KPOPWORLD #6 (Yves)

KPOPWORLD #6 (KEYVITUP X VAYONN)

KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KEYVITUP is a five-member boy group under iNKODE, formed through the agency’s INTHE X Project. The lineup—Sena, Hyunmin, Taehwan, Rukia, and Jaein—was introduced step by step through pre-debut content, building anticipation around a team designed with a strong performance focus and a clear concept from the start. As part of a dual-group rollout, KEYVITUP was positioned with a trendy and dynamic identity, contrasting with its counterpart group. This concept highlights a more energetic and performance-driven style, setting the tone for their music and overall image even before debut. They are set to make their debut with the self-titled EP KEYVITUP, marking the official beginning of their activities. With pre-debut exposure, international stage appearances, and a defined concept, the group enters the scene with momentum and a clear direction moving forward.

KEYVITUP

최신 디지털 커버에서는 HYUNMIN, TAEHWAN, SENA, JAEIN, RUKIA와 함께 데뷔, 자신들만의 사운드를 찾아가는 과정, 직접 음악을 쓰고 만들어가는 이야기, 다섯 멤버를 하나로 묶는 케미, 그리고 앞으로 KEYVITUP을 어디까지 끌고 가고 싶은지에 대해 이야기를 나눴다

KEYVITUP - The KPOPWORLD 디지털 커버

KickFlip is a seven-member boy group under JYP Entertainment, consisting of Kyehoon, Amaru, Donghwa, Juwang, Minje, Keiju, and Donghyeon. The group was formed through the SBS audition program Loud and debuted in 2025. The group&#x27;s identity connects JYP&#x27;s idol training system with a more youthful, agile performance image. Because several members were already known from a survival-show context, KickFlip&#x27;s debut carried built-in curiosity around how the lineup would translate from trainee competition to a working group. The fandom is known as WeFlip. KickFlip is still early in its career, with its public identity centered on formation, lineup, and debut positioning rather than a long-established legacy.

KickFlip

KickFlip이 새로운 챕터의 시작을 준비하고 있다. 2027년 첫 월드 투어를 앞둔 JYP Entertainment 루키들이 KPOPWORLD와 만나 새 앨범 KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1에 대해 이야기했다.

KickFlip, 첫 월드 투어를 앞두고 KICK OFF THE WALL Pt. 1 이야기

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

그가 처음 보사노바를 접하게 된 계기, 피처링 아티스트와의 협업이 그에게 어떤 변화를 가져왔는지, 그리고 그룹 멤버들과 가장 연결돼 있다고 느끼는 순간에 대해 이야기한다

Meet The Member: CLOSE YOUR EYES의 KENSHIN과의 인터뷰 – 장난기 많은 연결고리

CLOSE YOUR EYES의 컴백 앨범 256th Note의 마지막 트랙 작업 과정, 데뷔 이후의 성장, 그리고 더 멀리 나아가게 하는 원동력에 대해 이야기를 들어봤다

Meet The Member CLOSE YOUR EYES의 SEO KYOUNGBAE 인터뷰 – 계속 더 높이 올라가기

재즈 펑크 클래식을 자신만의 방식으로 재해석한 이야기부터, 재즈가 그룹과 함께 무대에 설 때 어떤 점을 가르쳐줬는지까지, JINGXIANG이 호기심과 에너지, 그리고 연결에 대해 이야기한다

Meet The Member: CLOSE YOUR EYES의 MA JINGXIANG와의 인터뷰 – 호기심 많은 컬러 체이서

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

One Track, One Take는 KPOPWORLD의 주간 칼럼으로 한 번에 한 곡을 조명합니다. 이번 주 그 디테일은 i-dle의 “MONO” 후렴구입니다.

