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

Featured MV of the Day: “You Know (feat. Okasian)” by Jay Park

The chorus-effected guitar on this song is so rich and distinct I initially thought it was an organ. It makes the entire song feel infused with soul as the bass and drums lock together in perfectly groovy synchronicity. The female vocal is sweet but bold as it soars above the band during the chorus. In the verses it’s intimately coy, with a mysterious delivery. This was the first song I ever heard from Bosudong Cooler, and it got me hooked on the band forever. Make sure to check it out!

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Kill Me” by Bosudong Cooler

Fans queue up to buy the new album '17 is Right Here'

17 is right here

The group responsible for the smash hit “Love Talk” is about to make a huge comeback. Scheduled to drop June 3, their 5th EP “Give Me That” will feature 6 songs, including both Korean and Chinese versions of the title track.

WayV’s concepts for "Give Me That" are dope

According to the Instiz chart, which aggregates all South Korean entertainment charts, the following were the top 10 songs of the week.

Here’s who made the charts for May 20-May 26

Happy Birthday! You share a special day with Park Jihoon from Wanna One! Park Jihoon was born on May 29, 1999. Looks like you are both a Gemini! Celebrate today with a special MV!

Is your birthday May 29? See which K-pop idol shares your birthday!

Can’t get enough of I-LAND 2? Well, now you don’t have to. Mnet, the network that produces and broadcasts I-LAND 2, released the first episode of “Find Your Day.”&nbsp;

The first episode of “Find Your Day” just dropped

Mystic Story (Korean: 미스틱스토리) is a South Korean entertainment company founded in 2011 by Yoon Jong-shin. He himself rose to fame in the 90s as a guest singer for 015B and also through his own solo efforts as a singer/songwriter.&nbsp;

What is Mystic Story?

This week was a huge win for aespa as far as publicity is concerned. For example, on May 26, aespa appeared on Inkigayon on SBS. There, they once again won first place for "Supernova."&nbsp;

Everyone is talking about aespa. Here’s why.

Brown Eyed Girls (Korean: 브라운 아이드 걸스) are an all-female South Korean K-pop quartet. Most notably, they were formed by band member JeA, who was actively involved in choosing the three other members: Miryo, Narsha, and Gain.

Who are Brown Eyed Girls?

 Kakao Entertainment Corp. (Korean: 주식회사 카카오엔터테인먼트) is an entertainment, publishing, and mass media company founded in 2021. It is a subsidiary of Kakao, which was founded in 2010 by Brian Kim. Kakao Entertainment owns Starship Entertainment and Highline Entertainment.&nbsp;

What is Kakao Entertainment?

Girls’ Generation (Korean: 소녀시대) is one of the most influential South Korean girl groups of all time. Since their debut in 2007, they have grown in scale and popularity to such a degree that they are referred to as “The Nation’s Girl Group” in South Korea.

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