KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

Set to Take Over Alamodome Oct. 28–31, 2026

KPOPWORLD Festival & Worldwide Dance Competition

idntt (아이덴티티; read as identity) is an upcoming 24-member boy group under MODHAUS. They are set to make their debut sometime in 2026. The group consists of members divided into 3 rotational sub-units consisting of 8 members each - uneverm8t, yesw8are and itsnotov8r.

idntt

For their new album &lt;itsnotover&gt;, idntt sat down with KPOPWORLD to talk about where they've been, what this group has demanded of them, and what they refuse to let go of

idntt: The KPOPWORLD Digital Cover

EPEX [‘i:peks] (이펙스), formerly known as C9ROOKIES (C9루키즈) is a 7-member South Korean boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of Wish, MU, A-Min, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, and Jeff. On November 21, 2025, it was announced that Keum had left the group. They debuted on June 8, 2021, with their first EP album, BIPOLAR Pt.1 : 불안의 서 (Prelude of Anxiety)

EPEX

Closing a trilogy is easy. Closing it by handing the story back to the people who lived it is something else. EPEX's Youth: Epilogue wraps up two years and three albums of coming-of-age storytelling

EPEX Talks Youth Epilogue, Ownership and Growth

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

On July 14, inner beauty brand LifePharm announced that genderless group XLOV will become their newest Global Ambassadors. The brand is known for their viral dietary Mood Change Alpha Plus range, described as self-care for K-pop idols

XLOV Announced as Ambassadors for Inner Beauty Brand LifePharm

K-pop’s contract system has undergone many changes since the industry’s inception in the 1990s. From 13-year slave contracts to a reduced term of seven years — with options for renegotiation

K-pop’s Contract System, Explained – And Why So Many Artists Are Leaving Big Labels

It has been one heck of a year for Stray Kids. From performing at Lollapalooza to becoming one of the most inescapable groups online, there has been a lot of buzz surrounding them recently. And now, to add to the hype, they’ve just announced their new mini-album ATE, which is hot off the press.&nbsp;

Stray Kids absolutely ‘ATE’ in their new comeback photos

With how massive some of these groups in K-pop are, it’s always interesting to see how those groups balance the time in the spotlight. Fortunately, we don’t need to spend too much time wondering about it because there’s always another fan out there who has done the math so you don’t have to.

Fan Spotlight: LOONA Line Distribution Visualizer

It’s been a while since we’ve gotten new music from BLACKPINK. The group has been in a quieter spell for the last little bit as each of the members explore their own creative avenues.&nbsp;

Listening Party! BLACKPINK’s The Album

Happy Birthday! You share a special day with Elly from Weki Meki.

Is your birthday July 20? See which K-pop idol shares your birthday!

The K-pop world can feel stale with music produced by the same person over and over. But WINNER aims to take over the K-pop world with a refreshing breath of new music, utilizing a blend of genres, self-production, and amazing visuals.

WINNER: Refreshing and Unique

Heize, born Jang Da-hye, has carved a unique niche in the K-pop industry as a talented rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer. Her stage name, inspired by American rapper Angel Haze, came to her naturally, leading to the distinct spelling "Heize."

Heize: A Name to Know

ENHYPEN have successfully wrapped up first-week sales for their second full album, Romance : Untold, recording an impressive 2,344,700 copies sold.

ENHYPEN Achieves Double Million Seller Status with Romance : Untold in First Week

On July 18 KST, an exclusive report revealed that representatives of the English jazz-funk band Shakatak have accused ADOR of copyright infringement related to the song "Bubble Gum" by NewJeans.

NewJeans' "Bubble Gum" Faces Copyright Allegations from Shakatak

BLACKPINK's Jennie and Rosé were recently seen enjoying time together in Los Angeles, accompanied by social media stars Simi and Haze Khadra.

BLACKPINK's Jennie and Rosé Spotted in LA with Fashion Icons Simi and Haze Khadra

When 박혜진 Park Hye Jin appeared out of nowhere with her slick house-inspired hip-hop jams, the electronic and Korean indie scenes seemed to explode.

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “ABC” by 박혜진 Park Hye Jin

Featured MV of the Day: “Lips” by BOL4

There’s new groups seemingly popping up left and right these days, and hype around each of them has been building for months.

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