한 곡, 한 테이크: i-dle - “Mono”

8TURN is an eight-member boy group under MNH Entertainment, consisting of Jaeyun, Myungho, Minho, Yoonsung, Haemin, Kyungmin, Yungyu, and Seungheon. They debuted on January 30, 2023 with 8TURNRISE and its title track &quot;TIC TAC,&quot; introducing a performance-first rookie identity built around speed, formation work, and youthful confidence. The group&#x27;s name and presentation lean into the idea of eight members moving together while still showing individual color. Their early image is less about heavy lore and more about motion: sharp choreography, bright styling, and songs that emphasize momentum. That makes 8TURN useful to describe as a stage group first, where the members&#x27; roles become clearer through performance rather than through a long concept explanation. After debut, 8TURN continued building that identity with releases that pushed their sound toward brighter pop and more polished dance tracks. The fandom is known as TURNING. As a newer MNH boy group, 8TURN is defined by a full eight-member lineup, an energetic performance image, and a catalog still young enough that its signature is being shaped in public.

8TURN

8TURN은 쉬운 길을 선택한 적이 없다. K-pop 5세대의 초기에 데뷔한 이들은 솔직함과 끈기, 꾸준한 성장으로 서서히 모멘텀을 쌓아왔고 — 그들의 새 디지털 싱글 BRUISE는 전환점처럼 느껴진다

8TURN, “BRUISE”로 기대를 뛰어넘다

깜짝 복귀, 규제 개입, 그리고 K-pop의 제도적 영향력 확장.

지난주 K-Pop 해석: 2026년 1월 26일-2월 1일

최신 트랙-바이-트랙 코너에서 한국 록 아이콘 Luli Lee가 최신 EP인 Brave New World의 제작 과정을 더 깊이 들려줍니다.

트랙-바이-트랙: Luli Lee – Brave New World

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Music in 2010 and debuting on June 12, 2013, with the single album &quot;2 Cool 4 Skool&quot;. The group consists of seven members: RM (leader), Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The name BTS stands for Bangtan Sonyeondan (“Bulletproof Boy Scouts”), reflecting the group’s original concept of resisting societal expectations and criticism aimed at youth. Members RM, Suga, and J-Hope have played significant roles in songwriting and production throughout the group’s career. BTS first gained widespread attention with the [The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 1 era], particularly the single I Need U, which earned the group their first Korean music show win in 2015. Their international breakthrough followed with releases such as Wings and the Love Yourself series. In 2018, &quot;Love Yourself: Tear&quot; became the first album by a Korean act to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The group achieved further global success with singles including &quot;Dynamite&quot;, &quot;Butter&quot;, and &quot;Permission to Dance&#x27;&quot;, all of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. BTS is among the best-selling artists in South Korean history and has received numerous international awards, while also participating in global initiatives such as the UNICEF Love Myself campaign. Between 2022 and 2025, BTS paused full-group activities as the members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service. The last member, Suga, was discharged in June 2025, marking the completion of service for all seven members. Following their reunion, the group confirmed they were preparing a new album and world tour for 2026. Their tenth studio album, &quot;ARIRANG&quot;, recorded between July and November 2025, was released on March 20, 2026, marking their first group release in more than three years. The album will be supported by the Arirang World Tour, beginning in April 2026.

2026년 3월 20일, 오랜만에 완전체 컴백을 앞둔 BTS를 기념하며 밴드의 기존 작품들을 되짚어봅니다. 이번에는 Love Yourself: Tear — BTS에게 있어 중요한 전환점이자 K-pop의 전 세계적 도약을 알린 기념비적 앨범입니다.

BTS 회고 'Love Yourself: Tear' 리뷰

KiiiKiii is a five-member girl group under Starship Entertainment, consisting of Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum, and Kya. The group began its rollout in 2025 with &quot;I Do Me&quot; and built its debut era around a confident, self-directed image. As a newer Starship group, KiiiKiii carries attention from the company&#x27;s girl-group history while needing a distinct identity of its own. Their early presentation leans youthful but assertive, with styling and performance choices that frame the members as a compact team rather than a loose collection of rookies. The fandom is known as TiiiKiii. KiiiKiii is still early in its career, but its debut identity is clear: a compact Starship girl group built around self-possession, youthful confidence, and a team image still being defined through its first releases.

