KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

TNX (an acronym for The New Six) is a five-member boy group under P NATION. Originally debuting as six members, the group was formed through the SBS survival program LOUD, a collaboration project between J.Y. Park and PSY. They officially debuted on May 17, 2022 with their first mini album Way Up. The group’s lineup was finalized during the finale of LOUD in 2021, where Kyung Jun, Tae Hun, Hyun Soo, Jun Hyeok, Hwi, Sung Jun, and Tanaka Koki were selected for P NATION’s upcoming boy group. However, in January 2022, P NATION announced that Tanaka Koki would not debut with the team in order to continue training, leading the group to debut as six members under the name TNX. On their debut day, they also introduced their fandom name THX, meaning “Together with TNX.” Following their debut, TNX continued building their discography with releases such as Love Never Dies, Boyhood, and the digital single &quot;Fuego&quot;, while also participating in the survival competition Road to Kingdom : Ace of Ace in 2024. During this period, member Jun Hyeok temporarily paused activities due to anxiety before later returning to the group. In October 2024, it was announced that member Kyung Jun would enlist in the military and depart from the group following the completion of his service, reducing TNX to five members. The group continued activities with releases including the mini album For Real? in 2025 and the digital single &quot;Call Me Back&quot; in 2026, maintaining their growth under P NATION.

TNX는 4년 동안 퍼포먼스로 이름을 쌓아왔다. "Die Another Day"를 통해 그들은 그 이름을 전혀 새로운 곳에서 찾고자 했다

TNX, 록·라이브 보컬·그리고 물러서지 않겠다는 태도에 대해 말하다

K-pop을 넘어, P-pop 같은 동남아시아 장르가 국제적인 주목을 받고 있다. 그 흐름을 이끄는 보이그룹 SB19는 왜 그런지 직접 보여주기 위해 San Antonio를 찾는다.

KPOPWORLD Festival Spotlight: SB19

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

2025년 1월 데뷔 이후, XLOV는 특정 멤버가 가끔 시도하는 룩이 아니라, 젠더리스 스타일링을 팀의 정체성 전체를 이루는 기반으로 삼아왔다

XLOV의 젠더리스 스타일링이 K-pop의 틀을 깨고 있는 방식

WHIB is a seven-member boy group under C-JeS Entertainment, consisting of members Kim Junmin, Haseung, Jinbeom, UGeon, Leejeong, Jaeha, and Wonjun. Originally an octet, they debuted on November 8, 2023, with the single album Cut-Out. The group was first teased in November 2021 as the trainee group M.I.C, which stood for “Made in C-JeS.” On September 7, 2023, it was revealed that the group would debut as an eight-member group under the name WHIB, along with introductions to the new members. In 2025, members LeeJeong, Junmin and Wonjun competed on the Mnet survival show Boys II Planet, ranking 12th, 13th, and 62nd, respectively. On October 16, it was announced that member Inhong had departed from the group. WHIB released their first mini album, ROCK THE NATION, on January 29, 2026.

WHIB

그룹 내 송라이터이자 작곡가인 JUNMIN은 멜로디부터 음악을 시작하며, WHIB가 다양한 사운드와 스타일을 오갈 수 있는 힘을 소중히 여긴다

WHIB의 KIM JUNMIN 인터뷰 – 멜로디 중심의 음악 메이커

Jay Park는 첫 KPOPWORLD Festival의 헤드라이너를 맡는다. 그의 이야기를 알고 있다면, 이 섭외가 얼마나 완벽한지 금방 이해할 수 있다.

KPOPWORLD Festival Spotlight: Jay Park

Stray Kids, the record-breaking South Korean boy group, is set to once again dominate the music scene with their latest mini album ATE.

Stray Kids : ATE is fate

14 (forteen) makes a shimmery debut

The caliber of music coming out of South Korea on a consistent basis is actually insane.

SUDI’s new single is criminally underrated

Recently, XG announced their new single “Something Ain’t Right” will be releasing on July 26. This ties into announcements that the group is working on their second mini-album, which is expected to release late this year. So far there have been minimal hints towards the upcoming track other than that it will be “inspired by 90s garage rhythms.”

Photo of the Day: “Something Ain’t Right” with XG

ONCE is going crazy today over the new TWICE comeback.

TWICE “dives” into their new comeback

RIIZE has been busy since their debut last September under SM Entertainment.

RIIZE drops “Same Key” for “Makeup With Mud”

2Z are back! Or at least they will be soon! The group recently announced their newest comeback single “Playground.”

Photo of the Day: 2Z Hang Out at the Playground

Lee Jin-ki, best known by his artist mononym ONEW, dropped a special video performance of his new single “MonTuesWedThursFriSatSun” over the weekend.

ONEW gave fans a special pre-release treat

WayV Set to DUEL in New Concept Photos

Following their acclaimed work with releases like BORDER, DIMENSION, MANIFESTO, BLOOD

Keeping the “hype” in ENHYPEN: Their new comeback goes hard

Get elemental with BOYNEXTDOOR’s latest comeback

2024 has been filled with plenty of great rookie concepts. From BABYMONSTER’s absolute dominance to ILLIT’s viral success, there’s been no shortage of great K-pop newbies. However, one group that might have gone under the radar for you is WAKER. The group debuted at the very start of the year, and despite a mild amount of attention, didn’t really shake things up too much for K-pop as a whole.

Comeback