KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

David Yong의 K-pop 입문은 전형적인 아이돌 데뷔 코스를 따르지 않는다. BIGBANG과 TWICE를 통해 이 장르를 처음 접한 싱가포르 출신 사업가는 한국어 공부, 댄스 레슨, 서울에서의 녹음 작업을 병행하며 오랜 보컬 트레이닝 경험을 바탕으로 자신만의 길을 걸어왔다.

Fan에서 Artist-Executive로: David Yong의 K-pop 여정

NEXZ is a seven-member Japanese boy group formed by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Japan through the Japanese reality show Nizi Project Season 2. The group&#x27;s name means Next Z(G)eneration, and was coined by J.Y. Park to represent the wish for the group to lead JYPE into the future. The final episode premiered on December 15, 2023, revealing the debut lineup, ranked as follows: Tomoya, Haru, Yuki, Ken (So Geon), Yu, Yuhi (Hyui), and Seita. They debuted with the Korean song &quot;Ride the Vibe.&quot;

NEXZ

NEXZ가 2026년 4월 "Mmchk"를 발매했을 때, 7인조 그룹의 올해 첫 컴백 앨범은 발매 첫 주에 44만 4천 장 이상 판매되며 커리어 하이를 기록했고, Circle Chart 리테일 앨범 차트 정상에 올랐으며, 한국 음악 방송에서 첫 1위를 차지했다

NEXZ: 위로만 남았다

K-pop 그룹과 안무가 헤드라인을 장식하는 가운데, 한국 음악 신에서는 또 다른 흐름의 싱어송라이터와 인디 아티스트들이 자신들만의 팬층을 만들어가고 있다. DORI 역시 그 흐름의 일부지만, 그녀가 이 길에 들어선 출발점은 꽤 이례적이었다.

DORI가 색으로 말하다

ASTRO is a four-member boy group under Fantagio. Originally debuting as six members, the group entered the industry with their first mini album &quot;Spring Up&quot;, quickly gaining attention for their bright concept and strong performance skills. The original lineup consisted of MJ, JinJin, Cha Eun-woo, Moon Bin, Rocky, and Sanha, establishing a well-balanced team recognized for both musical and variety presence. In their early years, ASTRO built a steady discography with releases such as &quot;Summer Vibes&quot;, &quot;Autumn Story&quot;, and the &quot;Dream&quot; series, while also expanding their reach through concerts and international promotions. Their growth continued with their first full-length album &quot;All Light&quot; and subsequent releases including &quot;Blue Flame&quot;, &quot;Gateway&quot;, and &quot;All Yours&quot;, solidifying their place in the industry with a consistent sound and evolving image. The group also explored unit activities, including Moon Bin &amp; Sanha and JinJin &amp; Rocky, further showcasing their versatility. :contentReference[oaicite:0] Over time, ASTRO experienced significant changes, including Rocky’s departure and the passing of Moon Bin in 2023, marking a deeply emotional period for the group and fans. Despite these challenges, the group has continued activities as four members, releasing commemorative and special projects such as &quot;Circles&quot;, &quot;Twilight&quot;, and &quot;Moon&quot;, reflecting both their growth and enduring bond as they move forward together.

ASTRO

YOON SAN-HA는 많은 사람들이 생각하는 것보다 훨씬 오래 이 업계에 몸담아 왔다. 그는 10대 초반에 Fantagio에 연습생으로 들어갔고, 2016년 ASTRO의 막내 멤버로 데뷔했다.

