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

i-dle, formerly known as (G)I-DLE, is a girl group formed by Cube Entertainment, debuting in May 2018. The current lineup consists of Miyeon, Minnie, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua, with Soojin as a former member. From debut, the group stood out because leader Soyeon played a central creative role in songwriting, production, and concept direction. Their first single, &quot;LATATA,&quot; introduced a group that could feel stylish without being anonymous. Over time, i-dle became known for concepts that were easy to name and hard to confuse: the dark elegance of &quot;HANN,&quot; the theatrical fire imagery of &quot;HWAA,&quot; the blunt rebellion of &quot;TOMBOY,&quot; and the satire and confidence of later hits. The group often treats a comeback like a thesis statement, with styling, lyrics, and stage language all pointing toward the same idea. i-dle&#x27;s member contrast is central to that impact. Miyeon gives the group a clean vocal center, Minnie adds a dreamy tone and international texture, Soyeon brings rap and creative direction, Yuqi gives warmth and a distinctive low voice, and Shuhua contributes visual and performance presence. The result is a group that can be sharp, funny, dramatic, or strange without losing its center. Their fandom is known as Neverland. i-dle&#x27;s importance lies in how visibly they challenged expectations around girl-group authorship. They helped make it normal to talk about a female idol group not only as performers of a concept, but as artists shaping the concept itself.

i-dle

첫 일본 디지털 싱글인 “Run Away”에서 Miyeon은 한국 솔로 작업의 부드러운 R&amp;B 팝 질감 대신 라이브 기타, 록 편곡, 그리고 이미 일본 무대에서 다져온 사운드를 선보인다

Miyeon, “Run Away”에서 미지의 세계를 향해 달리다

I.O.I is an 11-member project girl group under Swing Entertainment formed through Mnet&#x27;s survival show Produce 101. The group was managed by YMC Entertainment and CJ E&amp;M, and officially debuted on May 4, 2016 with the mini album Chrysalis and its title track Dream Girls. Their name stood for &quot;Ideal of Idol&quot;, reflecting the show&#x27;s premise of creating a &quot;national girl group&quot; chosen directly by viewers. The final lineup consisted of Nayoung, Chungha, Sejeong, Chaeyeon, Kyulkyung, Sohye, Yeonjung, Yoojung, Mina, Doyeon, and Somi. Because the members came from different agencies, I.O.I was always planned as a temporary group. During their short run, they promoted both as a full group and as a sub-unit, releasing songs like Whatta Man, Very Very Very, and Downpour. Despite being active for less than a year, I.O.I became one of the most influential project groups in K-pop. Their success helped prove the power of survival-show fandoms and paved the way for later Produce groups like Wanna One, IZ*ONE, and X1. After their disbandment in January 2017, many members continued in the industry as soloists, actors, or members of groups such as Weki Meki, gugudan, DIA, PRISTIN, Cosmic Girls, and JEON SOMI as a solo artist. In 2026, I.O.I reunited for a special 10th anniversary project, marking their first major group comeback in nearly a decade. The reunion featured nine members, with Mina and Kyulkyung not participating, and included the EP I.O.I : Loop, a pre-release track, and anniversary concerts in Seoul before additional Asia tour stops. Although I.O.I began as a temporary group, their legacy has lasted far beyond their original contract, making them one of K-pop&#x27;s defining examples of how a short-lived project group could leave a permanent mark.

I.O.I

Chungha가 2026년 9월 1일 새 디지털 싱글 “México”를 발매할 예정이다. 이번 소식은 Chungha의 소속사 MORE VISION이 전했다.

Chungha, 9월 1일 디지털 싱글 “México” 발매

셀프 프로듀싱 솔로 아티스트 ALL’N이 두 번째 싱글 “Dream Higher”를 발표했다. 그는 중국 서바이벌 프로그램 Youth With You에서 연습생으로 처음 데뷔 전 활동을 시작했다.

ALL’N, 바이올린 중심 두 번째 싱글 “Dream Higher” 발매

JYP Entertainment의 2PM 멤버이자 솔로 아티스트인 JUN. K가 Red Velvet의 Wendy가 참여한 새 디지털 싱글 “Your Lips”를 2026년 8월 17일 발매할 예정이다

JUN. K, Red Velvet의 Wendy가 참여한 디지털 싱글 “Your Lips” 발매 예정

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

SHINee 멤버이자 Griffin Entertainment 소속 솔로 아티스트 ONEW가 9월 16일 네 번째 일본 싱글 “KAKERA -運命のピース-” 발매를 발표했다.

ONEW, 네 번째 일본 싱글 “KAKERA” 발매

BIGBANG is a South Korean boy group formed by YG Entertainment, debuting in 2006 and becoming one of the most influential acts in K-pop history. The current profile centers on G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung, with T.O.P and Seungri tied to earlier chapters of the group. The group&#x27;s importance comes from how strongly it changed expectations for idol music and image. BIGBANG made self-production, individual fashion identity, and genre-blending central to its appeal, with G-Dragon&#x27;s songwriting and public style playing a major role in the group&#x27;s reputation. Musically, BIGBANG moved through hip-hop, R&amp;B, electronic pop, ballads, and festival-sized dance tracks without losing a recognizable identity. Songs such as &quot;Lies,&quot; &quot;Haru Haru,&quot; &quot;Fantastic Baby,&quot; and &quot;Bang Bang Bang&quot; became reference points for later idol groups trying to balance mainstream hooks with stronger artist branding. The members also became major solo figures, which helped the group feel less like a standard idol team and more like a collection of distinct pop stars. That individual power brought both longevity and complications, especially as military service, controversies, and member departures changed the group&#x27;s public shape. The fandom is known as V.I.P. BIGBANG is a defining second-generation group whose impact on K-pop music, fashion, performance, and global ambition is difficult to separate from the genre&#x27;s modern history.

