KPOPWORLD #5

KPOPWORLD #4

KPOPWORLD #3

KPOPWORLD #2 (Poster Version)

&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

Первое выступление &amp;TEAM в США было не просто дебютом на KCON, а настоящим испытанием. На Artist Stage группа выступила перед переполненной, тесно прижатой к баррикадам публикой

Дебют &TEAM на KCON 2026 выделился на фоне остальных

TNX (an acronym for The New Six) is a five-member boy group under P NATION. Originally debuting as six members, the group was formed through the SBS survival program LOUD, a collaboration project between J.Y. Park and PSY. They officially debuted on May 17, 2022 with their first mini album Way Up. The group’s lineup was finalized during the finale of LOUD in 2021, where Kyung Jun, Tae Hun, Hyun Soo, Jun Hyeok, Hwi, Sung Jun, and Tanaka Koki were selected for P NATION’s upcoming boy group. However, in January 2022, P NATION announced that Tanaka Koki would not debut with the team in order to continue training, leading the group to debut as six members under the name TNX. On their debut day, they also introduced their fandom name THX, meaning “Together with TNX.” Following their debut, TNX continued building their discography with releases such as Love Never Dies, Boyhood, and the digital single &quot;Fuego&quot;, while also participating in the survival competition Road to Kingdom : Ace of Ace in 2024. During this period, member Jun Hyeok temporarily paused activities due to anxiety before later returning to the group. In October 2024, it was announced that member Kyung Jun would enlist in the military and depart from the group following the completion of his service, reducing TNX to five members. The group continued activities with releases including the mini album For Real? in 2025 and the digital single &quot;Call Me Back&quot; in 2026, maintaining their growth under P NATION.

TNX четыре года выстраивали репутацию на выступлениях. С "Die Another Day" они решили искать её в новом звучании

TNX говорят о роке, живом вокале и о том, что не собираются сдерживаться

Помимо K-pop, такие жанры Юго-Восточной Азии, как P-pop, все больше привлекают международное внимание. В авангарде этого движения — бой-бенд SB19, который приедет в San Antonio, чтобы наглядно показать, почему

KPOPWORLD Festival Spotlight: SB19

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

С момента дебюта в январе 2025 года XLOV сделали гендерно-нейтральный стиль основой всей своей идентичности, а не просто образом, к которому один из участников время от времени обращается

Как гендерно-нейтральный стиль XLOV ломает шаблоны K-pop

WHIB is a seven-member boy group under C-JeS Entertainment, consisting of members Kim Junmin, Haseung, Jinbeom, UGeon, Leejeong, Jaeha, and Wonjun. Originally an octet, they debuted on November 8, 2023, with the single album Cut-Out. The group was first teased in November 2021 as the trainee group M.I.C, which stood for “Made in C-JeS.” On September 7, 2023, it was revealed that the group would debut as an eight-member group under the name WHIB, along with introductions to the new members. In 2025, members LeeJeong, Junmin and Wonjun competed on the Mnet survival show Boys II Planet, ranking 12th, 13th, and 62nd, respectively. On October 16, it was announced that member Inhong had departed from the group. WHIB released their first mini album, ROCK THE NATION, on January 29, 2026.

WHIB

Автор песен и композитор в составе группы, JUNMIN подходит к музыке, начиная с мелодии, и ценит способность WHIB переходить между разными звучаниями и стилями

Интервью с KIM JUNMIN из WHIB — Создатель музыки с особым чутьём на мелодию

STAYC is a six-member girl group formed by High Up Entertainment, debuting in November 2020. The group — Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J — holds the distinction of being produced by the legendary hitmaking duo Black Eyed Pilseung, known for crafting smashes for TWICE, Apink, and others. This production pedigree gave STAYC an immediately polished, radio-friendly sound from their very first release. STAYC&#x27;s &quot;teen fresh&quot; concept and catchy discography — including &quot;SO BAD,&quot; &quot;ASAP,&quot; &quot;RUN2U,&quot; and &quot;Teddy Bear&quot; — have made them standouts in the fourth generation. &quot;ASAP&quot; in particular became a sleeper hit that dominated charts and went viral on social media. The group represents a refreshing middle ground in K-pop: neither overly cute nor aggressively girl-crush, but naturally charming and musically consistent. Their fandom, SWITH, has steadily grown as the group proves that quality pop songwriting and likeable personalities can build a dedicated audience without relying on spectacle or controversy.

STAYC

Спустя шесть лет после дебюта STAYC их новый EP еще увереннее утверждает именно то, что и делает STAYC STAYC — искрящиеся синты, яркий верхний регистр и та самая уверенность, которая сопровождает их с "ASAP"

STAYC’s 2:L0VE урегулировывает вопрос об их идентичности

Согласие стало определяющей темой K-pop на прошлой неделе: от протеста BTS на Grammys до споров вокруг Waterbomb Festival и сближения артистов вроде Young K из DAY6 с широкой публикой&nbsp;

Прошлая неделя в K-pop, с расшифровкой смысла (27 июля — 31 июля 2026)

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

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

На этой неделе K-pop-релизы объединяют финалы, ностальгию и новые начала: от прощания KARD до по-своему летних и обращённых в прошлое треков POW, ONEWE, NouerA и P1Harmony. Ознакомьтесь с нашей свежей подборкой в новой рубрике Comeback Corner этой недели.