YOON SAN-HA는 이제 진짜 자신으로 설 준비가 됐다

dodree is the first Subunit of the girl group DDDD 25. The unit is composed of members Na Yeongjoo and Lee Songhyun. They debuted on January 21, 2026, with the single album &quot;Just Like A Dream&quot;.

dodree

dodree는 자신들의 음악을 “K-rossover Pop”이라고 부른다. 판소리 보컬, 가야금 리프, 그리고 전통 한국 선굿 움직임에서 가져온 안무가 트랩 비트와 몽환적인 신스 같은 현대적 요소와 맞물리며, 이들은 점점 확장되는 카탈로그 안에서 그 경계를 비튼다.

dodree: JYP 산하의 미스터리한 듀오

KATSEYE is a multinational girl group formed through the reality competition series Dream Academy, a collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records. The group debuted in June 2024 with the single &quot;Debut&quot;. KATSEYE consists of six members from different countries: Daniela Avanzini, Lara Rajagopalan, Manon Bannerman, Megan Skiendiel, Sophia Laforteza, and Yoonchae Jeong. The group was created to combine Kpop training with a global pop approach, featuring members from North America, Europe, and Asia. The group first gained attention through the documentary series The Debut: Dream Academy (or Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE on Netflix), which followed the trainees&#x27; journey during the Dream Academy project and the process of forming the final lineup. KATSEYE&#x27;s music blends elements of pop, dance, and K-pop-influenced production while targeting a global audience with multilingual promotion and international activities.

KATSEYE

KATSEYE가 AMAs에서 New Artist of the Year, Breakthrough Pop Artist, Best Music Video상까지 휩쓸었고, WILDWORLD TOUR의 모든 일정이 매진됐다. 무려 31개 전 회차다

KATSEYE, AMAs 휩쓸고 48시간 만에 31회차 아레나 투어 전회차 매진

K-pop은 오랫동안 성인과 함께 데뷔하는 미성년자들과 복잡한 관계를 이어왔지만, 콘셉트 선택은 나이 차이만큼이나 중요하다

성인 콘셉트 속 미성년자: K-pop은 어디서 선을 그을까?

KATSEYE는 유럽과 북미 전역의 아레나를 매진시키고 있다. Ticketmaster 대기열에는 팬 20만 명이 몰렸고, 공연 일정도 여러 차례 추가됐으며, 세 번째 EP도 아직 남아 있다. 어떤 기준으로 보더라도 이들의 상승세는 놀랍다.

KATSEYE는 아레나를 매진시키고 있다. 그런데 왜 모든 것이 아직 정리되지 않은 느낌일까?

K-pop 아이돌 섭외부터 민주화 시위까지 – 한국의 대학 축제는 늘 단순한 엔터테인먼트 그 이상이었다

대학교 축제가 K-pop 마케팅의 핵심이 된 이유

2PM is a South Korean boy group formed by JYP Entertainment, currently centered on Jun. K, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho, and Chansung. They debuted in 2008 after the Hot Blood Men project, with Jay Park part of the group&#x27;s early history. The group became known for a &quot;beast idol&quot; image that emphasized athletic performance, masculine styling, and stage physicality. That made 2PM stand apart from many second-generation boy groups, especially as songs like &quot;Again &amp; Again&quot; and &quot;Heartbeat&quot; turned their choreography and dramatic staging into a signature. 2PM also developed strong individual careers. Members moved into acting, variety, solo music, songwriting, and international activities, helping the group remain recognizable even through military service and long gaps between releases. The fandom is known as HOTTEST. 2PM became one of JYP&#x27;s key second-generation acts, broadening boy-group performance language while building enough member recognition to last beyond their peak idol-cycle years.

Chyenne Tatum이 2008년 아크로바틱과 거침없는 섹시 매력으로 데뷔한 2PM이 어떻게 K-pop 보이그룹의 모습을 완전히 바꿔 놓았는지를 짚어본다

