to their first hits. The move from &quot;Fancy&quot; through &quot;I Can&#x27;t Stop Me&quot; kept the group&#x27;s melodic accessibility while bringing in sleeker dance-pop, disco, synth-pop, and more mature performance styling. That evolution mattered because it let TWICE remain recognizable without staying frozen in their debut concept. TWICE also became one of the clearest examples of a K-pop girl group building a long international career without losing its domestic base. Their Korean and Japanese discographies developed side by side, and later global touring brought the group to arenas and stadiums far beyond East Asia. The fandom is known as ONCE, a name that matches the group&#x27;s long-running emphasis on mutual loyalty between the members and their audience. Their legacy is not only commercial. TWICE helped define what a modern large girl group could be: member-driven, visually bright, musically immediate, and durable enough to age into a second phase. They normalized the idea that a top K-pop girl group could keep all members active across many years, shift concepts without abandoning its core warmth, and still feel like a complete team even as individual members developed solo work, acting, modeling, and unit activities.

TWICE

TWICEはどこへでも行く：北米、ヨーロッパ、オセアニアを回る360°THIS IS FORアリーナ・ツアー

TOMORROW X TOGETHER, usually shortened to TXT, is a five-member boy group under BIGHIT MUSIC &mdash; Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai. They debuted in March 2019 with The Dream Chapter: Star, arriving as BigHit&rsquo;s first boy group after BTS and drawing immediate attention. Their early identity centered on youth, friendship, imagination, and the odd emotional weather of growing up. Rather than opening with a hard-edged performance image, they leaned into brightness, fantasy, and vulnerability on &ldquo;Crown,&rdquo; &ldquo;Run Away,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Blue Hour&rdquo; &mdash; a stance that set them apart within fourth-generation boy-group trends, largely because their storytelling treated adolescence as magical, confusing, and faintly unstable. As the catalog grew, they folded in sharper pop-rock, emo, and dance influences through &ldquo;0X1=LOVESONG,&rdquo; &ldquo;LO$ER=LOVER,&rdquo; &ldquo;Sugar Rush Ride,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Chasing That Feeling.&rdquo; The members&rsquo; strengths track that evolution closely: Soobin&rsquo;s steady leadership, Yeonjun&rsquo;s performance charisma, Beomgyu&rsquo;s color, Taehyun&rsquo;s vocal precision, and Huening Kai&rsquo;s bright tone let the group move between softness and intensity. Their fandom is MOA, short for Moments of Alwaysness. What makes TXT significant is how deliberately they built a coming-of-age identity across albums, videos, and stages. Instead of defining themselves by a single sound, they became a group about transition itself &mdash; childhood into adulthood, fantasy into reality, polished idol pop into something more emotionally restless.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER

TXT ユニセフ・メンタルヘルス・キャンペーンでオフラインにメッセージを発信

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

ストレイ・キッズ、セカンド・ミックステープ「DO IT」を発表 

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

Hearts2Hearts、デビューミニアルバムで「FOCUS」してほしい

LE SSERAFIM is a five-member girl group under Source Music, consisting of Kim Chaewon, Miyawaki Sakura, Huh Yunjin, Kazuha, and Hong Eunchae. They debuted in May 2022 with &quot;Fearless,&quot; with Kim Garam briefly part of the original lineup before leaving the group. The group&#x27;s name is an anagram of &quot;I&#x27;m Fearless,&quot; and that idea became the spine of their image. LE SSERAFIM&#x27;s music often frames confidence as something earned through pressure rather than something simply declared. &quot;Antifragile,&quot; &quot;Unforgiven,&quot; &quot;Eve, Psyche &amp; The Bluebeard&#x27;s wife,&quot; and &quot;Easy&quot; all explore variations on resilience, ambition, criticism, and the public work of becoming stronger. LE SSERAFIM&#x27;s member mix is unusually clear. Chaewon provides leadership and a compact vocal/performance center, Sakura brings long idol experience and international recognition, Yunjin adds a singer-songwriter voice and outspoken personality, Kazuha&#x27;s ballet background shapes the group&#x27;s elegant athleticism, and Eunchae gives the team a younger, brighter counterweight. Their performances often use that contrast: polished lines, athletic choreography, and a cool refusal to look rattled. The fandom is known as FEARNOT. LE SSERAFIM&#x27;s importance comes from how sharply they defined a modern girl-group confidence concept. Rather than relying only on glamour or toughness, they built an identity around self-discipline, public scrutiny, and forward motion, making vulnerability and ambition feel like parts of the same image.

LE SSERAFIM

LE SSERAFIM、j-hopeとのコラボレーション "SPAGHETTI "を発表

MONSTA X is a boy group formed through the survival show No.Mercy who debuted under Starship Entertainment in May 2015. Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M make up the current lineup, with Wonho a former member, and the group has always been tied to a forceful performance image. Their sound runs muscular &mdash; EDM drops, hip-hop percussion, dark synths, and choruses built to carry heavy choreography. They became one of the most physically commanding performance groups of their generation across a run stretching from the breakthrough drive of "Dramarama" to the sharper drama of "Love Killa," while their vocal line and later English-language releases revealed a smoother R&amp;B and pop register that softened the edges without draining the intensity. They also mattered as a bridge between Korean idol promotion and Western touring: English-language singles, American media appearances, and a large international audience, all without blurring the group's identity. Their fandom, Monbebe, is known for staying loyal through lineup changes, enlistments, solo projects, and long stretches between full-group activity. Their legacy rests on consistency and stamina rather than reinvention. MONSTA X refined one recognizable image &mdash; power, charisma, and emotional loyalty &mdash; instead of rebuilding it every comeback. That became a template for later boy groups aiming to look tough onstage while cultivating a close, fan-centered identity off it.

MONSTA X

WONHO、"Good Liar "シングルでニューアルバムを予告し続ける

PRYVT、2ndアルバムに先駆け、陰鬱なニューシングル「NEXT TO ME, AGAIN」で再登場

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

Junseo、Arno、Leo、Geonwoo、Sangwon、Xinlong、Anxin、Sanghyeonの8人はサバイバル番組BOYS II PLANETを通じて結成され、激しい競争と世界的な注目の中でそれぞれの居場所を築きました

新闻

SF9 Live in London：再創造と不屈の証

SUNMI、初のアルバム『HEART MAID』を発表

ONEW、2026年に『ONEW the Live: Percent (%)』USツアー開催を発表

TWICEはどこへでも行く：北米、ヨーロッパ、オセアニアを回る360°THIS IS FORアリーナ・ツアー

TXT ユニセフ・メンタルヘルス・キャンペーンでオフラインにメッセージを発信

ストレイ・キッズ、セカンド・ミックステープ「DO IT」を発表

Hearts2Hearts、デビューミニアルバムで「FOCUS」してほしい

LE SSERAFIM、j-hopeとのコラボレーション "SPAGHETTI "を発表

WONHO、"Good Liar "シングルでニューアルバムを予告し続ける

PRYVT、2ndアルバムに先駆け、陰鬱なニューシングル「NEXT TO ME, AGAIN」で再登場

ALPHA DRIVE ONEに注目：公式写真が公開

ヨンジュン、初のソロアルバム「NO LABELS：PART 01」を11月にリリース

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KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

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