KPOPWORLD #5

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&amp;TEAM is a nine-member Japanese boy group under YX Labels (formerly HYBE Labels Japan). The group was formed through the survival program &quot;&amp;Audition - The Howling&quot; and debuted in December 2022 with their first extended play &quot;First Howling: Me&quot;. The group consists of EJ, Fuma, K, Nicholas, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki, and Maki, with EJ serving as the leader. Several members, including K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki, previously participated in the survival show I-LAND before being selected for HYBE&#x27;s Japanese global debut project. Before their official debut, the group released the digital single Under the Skin, which introduced their storyline and concept. Their debut EP, First Howling,e followed shortly afterward, marking the beginning of the group&#x27;s &quot;First Howling&quot; series of releases. Although primarily active in Japan, &amp;TEAM promoted internationally and later expanded into Korea with Korean-language releases and promotions. Their fandom name is LUNÉ, representing fans who support the group like the moon lighting the night sky.

&TEAM

В нашем печатном cover story для Issue 5 MAKI из &amp;TEAM откровенно рассказывает о том, что значит стать вирусным — и почему на деле всё куда сложнее, чем кажется

IN REFLECTION MAKI: &AMP;TEAM

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

В 2019 году G-Dragon стал первым азиатским рэпером в истории Nike, заключившим креативную коллаборацию со Swoosh — не амбассадорство, а партнёрство, полностью выстроенное вокруг его собственной эстетической логики

Как G-Dragon выстроил самое важное партнёрство Nike в истории K-pop

Путь David Yong в K-pop не похож на стандартный путь айдола. Познакомившись с жанром благодаря BIGBANG и TWICE, сингапурский предприниматель опирался на годы вокальной подготовки, когда начал изучать корейский язык, брать уроки танцев и записываться в Seoul

От фаната к артисту-руководителю: David Yong о своем пути в K-pop

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

В индустрии K-pop уже закрепились определённые виды маркетинга. От первых concept-фото и трейлеров в стиле кино до тизеров и mash-up’ов — новые альбомы сопровождаются целым набором контента, который фанаты разбирают по частям ещё до релиза

Новая эра K-pop-маркетинга: почему travel-сайт KiiiKiii работает

ASTRO is a four-member boy group under Fantagio. Originally debuting as six members, the group entered the industry with their first mini album &quot;Spring Up&quot;, quickly gaining attention for their bright concept and strong performance skills. The original lineup consisted of MJ, JinJin, Cha Eun-woo, Moon Bin, Rocky, and Sanha, establishing a well-balanced team recognized for both musical and variety presence. In their early years, ASTRO built a steady discography with releases such as &quot;Summer Vibes&quot;, &quot;Autumn Story&quot;, and the &quot;Dream&quot; series, while also expanding their reach through concerts and international promotions. Their growth continued with their first full-length album &quot;All Light&quot; and subsequent releases including &quot;Blue Flame&quot;, &quot;Gateway&quot;, and &quot;All Yours&quot;, solidifying their place in the industry with a consistent sound and evolving image. The group also explored unit activities, including Moon Bin &amp; Sanha and JinJin &amp; Rocky, further showcasing their versatility. :contentReference[oaicite:0] Over time, ASTRO experienced significant changes, including Rocky’s departure and the passing of Moon Bin in 2023, marking a deeply emotional period for the group and fans. Despite these challenges, the group has continued activities as four members, releasing commemorative and special projects such as &quot;Circles&quot;, &quot;Twilight&quot;, and &quot;Moon&quot;, reflecting both their growth and enduring bond as they move forward together.

ASTRO

YOON SAN-HA дольше в индустрии, чем многим кажется. Он присоединился к Fantagio в качестве трейни в раннем подростковом возрасте, дебютировал как самый младший участник ASTRO в 2016 году

YOON SAN-HA Готов быть собой

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.

Arirang World Tour BTS превратил каждый концерт в модное высказывание с продуманным смыслом. Seoul открыли в кастомных образах Songzio и Juntae Kim, созданных на основе корейского дизайна на корейской земле

Arirang World Tour BTS превращает сцену в подиум

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

TAEMIN официально представил европейские даты своего мирового тура &lt;LiMiNaL&gt;

TAEMIN анонсировал европейскую часть мирового тура <LiMiNaL>

FIFTY FIFTY is a 5-member South Korean girl group under ATTRAKT, currently consisting of: Keena, Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana, and Athena. They debuted on November 18, 2022, with the mini album The Fifty. On June 28, 2023, all original members officially filed a lawsuit against ATTRAKT. On October 23, 2023 it was announced that Saena, Sio and Aran‘s exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT were terminated. On November 2, 2023 ATTRAKT announced that the group’s remaining member Keena will be joined by three new members. On August 8, 2024, four new members were announced, including Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana, and another mystery member, who was later revealed to be Athena. Along with that, the group&#x27;s fandom name changed from &quot;Hunnies&quot; to &quot;TWENY&quot;. Soon after, they pre-released ‘Starry Night‘ on August 30, 2024, and made their comeback with the new lineup on September 20, 2024, with the mini-album Love Tune.