K-pop 보이그룹의 “Beast-dol” 이미지를 개척한 2PM

IZ*ONE was a twelve-member project girl group formed through the Mnet survival show &quot;Produce 48,&quot; a collaboration between Korean and Japanese entertainment industries, debuting in October 2018. The group combined members from Korean agencies and Japan&#x27;s AKB48 system, including future stars Jang Wonyoung, An Yujin, Kim Chaewon, and Miyawaki Sakura. Their debut mini-album &quot;COLOR*IZ&quot; broke sales records for a K-pop girl group at the time. During their two-and-a-half-year contract, IZ*ONE became one of the best-selling girl groups in K-pop history, with releases like &quot;La Vie en Rose,&quot; &quot;Violeta,&quot; and &quot;Fiesta&quot; achieving critical and commercial success. Despite the &quot;Produce&quot; series vote manipulation scandal casting a shadow over their formation, the group&#x27;s talent was undeniable. IZ*ONE disbanded in April 2021 as planned, but their members went on to lead some of the biggest acts in K-pop&#x27;s fourth generation, including IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and more. Their fandom, WIZ*ONE, remains active and nostalgic.

IZ*ONE

발매 두 달이 지난 지금도 YENA의 "Catch Catch"는 Melon 차트에서 계속 상승하고 있다. 그건 우연이 아니다

두 달이 지난 지금도 YENA의 "Catch Catch"는 계속 상승 중 — 그게 의미하는 바가 있다

서로 완전히 다른 두 번의 대응, 그리고 계속 반복되는 하나의 패턴. @chyandblack는 G-Dragon과 RIIZE의 Eunseok을 둘러싼 연이은 논란을 짚으며, K-pop 팬들이 수년째 던져온 질문을 다시 꺼낸다. 무지가 언제 무책임으로 바뀌는 걸까?

K-pop 아이돌이 반복되는 문화적 논란의 당사자가 될 때 — 언제쯤 멈출까?

Cortis, is a South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Music. The group consists of five members: Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. They debuted on August 18, 2025, with the digital single “What You Want&quot; followed by their first EP, &quot;Color Outside the Lines&quot;. The group’s name is derived from the phrase “Color Outside the Lines,” reflecting their concept of creative freedom and nonconformity. Cortis has been promoted as a self-producing “creator crew,” with members participating in songwriting, choreography, and visual direction. Blending pop, hip-hop, and experimental elements, the group gained early attention for their performance skills, self-produced content, and strong rookie-year sales, establishing them as one of Big Hit Music’s newer generation acts.

CORTIS

CORTIS는 “REDRED”로 미래의 히트곡을 만들어내는 데 그치지 않고, 한국 문화에 깊이 뿌리내린 개념들을 해체해 빛 아래에 올려놓는다

CORTIS, “REDRED”에서 순응의 대가를 탐구하다

Seoul City는 Chang-dong 지역을 24시간 운영되는 K-pop 문화 허브로 바꾸기 위해 19억 달러를 투입하고 있다. 이는 단순한 공연장을 넘어서는 규모다. 2만8,000석 규모의 Seoul Arena와 함께 시는 박물관, 전시 공간, 라이브 스트리밍 인프라, 그리고 세제 혜택과 민간 투자를 이끌어내는 특별 법적 지정까지 추진하고 있다.

서울이 24/7 K-Entertainment 타운이 되는 것이 중요한 이유

Ten은 조용히 자신만의 무언가를 만들어가고 있다. 이번 주 방콕 기반의 프로덕션 회사가 공식 발표 없이도 그의 이름을 전면에 내세운 채 출범했다.

Last Week In K-pop, Interpreted (May 4 - 8, 2026)

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;

7년, 8장의 미니 앨범, 그리고 한곳에 머물지 않던 디스코그래피 끝에, CIX는 4월 30일 공식 해체했다

CIX를 기억하며: 세월을 돌아보다

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

NewJeans는 거의 2년 동안 음악을 내지 않았지만, 그 사이 지난 2년간의 K-pop 곳곳에는 여전히 이들의 흔적이 남아 있었다. 이제 ADOR가 이들이 Copenhagen에서 새 음악 작업 중이라고 확인하면서, 사람들의 질문은 단순히 언제 돌아오느냐가 아니라

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