KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

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

Сингер-сонграйтер, родившаяся в Seoul, — ей 17 лет, она меньше двух лет в карьере и уже работает по своим правилам: пишет и продюсирует собственную музыку

ZIN CHOI

NEXZ is a seven-member Japanese boy group formed by JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Japan through the Japanese reality show Nizi Project Season 2. The group&#x27;s name means Next Z(G)eneration, and was coined by J.Y. Park to represent the wish for the group to lead JYPE into the future. The final episode premiered on December 15, 2023, revealing the debut lineup, ranked as follows: Tomoya, Haru, Yuki, Ken (So Geon), Yu, Yuhi (Hyui), and Seita. They debuted with the Korean song &quot;Ride the Vibe.&quot;

NEXZ

Когда NEXZ выпустили "Mmchk" в апреле 2026 года, первый камбэк семимемберного коллектива за год разошёлся тиражом более 444 000 копий за первую неделю — это новый карьерный рекорд, релиз возглавил retail album chart Circle Chart, а также принёс им первое первое место на корейском музыкальном шоу

NEXZ: Иных путей, кроме как вверх

Помимо K-pop-групп и хореографии, которые обычно доминируют в заголовках, в музыкальной сцене Южной Кореи уже набирает силу новая волна певцов-авторов и независимых артистов, находящих свою аудиторию. DORI — часть этой волны, хотя пришла к ней довольно неожиданным путём

DORI Говорит цветом

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

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

&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

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.

Альбом, побивший все рекорды. Крупнейший концерт в истории Южной Кореи. Место в перерыве чемпионата мира рядом с Madonna и Shakira. И при этом BTS просто сказали Grammys нет

Категория GRAMMYs для «азиатской» музыки должна была стать честью. BTS сказали нет.

ENHYPEN вошли в историю как первая K-pop-группа на San Diego Comic-Con, присоединившись к режиссеру Twilight Catherine Hardwicke и актерам Peter Facinelli и Ashley Greene. Юридические баталии THE BOYZ продолжаются, а NewJeans возвращаются в соцсети к 4-й годовщине

Прошлая неделя в K-pop, с пояснениями (20–24 июля 2026)

Запоминающаяся и креативная упаковка альбома — важнейшая маркетинговая стратегия в индустрии K-pop: она помогает закрепить визуальную идентичность группы и одновременно мотивирует фанатов купить физическую копию. Изначально стандартом был jewel case, но постепенно K-pop альбомы превратились в самостоятельные коллекционные предметы

SM Entertainment Переписывает Правила Упаковки K-pop Альбомов

Система контрактов в K-pop претерпела множество изменений с момента появления индустрии в 1990-х. От 13-летних «рабских контрактов» до сокращённого срока в семь лет — с возможностью пересмотра условий

Система контрактов в K-pop: объясняем, почему так много артистов уходят из крупных лейблов

ATEEZ is an eight-member boy group formed by KQ Entertainment, consisting of Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. They debuted in October 2018 with Treasure EP.1: All to Zero, launching a pirate-and-treasure storyline that gave their early music a cinematic frame. ATEEZ stood out because their performances felt oversized in the best way. Even before they had the company power of larger labels behind them, the group built attention through intense facial expressions, full-bodied choreography, live-stage energy, and songs designed to explode in concert. &quot;Wonderland,&quot; &quot;Answer,&quot; &quot;Guerrilla,&quot; &quot;Bouncy,&quot; and &quot;Crazy Form&quot; all show that instinct for scale: big chants, dramatic builds, and a sense that every chorus is meant to be shouted back. The members&#x27; roles support that theatrical style. Hongjoong anchors the group as leader and producer, Mingi gives the rap line a deep tone, Jongho brings unusually strong high notes, and San, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, and Wooyoung shape much of the performance identity. ATEEZ&#x27;s fanbase, ATINY, became known for strong international support, helping the group grow from a smaller-agency act into a major global touring name. ATEEZ&#x27;s significance comes from proving how far performance identity can carry a group when it is consistent. Their concepts can be loud, dark, playful, or rebellious, but the core remains theatrical and physical. They made intensity feel like a worldview, not just a comeback style.

ATEEZ

ATEEZ не построили для GOLDEN HOUR Part.5 один визуальный мир. Они построили три. Роскошный формализм, уличный максимализм и редакционный бохо — каждый из них черпает вдохновение из разных уголков fashion-референсов

Как ATEEZ выстроили свою самую амбициозную fashion-историю в ‘GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5’

KARD is a four-member South Korean co-ed group under DSP Media, consisting of J.Seph, BM, Somin, and Jiwoo. They officially debuted on July 19, 2017 with Hola Hola after a pre-debut project series that introduced the group through &quot;Oh NaNa,&quot; &quot;Don&#x27;t Recall,&quot; and &quot;Rumor.&quot; The group&#x27;s significance starts with its lineup structure. Co-ed idol groups are rare in modern K-pop, and KARD made that format feel central rather than novelty-based. Their performances are built around contrast: male and female vocal colors, rap and vocal handoffs, and choreography that lets the four members interact as a unit instead of splitting into separate halves. Musically, KARD became closely associated with tropical house, dancehall, Latin-pop, and club-oriented pop, sounds that helped them connect quickly with international audiences. &quot;Hola Hola&quot; established the bright version of that identity, while later singles such as &quot;Gunshot,&quot; &quot;Ring The Alarm,&quot; and &quot;Icky&quot; leaned into sharper performance energy and heavier rhythmic production. The fandom is known as Hidden KARD. KARD became one of K-pop&#x27;s clearest examples of a stable co-ed act with a global audience. Their longevity matters because they kept a distinct lane through military hiatuses, changing industry trends, and a market where most idol teams follow same-gender formats.