BIGBANG

YG Entertainment는 BIGBANG이 2026년 8월 19일 “BiiiG”를 발매한다고 밝혔다. 이는 올해 초 재결합 이후 처음 선보이는 싱글이다.

BIGBANG, 8월 19일 디지털 싱글 “BiiiG” 발매

BLACKPINK is a four-member South Korean girl group formed by YG Entertainment, consisting of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa. They debuted on August 8, 2016 with Square One, led by &quot;Boombayah&quot; and &quot;Whistle,&quot; and arrived as YG&#x27;s first new girl group after 2NE1. From the beginning, the group was presented less as a large idol ensemble and more as four sharply individualized performers, each with a distinct vocal tone, visual identity, and public role. The group&#x27;s name captures the tension that became central to their image: &quot;black&quot; for a harder, more self-assured edge and &quot;pink&quot; for glamour, playfulness, and pop accessibility. Their music often builds around that contrast. Jennie and Lisa&#x27;s rap sections give many songs a clipped, percussive center, while Jisoo and Rosé&#x27;s vocals provide melodic lift and emotional color. This structure made BLACKPINK songs easy to recognize even across different producers, languages, and markets; the group could move from the spare whistle hook of their debut to the maximal drops of &quot;DDU-DU DDU-DU&quot; and still feel like the same act. BLACKPINK&#x27;s rise was also shaped by scarcity. Compared with many idol groups, they released relatively few songs in their first several years, which made each comeback feel closer to an event than a routine promotional cycle. That strategy had tradeoffs, but it concentrated public attention on a small set of songs, videos, styling choices, and stage moments. Tracks such as Kill This Love, How You Like That, Pink Venom, and Shut Down became reference points for a global-facing K-pop style built around impact, visual clarity, and immediately repeatable hooks. Their international growth came from more than chart performance. BLACKPINK connected K-pop&#x27;s idol system with the language of global pop, luxury fashion, digital fandom, and festival stages. They were the first Korean girl group to perform at Coachella in 2019 and returned in 2023 as the first K-pop act to headline the festival. Collaborations with Western pop artists, major fashion-house relationships, and an unusually large YouTube and social-media footprint helped make the members visible to audiences who did not necessarily follow Korean music closely. As individual artists, all four members developed major careers in music, acting, fashion, and brand work, making BLACKPINK one of the clearest examples of a modern K-pop group whose group identity and solo identities reinforce each other. After renewing with YG for group activities, the members&#x27; individual paths became more independent while BLACKPINK remained active as a shared brand and performance unit. Their significance is not only that they broke records, but that they helped normalize a model where a K-pop girl group could operate simultaneously as an idol act, a global pop project, and a set of four standalone celebrity careers. The fandom is known as BLINK.

BLACKPINK

JENNIE가 글로벌 히트작 Ruby 이후 첫 프로젝트로, 2026년 7월 24일 발매 예정인 새 싱글 “Less Than a Lover”를 발표했다. 며칠 전부터 새로운 발매 소식이 암시돼 왔다

JENNIE, 새 싱글 “Less Than a Lover” 예고

Kep1er is a South Korean K-pop girl group formed under CJ ENM in 2021 following the Mnet show Girls Planet 999. Originally composed of nine members, the group debuted on January 3, 2022, with their first mini-album, First Impact. The group now consists of six members following the departures of Mashiro and Yeseo in July 2024, and Youngeun in March 2026.

Kep1er

7월 17일, Kep1er의 Xiaoting이 수수께끼 같은 Instagram 게시물을 통해 솔로 싱글 “LEGEND”와 7월 30일 발매 소식을 알렸다. 이번 작품은 Kep1er 멤버로서의 그룹 활동에 이어 선보이는 Xiaoting의 첫 솔로 프로젝트가 될 예정이다.

Kep1er의 Xiaoting, 첫 솔로 싱글 “LEGEND” 발매

일본 R&amp;B에서 가장 오랫동안 사랑받아온 목소리 중 하나가 된 경력 25년이 넘는 시점에 Crystal Kay는 오랫동안 예고돼 있던 협업으로 이 순간을 기념한다.

Crystal Kay, yoonmirae와 함께하는 "Only One"

독보적인 Lee Young Ji가 "ROBOT"이라는 새 싱글로 돌아왔다 — 글리치가 생기고 오작동하는 로봇을 감정 제어를 잃는 상태에 대한 은유로 사용한 곡이다

Lee Young Ji, "ROBOT" 발표 — 월드 투어 앞두고 Warner Music Group와 계약

ALLDAY PROJECT is a five-member co-ed collaboration group under The Black Label. They made their debut on June 23, 2025, with the digital single &quot;FAMOUS&quot;. ALLDAY PROJECT is described as a limitless creative project that knows no boundaries, and a special collaboration of 5 unparalleled artists (Annie, Tarzzan, Bailey, Woochan, and Youngseo) recognized in their respective fields, united to push the boundaries of creative expression, challenge conventional norms, and deliver something entirely new and unprecedented. With sophisticated music, daring visuals, and powerful messages, ALLDAY PROJECT transcends labels and defies expectations.

Singles