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

This week’s episode of Music Bank from KBS featured a truly standout moment.

In an awkward turn of events, a host had to give himself an award

Woollim Entertainment has broken the news that Takahashi Juri (best known by her stage name JURI) is leaving Rocket Punch due to being a foreign member with different contract stipulations.

Rocket Punch is losing a member

Happy Birthday! You share a special day with Yeji from ITZY.

Is your birthday May 26? See which K-pop idol shares your birthday!

The music industry is quickly turning on NewJeans.

The Jeans vs NewJeans drama continues

TROIKA (Korean: 트로이카) is a three-member South Korean boyband.

Who is TROIKA?

Kim Hyung-tae (Korean: 김형태) is a South Korean musician who made waves as the bassist of the indie rock band Busker Busker.

Who is Kim Hyung-tae?

Jellyfish Entertainment, a prominent South Korean entertainment company founded by composer and producer Hwang Se-jun in 2007, specializes in artist management, particularly in the K-pop realm.

What is Jellyfish Entertainment?

“Feel the POP” is everywhere right now, and rightfully so.

Watch the moment ZEROBASEONE killed it on Music Bank! 

We’ve covered lots of key terms on KPOPWORLD for new fans, but this is one you HAVE to know.&nbsp;

WTF is a subunit?

On May 23, “Feel the POP” by ZEROBASEONE and “Supernova” by aespa went head to head on Mnet’s M Countdown.&nbsp;

aespa wins M Countdown with "Supernova"

The saturated, warbly soundscapes of Piano Shoegazer never get old.

Daily Non-K-pop Spotlight: “Nowhere” by Piano Shoegazer

tripleS may have won M Countdown, but in the same head to head matchup between tripleS and ZEROBASEONE, the boys came out on top.

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