Comeback Corner: KARD, ONEWE, POW & More

NewJeans is a girl group launched by ADOR in 2022, originally introduced with Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein. Their debut was unusual: instead of a long teaser cycle, ADOR introduced the group through a surprise rollout led by &quot;Attention&quot;, followed quickly by &quot;Hype Boy&quot;, &quot;Cookie&quot; and their first EP. The group&#x27;s early image felt deliberately low-friction compared with much of fourth-generation K-pop. NewJeans leaned into natural styling, soft choreography, conversational vocals, and production influenced by 2000s R&amp;B, UK garage, jersey club, and light dance-pop. That understated approach became the point: records like &quot;Ditto&quot; and Super Shy were catchy without feeling overbuilt, helping shift the broader sound of girl-group pop toward smoother textures and shorter, replayable hooks. NewJeans&#x27; impact is also inseparable from presentation. Their videos, graphic design, choreography, and fashion choices treated the group less like a traditional idol launch and more like a youth-culture project with a specific visual world. That made the members feel immediately recognizable even when the songs were restrained. The fandom is known as Bunnies or Tokkis. The group&#x27;s later public story became tied to major corporate conflict around ADOR and HYBE, but their musical impact remains clear. NewJeans changed the temperature of K-pop quickly: softer, more casual, more design-conscious, and still massively public-facing. Their catalog is short compared with older top groups, but the influence of their first run is already large.

NewJeans

ADOR объявили, что “How Sweet” NewJeans по состоянию на прошлую субботу преодолела отметку в 300 миллионов прослушиваний на Spotify. Это стала девятая песня группы, достигшая этого рубежа

NewJeans’ “How Sweet” Набирает 300 миллионов прослушиваний на фоне возможного камбэка

EXO is a South Korean-Chinese boy group formed by SM Entertainment in 2012. Originally debuting as two subunits — EXO-K (Korean) and EXO-M (Chinese) — the group quickly became one of the biggest acts in K-pop history with hits like &quot;Growl,&quot; &quot;Call Me Baby,&quot; and &quot;Monster.&quot; Their synchronized choreography, powerful vocals, and theatrical concepts helped define the third generation of K-pop and earned them the nickname &quot;Kings of K-pop.&quot; Over the years, EXO has sold millions of albums, held massive world tours, and seen their members flourish in solo careers spanning music, acting, and variety shows. Members like Baekhyun, D.O., and Chen have become household names in South Korea. Despite mandatory military enlistments creating periods of group inactivity, EXO&#x27;s dedicated fanbase, known as EXO-L, has remained fiercely loyal, ensuring the group&#x27;s legacy endures well into the 2020s.

29 июля Sehun из EXO выпустил неожиданный китайскоязычный сингл под названием “Fade” при участии Sion из NCT WISH. Релиз вышел в рамках проекта для Warner Music China

EXO’s Sehun выпускает неожиданный китайскоязычный сингл “Fade” при участии Sion из NCT WISH

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.

HYBE сообщила о рекордной выручке за второй квартал в размере KRW 1.45 трлн и операционной прибыли в KRW 170.9 млрд, чему способствовали BTS's "ARIRANG" World Tour и высокая активность по всему лейбл-групп холдинга

HYBE сообщает о рекордной квартальной выручке на фоне успеха концертной стратегии

BTS объявили, что не будут подавать свою музыку на 68-ю церемонию Grammy Awards, которая состоится в феврале следующего года, в ответ на создание новой категории Asian Pop Music Performance.

BTS Withdraw from Annual Grammy Awards

2NE1 is a South Korean girl group formed under YG Entertainment, known for their bold musical experimentation, powerful stage presence, and lasting influence on the global rise of K-pop. The group consists of CL, Park Bom, Sandara Park, and Minzy, and became widely recognized for redefining the image of girl groups with their confident, edgy style. 2NE1&#x27;s name is an abbreviation of &quot;New Evolution of the 21st Century.&quot; The group&#x27;s name was created to represent a new generation of music, style, and performance in the 21st century, with &quot;21&quot; symbolizing the modern era and &quot;NE&quot; standing for &quot;New Evolution.&quot; The name was shortened to &quot;2NE1&quot; as a stylized form that became the group&#x27;s official branding and widely recognized name worldwide. From their debut, they stood out as one of the most impactful acts of their generation, helping push K-pop beyond traditional boundaries. They gained immediate attention with their debut single &quot;Fire,&quot; followed by the major success of &quot;I Don&#x27;t Care,&quot; which earned major awards early in their career. Releases such as To Anyone, &quot;I Am the Best,&quot; &quot;Lonely,&quot; and &quot;Ugly&quot; solidified their reputation, blending hip-hop, pop, and electronic influences into a distinctive sound. Their international growth included notable achievements like one of the first global tours by a K-pop girl group and strong chart performance worldwide, including success on the Billboard 200 with Crush, further establishing their global presence. Throughout their career, the members expanded into individual activities while continuing to shape the group&#x27;s artistic direction and influence. Their music, fashion, and concept played a major role in popularizing the &quot;girl crush&quot; image and inspiring a new generation of artists. Even during periods of reduced group activity, their cultural impact and recognition remained strong across both Korean and international audiences. In recent years, 2NE1 has reunited for performances and group activities, marking a new chapter that builds on their legacy while reconnecting with fans worldwide. In 2026, Minzy confirmed that the group would move forward performing as a trio for select stages following controversy and public tension involving Park Bom and Sandara Park, with scheduled appearances including &quot;Special Live in Japan 2026&quot; at K-Arena Yokohama. Despite these changes, the group continues to evolve while maintaining their presence, influence, and long-standing status within K-pop.

2NE1

Sandara Park, также известная как Dara из 2NE1 от YG Entertainment, объявила о новом партнерстве с агентством Power Entertainment, базирующимся в Singapore. После ее выступления на Waterbomb Singapore в 2024 году вместе с агентством

Sandara Park из 2NE1 заключила партнерство с Singapore-based Power Entertainment

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

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