KiiiKiii

지난해 9월 데뷔 EP UNCUT GEM으로 등장한 순간부터 KiiiKiii는 평범한 걸그룹이 아님이 분명했다

KiiiKiii, ‘Delulu Pack’로 향수를 개인적으로 느끼게 한다

SEVENTEEN is a thirteen-member boy group formed by Pledis Entertainment, debuting in May 2015. The group is organized into three internal teams: hip-hop, vocal, and performance. That structure is more than branding; it explains how SEVENTEEN functions, with members contributing to songwriting, choreography, staging, and the division of energy across a very large lineup. The members are S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. Their nickname as &quot;self-producing idols&quot; comes especially from Woozi&#x27;s central role in music and Hoshi&#x27;s role in performance direction, but the larger appeal is how the group makes thirteen people feel coordinated rather than crowded. SEVENTEEN&#x27;s early music leaned bright, youthful, and rhythmically nimble, with songs like &quot;Adore U,&quot; &quot;Mansae,&quot; and &quot;Very Nice&quot; presenting them as a group with unusual stage chemistry. Later releases such as &quot;Don&#x27;t Wanna Cry,&quot; &quot;Home,&quot; &quot;Left &amp; Right,&quot; &quot;Rock with you,&quot; and &quot;Super&quot; widened the scale while keeping the choreography and vocal distribution clear. Their best songs often turn teamwork itself into the hook: repeated gestures, fast transitions, and formations that reward watching the whole stage. The group&#x27;s growth into one of K-pop&#x27;s top album sellers came from consistency as much as spectacle. SEVENTEEN built trust through steady comebacks, strong variety content, and concerts that emphasized the members&#x27; humor as well as precision. Their fandom, CARAT, became part of that identity, following a group that could be technically impressive without losing warmth. SEVENTEEN&#x27;s legacy is tied to durability. Few large idol groups have kept such a clear group image while allowing so many individual personalities to stand out. As their scale expanded under the wider HYBE era, they remained recognizably Pledis-born: performance-first, member-driven, and unusually good at turning the mechanics of a big team into something emotionally easy to understand.

SEVENTEEN

DxS, 보컬 중심 데뷔작 Serenade로 사랑과 치유를 탐구하다

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.

K-pop에서 솔로 데뷔는 종종 특별한 종류의 압박을 동반한다 — 특히 이미 그룹 내에서 입지를 증명한 아이돌에게는 더욱 그렇다

IN SEONG, 솔로 데뷔 Crossfade로 취약함을 전면에 내세우다

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

One Track, One Take는 KPOPWORLD의 주간 칼럼으로 한 번에 하나의 곡을 조명합니다 — 곡을 철저히 리뷰하려는 것이 아니라, 곡을 곱씹게 만드는 한 가지 디테일, 분위기, 혹은 아이디어에 잠시 머무르는 것입니다

원 트랙, 원 테이크: dodree - Just Like a Dream

AxMxP (pronounced A.M.P.) is a four-member boy rock band under FNC Entertainment. The group officially debuted on September 10, 2025 with their self-titled full-length album AxMxP. Their name is inspired by the word &quot;amplifier,&quot; symbolizing the amplification of the members&#x27; voices and their desire to connect with listeners through music. The band was first introduced in 2024 when FNC Entertainment announced plans to debut a new rock band composed of long-term trainees. Prior to their official debut, the members performed as the opening act for FTISLAND&#x27;s 2024 FTISLAND Live &#x27;Hey Day&#x27; concert in Taipei and later made a special appearance at the Love FNC Countdown family concert. Around the same time, the group&#x27;s official social media accounts were launched, while member Ha Yoo Joon also gained attention through his appearance in the drama Spring of Youth. Following their debut, AxMxP continued to establish their identity as a band with the release of their first mini album Amplify My Way in January 2026. In April 2026, FNC Entertainment announced that member Juhwan would temporarily suspend activities after being diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, allowing him time to focus on his recovery. The group later returned with their first digital single &quot;24 Hours,&quot; released on June 24, 2026, continuing to build their discography while showcasing their band-oriented sound.

AxMxP

AxMxP, 'Amplify My Way'로 사운드를 계속 갈고닦다

지난주에 있었던 네 가지 소식이 현대 K-팝에서 권력, 가치, 인정이 어떻게 이동하고 있는지를 보여준다.

지난주 K-팝 해석: 2026년 1월 19일–25일

1세대 K-pop 걸그룹을 되돌아보며, 장르의 초기 틀이 확신이 아니라 실험과 적응을 통해 어떻게 형성되었는지를 살펴본다

뉴스