KARD

С момента своего преддебютного этапа в 2016 году и до готовящегося первого и последнего студийного альбома co-ed группа KARD бросала вызов и переосмысливала то, на что способны смешанные по составу коллективы в индустрии K-pop. Известные как группа, которая положила начало популярности музыки с латиноамериканским влиянием в Южной Корее

9 треков, которые определяют KARD: карта для прослушивания

Пока группы третьего поколения K-pop сталкиваются с уходами и горько-сладкими вехами — от ухода WinWin из NCT до финального альбома KARD — индустрия стремительно меняется. Тем временем AI-водяной знак на постере камбэка Red Velvet вызвал оживлённые споры среди фанатов о роли технологий в жанре.&nbsp;

Прошлая неделя в K-pop, с расшифровкой (6–10 июля 2026)

aespa is a four-member girl group debuted by SM Entertainment in November 2020, consisting of Karina, Giselle, Winter, and Ningning. The group introduced a concept centered on virtual &quot;ae&quot; counterparts, blending real and digital worlds into an elaborate sci-fi universe often associated with KWANGYA. That metaverse-inspired setup positioned aespa at the intersection of idol pop, technology branding, and SM&#x27;s long-running taste for high-concept worldbuilding. Musically, aespa made a sharp first impression with an aggressive, synth-heavy style that matched the digital concept without depending on it completely. &quot;Black Mamba&quot;, &quot;Next Level&quot; and &quot;Savage&quot; used sudden beat changes, metallic textures, and big vocal climaxes to create a sound that felt more angular than most mainstream girl-group pop. The approach could be polarizing, but it made aespa instantly identifiable. The group&#x27;s later singles showed how flexible that identity could become. &quot;Drama&quot; pushed the cinematic side of aespa, while Supernova turned their electronic edge into something brighter, stranger, and more playful. Karina and Winter often serve as the visual and performance center of the group, Giselle gives the rap sections a casual sharpness, and Ningning brings a vocal power that lets aespa&#x27;s biggest choruses land with real force. aespa’s fandom is known as MY, and the group became one of the key fourth-generation acts by making high-concept idol pop feel commercially central rather than niche. Their importance is tied to that blend: they are an SM vocal group, a performance group, a fashion-forward girl group, and a sci-fi pop project at the same time. Even when the lore becomes less prominent, the idea remains clear: aespa turns futurism into a pop language.

aespa

LEMONADE от aespa — это звучание группы, настолько уверенной в своей идентичности, что она начинает раздвигать её границы: hyperpop, rock, сдержанный R&amp;B — всё это сосуществует рядом с tech-house-основой, которая и сделала их одной из крупнейших групп в K-pop

LEMONADE от aespa: когда жизнь даёт лимоны, превращай их в силу

NCT, short for Neo Culture Technology, is a boy group project under SM Entertainment. The system was built around multiple units, changing combinations, and regional expansion rather than a single fixed lineup, making NCT one of SM&#x27;s most ambitious idol structures. The project began publicly through NCT U in 2016, then expanded through fixed or semi-fixed units such as NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT WISH. Each unit carries a different role: Seoul-based performance, youth-to-adult growth, Chinese-language promotion, rotational experiments, and the final new-team expansion. NCT&#x27;s music is often associated with dense production, experimental structures, and performance-heavy arrangements. The group&#x27;s system allowed SM to place members in songs by concept, which helped produce very different sounds under the same brand without asking every unit to serve the same identity. The project also made member identity central to the fan experience. NCTzen follows not only the full brand but also unit dynamics, cross-unit collaborations, and individual member activities, which makes the profile more complex than a normal group page. NCT is both a group brand and a structure for multiple teams. That structure shaped how SM approached global boy-group promotion from the mid-2010s onward, making the project as much about organization and unit design as individual songs.

Из четырёх участников NCT, которые в этом году расстались со SM Entertainment, уход WINWIN был тем, который большинство фанатов предвидело. Десятилетний путь от NCT 127 до WayV постепенно сместился в сторону параллельной актёрской карьеры в China

Почему уход WINWIN из NCT и WayV не стал неожиданностью

BB GIRLS is a South Korean girl group currently consisting of three members under BBGIRLS Company and GLG. The group was originally formed by Brave Entertainment as Brave Girls, debuting on April 8, 2011, with the single album &quot;The Difference&quot;. Following years of lineup changes and steady releases, the group experienced a major resurgence in 2021 when their song &quot;Rollin’&quot; went viral, propelling them to the top of Korean music charts and earning them their first music show win years after its initial release. This unexpected breakthrough revitalized their career and led to further promotions, including releases like &quot;Chi Mat Ba Ram&quot; and continued group activities. On February 16, 2023, all members departed from Brave Entertainment, marking the end of their activities under the agency. On the same day, they released the digital single &quot;Goodbye&quot; as a farewell to their time with the company. Shortly after, the members signed with Warner Music Korea to continue as a group, later rebranding as BB GIRLS on May 3 due to trademark restrictions on their former name. In 2024, the group transitioned once again following the end of their contract with Warner Music Korea, continuing as a trio under their own agency, BBGIRLS Company, in partnership with GLG. Despite lineup changes, BB GIRLS have remained active, releasing new music such as &quot;Love 2&quot; and the special single &quot;Wish List&quot;, while continuing to build on their legacy in the industry.

BB GIRLS

10 лет в индустрии, три hiatus, множество изменений в составе — и при этом BBGIRLS, ранее известные как Brave Girls, прошли один из самых впечатляющих redemption arc в K-pop. От нескольких умеренных успехов до статуса культовых любимиц и почти распада

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