FIFTY FIFTY

FIFTY FIFTY начали раскрывать подробности своего Asia Fancon Tour [Still LoBubble], который стартует с выступлений в Seoul, Tokyo и Manila с 1 августа 2026 года. Название тура взято из заглавного трека группы “Like a Bubble”

FIFTY FIFTY отправятся в первый Asia Fancon Tour в августе

TWICE is a nine-member girl group formed by JYP Entertainment through the survival show Sixteen. The lineup consists of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, with members from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. They debuted in October 2015 with &quot;Like Ooh-Ahh,&quot; introducing the bright, kinetic identity that would make them one of the central girl groups of K-pop&#x27;s third generation. The group&#x27;s early rise was built on an unusually clear pop formula: big choruses, memorable gestures, colorful styling, and personalities that were easy for viewers to distinguish. A run led by &quot;Cheer Up&quot; and &quot;TT&quot; turned TWICE into a national-level phenomenon in Korea, while their Japanese members helped the group cross naturally into Japan&#x27;s idol and pop markets. Rather than relying on a single vocal or dance center, TWICE worked because the lineup felt balanced as a whole: playful, approachable, and tightly rehearsed. As the members grew older, TWICE gradually expanded beyond the cute and school-age image attached to their first hits. The move from &quot;Fancy&quot; through &quot;I Can&#x27;t Stop Me&quot; kept the group&#x27;s melodic accessibility while bringing in sleeker dance-pop, disco, synth-pop, and more mature performance styling. That evolution mattered because it let TWICE remain recognizable without staying frozen in their debut concept. TWICE also became one of the clearest examples of a K-pop girl group building a long international career without losing its domestic base. Their Korean and Japanese discographies developed side by side, and later global touring brought the group to arenas and stadiums far beyond East Asia. The fandom is known as ONCE, a name that matches the group&#x27;s long-running emphasis on mutual loyalty between the members and their audience. Their legacy is not only commercial. TWICE helped define what a modern large girl group could be: member-driven, visually bright, musically immediate, and durable enough to age into a second phase. They normalized the idea that a top K-pop girl group could keep all members active across many years, shift concepts without abandoning its core warmth, and still feel like a complete team even as individual members developed solo work, acting, modeling, and unit activities.

TWICE

19 июля 2025 года girl group TWICE из JYP Entertainment открыли своё мировое турне &lt;THIS IS FOR&gt; в Inspire Arena в Инчхоне. Спустя год группа вернулась в Южную Корею для трёх подряд encore-шоу на KSPO Dome в Сеуле — с 10 по 12 июля 2026 года.

TWICE: Мировое турне <THIS IS FOR> и конец эпохи

ARTMS is a 5-member South Korean girl group under MODHAUS. The group consists of JinSoul, HaSeul, Kim Lip, HeeJin, and Choerry from the currently inactive girl group LOONA. They first rebooted the LOONA sub-unit ODD EYE CIRCLE on July 12, 2023. They debuted on May 31, 2024, with their first album, DALL.

ARTMS

ARTMS объявили о проведении  — своего четвёртого мирового тура, который стартует перед камбэком . Два шоу в Seoul откроют тур 5–6 сентября, после чего группа отправится в North America в октябре и в Europe в ноябре

ARTMS объявили мировой тур <Art of BLUE BLOOD> перед камбэком <Hyper-Ego>

Вторая ночь BTS на Tottenham Hotspur Stadium была наполнена уже иными эмоциями. Ожидание их долгожданного возвращения было оправдано ещё накануне вечером, и 7 июля превратился в праздник того, что на самом деле означало это воссоединение

Мировой тур BTS 'ARIRANG' в London: Вторая ночь, которой не требовалось вступление

GOT the beat is a South Korean female supergroup formed by SM Entertainment. On December 27, 2021, SM Entertainment announced the group, featuring BoA, aespa&#x27;s Winter and Karina, Red Velvet&#x27;s Seulgi and Wendy, and Girls&#x27; Generation&#x27;s Taeyeon and Hyoyeon. GOT the beat revealed a special stage on January 1 2022 and debuted on January 3, 2022, with their first single &quot;Step Back.&quot; On January 16th, 2023, they made their comeback, with a new single called &quot;Stamp On It.&quot; It is assumed GOT the beat has silently disbanded due to multiple members leaving SM Entertainment.

