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

BACK TO REALITY은 K-indie 밴드 PRYVT가 지난 한 해의 속도감으로부터 도망치기를 멈추고 마침내 그것을 정면으로 바라보는 순간처럼 느껴진다

트랙 바이 트랙: PRVYT, BACK TO REALITY의 이면을 드러내다

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

YEONJUN의 솔로 데뷔는 특이할 만큼 선명하게 다가온다. 거창한 선언이나 과도한 콘셉트 설명에서 나오는 선명함이 아니라, 정체성이라는 개념과의 협상을 아예 멈출 때 생기는 그런 선명함이다.

리뷰: YEONJUN은 재창조를 거부한다 – ‘NO LABELS: PART 01’은 그가 이미 누구인지 보여준다

WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, is a girl group formed through a collaboration between Starship Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment, debuting in February 2016. Originally consisting of thirteen members from South Korea and China, the group was divided into four subunits: Wonder, Joy, Sweet, and Natural. Their celestial concept, as suggested by their cosmic name, infused their music with a dreamy, fantastical quality. WJSN gained wider recognition through their participation in Mnet&#x27;s &quot;Queendom 2&quot; in 2022, where they earned newfound appreciation for their elegant performances and stunning visuals. Songs like &quot;Save Me, Save You,&quot; &quot;Boogie Up,&quot; and &quot;Last Sequence&quot; highlighted their versatility. The group&#x27;s fandom, Ujung, has been devoted through years of shifting group dynamics as Chinese members pursued activities in China. WJSN is remembered as one of the most visually and conceptually enchanting groups of their era.

WJSN

전 세계적으로 사랑받는 걸그룹 WJSN과 함께한 거의 10년의 시간을 거쳐, DAYOUNG은 자신의 본능이 이제 혼자 앞으로 나설 때라고 말해준 순간에 도달했다

DAYOUNG: 본능, 자신감, 그리고 솔로 무대

CLOSE YOUR EYES (also shortened as CYE) is a seven-member boy group under UNCORE. They were formed through JTBC&#x27;s survival show PROJECT7. They made their debut on April 2, 2025, with the mini album &quot;Enternalt&quot;. PROJECT7 started airing on October 18, 2024, and the finale was broadcast live on December 27, 2024, revealing the group name, CLOSE YOUR EYES, and the seven winners, in order: Ma Jingxiang, Kenshin, Jeon Minwook, Seo Kyoungbae, Song Seungho, Jang Yeojun, and Kim Sungmin. Before joining PROJECT7, Jeon Minwook had already debuted as a member of the boy group BAE173 and the project group A-SIX. Additionally, Ma Jingxiang was a contestant on Boys Planet, while Jang Yeojun also participated in Boys Planet and was a contestant on Wild Idol.

CLOSE YOUR EYES

서바이벌 프로그램 Project 7이 2024년 12월 CLOSE YOUR EYES의 결성으로 막을 내렸을 때, 그것은 다음 물결의 K-pop에 확실한 변화를 알렸다

CLOSE YOUR EYES가 말하는 야망, 목표 그리고 'blackout'

다섯 멤버로 구성된 A2O MAY는 SM Entertainment를 떠난 뒤 Soo Man Lee가 세운 A2O Entertainment에서 론칭한 첫 번째 그룹이다

더 크고, 더 거칠고, 더 나은: A2O MAY의 글로벌 비전

Xdinary Heroes is a South Korean rock band under Studio J, a subsidiary of JYP Entertainment. It is the second group introduced by Studio J in nearly six years after DAY6. The group consists of six members ; Gunil, Jungsu, Gaon, O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon, all of whom are involved in writing, composing, and producing the music of the band. They made their debut on December 6, 2021 with the single Happy Death Day. The song debuted at number 12 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales. The band&#x27;s name is an abbreviation of “Extraordinary Heroes&quot;, meaning &quot;anyone can become a hero&quot;.

Xdinary Heroes

Xdinary Heroes는 굵은 글씨로 메시지를 찍어 내어주는 밴드는 아니다. 그들이 싱글 “Beautiful Life”처럼 폭발적으로 가슴을 울리는 곡을 쓰더라도, 어떻게 느껴야 하는지는 강요하지 않는다.

Xdinary Heroes: 혼돈 속에서 아름다움을 찾다

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;

GO Chapter 1 : GO Together는 단지 CIX의 새로운 시대의 시작이 아니다 — 선언의 순간이다. 9월 초 발매된 이 EP는 그들의 여덟 번째 미니앨범으로, 한 해 동안 꾸준히 쌓아온 창작적 성장을 이어간 결과물이다.

천국의 문을 열다: CIX, ‘GO Together’로 길을 선도하다 – 인터뷰

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

무대에서 스튜디오까지, WONHO는 하나의 불변하는 중심에 음악을 세운다: 그의 팬, WENEE. Stay Awake Europe 투어에서 그는 자신의 예술성이 삶의 경험, 감정적 정직성, 그리고 팬들과의 드문, 가시적인 유대감에 기반한다는 것을 증명한다

단독 인터뷰: WONHO의 핵심

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.

SF9의 6년 만의 무대 복귀는 단순한 향수를 넘는 무게를 지니고 있었다. 그 사이 멤버들의 군복무, 탈퇴, 재편성으로 케미가 쉽게 흐트러질 수도 있었지만

SF9 런던 공연: 재창조와 지속성의 증명

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 그리고 Sanghyeon으로 구성된 8인조 그룹은 서바이벌 프로그램 BOYS II PLANET을 통해 뭉쳤으며, 치열한 경쟁과 글로벌한 관심 속에서 각자의 자리를 확실히 다졌다.

ALPHA DRIVE ONE를 만날 준비하세요: 공식 사진 공개

Korean band Catch The Young은 2025 인천 펜타포트 록 페스티벌에서 역동적인 무대를 선보이며 젊은 에너지로 무대를 달구고 관객들의 열광적인 떼창을 이끌어냈다

얼터너티브 팝-록 밴드 Catch The Young, 인천 펜타포트 록 페스티벌 달아오르다

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

“SOAP (FEAT. PINKPANTHERESS)” 싱글 &amp; 뮤직비디오 공개

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