GOT the beat

BoA возвращается в Японию уже в сентябре — и на этот раз делает это на своих условиях. После 25 лет в SM Entertainment артистка, которой часто приписывают открытие японского рынка для корейской поп-музыки, анонсировала BoA the LIVE

BoA объявляет свой первый live-тур по Японии под собственным лейблом

AMPERS&amp;ONE is a seven-member South Korean boy group under FNC Entertainment. The group debuted on November 15, 2023 with their first single album Ampersand One. The lineup consists of Kamden, Brian, Jiho, Siyun, Mackiah, Kyrell, and Seungmo. Prior to their debut, FNC Entertainment announced plans to launch a new boy group and later confirmed that former Boys Planet contestants Kamden and Jiho would be part of the lineup. The group name, AMPERS&amp;ONE, was revealed along with the opening of official social media accounts, followed by the introduction of each member through individual profile releases. The group officially debuted with the single album Ampersand One. They returned the following year with their second single album One Hearted and later released their first mini album One Question. During this period, the group also held their first fan meeting, “&amp;Dear. My First _,” in Seoul. AMPERS&amp;ONE expanded their activities internationally through a series of fan meetings in Asia and their first tour in the United States. They continued their releases with the mini album Wild &amp; Free, followed by their third mini album Loud &amp; Proud. The group later participated in the U.S. leg of P1Harmony’s “P1ustage H: Most Wanted” tour as an opening act, marking one of their earliest large-scale international touring experiences. On February 6th the group won their first ever award, the &quot;Rising Star Male Idol&quot; award at the 2026 Korea First Brand Awards. &quot;Definition&quot; with be their fourth mini album.

AMPERS&ONE

AMPERS&ONE впервые едут в Европу. Шесть городов и десять дней в сентябре — Berlin, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Paris, Cologne и London — станут частью европейского этапа мирового тура 'Born To Define', который следует за североамериканским отрезком, отметившимся несколькими sold-out шоу и почти двукратным увеличением вместимости площадок

AMPERS&ONE отправятся в европейскую часть тура ‘Born To Define’

Cortis, is a South Korean boy band formed by Big Hit Music. The group consists of five members: Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. They debuted on August 18, 2025, with the digital single “What You Want&quot; followed by their first EP, &quot;Color Outside the Lines&quot;. The group’s name is derived from the phrase “Color Outside the Lines,” reflecting their concept of creative freedom and nonconformity. Cortis has been promoted as a self-producing “creator crew,” with members participating in songwriting, choreography, and visual direction. Blending pop, hip-hop, and experimental elements, the group gained early attention for their performance skills, self-produced content, and strong rookie-year sales, establishing them as one of Big Hit Music’s newer generation acts.

CORTIS

Североамериканский тур CORTIS &lt;PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN&gt; был распродан менее чем за двадцать минут во время предпродажи, а в очереди на площадку вместимостью 6 000 человек числилось более 475 000

CORTIS распродали тур по театрам в США <PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN> на предпродаже

ITZY is a five-member girl group formed by JYP Entertainment, consisting of Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong, and Yuna. They debuted in February 2019 with &quot;Dalla Dalla&quot;, a song built around self-acceptance, difference, and the refusal to fit neatly into other people&#x27;s expectations. ITZY&#x27;s early identity was direct and performance-forward. &quot;Icy&quot;, &quot;Wannabe&quot; and &quot;Not Shy&quot; expanded the same confidence-first message with sharper choreography, chant-like hooks, and a visual style that mixed teen crush, streetwear, and runway attitude. Their dances became a major part of the group&#x27;s public image, with Ryujin&#x27;s shoulder move in &quot;Wannabe&quot; standing out as one of the most recognizable fourth-generation choreography moments. The group&#x27;s strength is the way its members divide the performance picture. Yeji gives ITZY a precise leader and dance center, Lia brings a warmer vocal tone, Ryujin anchors the cool charisma, Chaeryeong adds technical dance detail, and Yuna gives the group a bright visual spark. Even when the music shifted into different textures, that balance kept ITZY recognizable as a group built around motion, confidence, and clean stage impact. ITZY&#x27;s fandom is known as MIDZY. Their place in K-pop comes from helping define the fourth-generation girl-group language of self-confidence: louder than simple cuteness, less dark than some girl-crush concepts, and built for fans who wanted slogans they could actually say back to themselves.

ITZY

ITZY снова отправляются в Европу — и на этот раз все пятеро. В тур &lt;TUNNEL VISION&gt; добавлены Лондон, Амстердам, Париж и Франкфурт, что станет первым случаем, когда Yeji, Lia, Ryujin, Chaeryeong и Yuna выступят вместе на континенте в рамках мирового тура

Concerts & Tours

Arirang World Tour BTS превращает сцену в подиум

TAEMIN анонсировал европейскую часть мирового тура <LiMiNaL>

FIFTY FIFTY отправятся в первый Asia Fancon Tour в августе

TWICE: Мировое турне <THIS IS FOR> и конец эпохи

ARTMS объявили мировой тур <Art of BLUE BLOOD> перед камбэком <Hyper-Ego>

Мировой тур BTS 'ARIRANG' в London: Вторая ночь, которой не требовалось вступление

BoA объявляет свой первый live-тур по Японии под собственным лейблом

AMPERS&ONE отправятся в европейскую часть тура ‘Born To Define’

CORTIS распродали тур по театрам в США <PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN> на предпродаже

ITZY анонсировали европейскую часть тура <TUNNEL VISION> и дополнительные остановки в Азии

Музыкальный фестиваль Governors Ball Music Festival видит, как KATSEYE, Stray Kids и JENNIE покоряют New York

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