130 Fun Facts About K-pop

What is considered the debut year of the first K-pop idol group, H.O.T.?

H.O.T., often credited as the first K-pop idol group, debuted under SM Entertainment in 1996. Their successful formula became the model for many K-pop groups that followed them.

Which girl group, nicknamed 'The Nation's Girl Group' and behind 'Gee' and 'I Got a Boy', debuted in 2007?

Girls' Generation, also known as SNSD, debuted on August 5, 2007, with 'Into the New World' and came to be called 'The Nation's Girl Group'.

Which South Korean artist achieved global fame with the viral hit 'Gangnam Style' in 2012?

Psy's 'Gangnam Style,' released on July 15, 2012, became a global phenomenon and was the first video on YouTube to reach one billion views. Its distinctive 'horse dance' became a worldwide craze.

Under which entertainment agency did the popular boy group EXO debut in 2012?

SM Entertainment split EXO into EXO-K and EXO-M sub-units for Korea and China at the April 8, 2012 debut.

Backlash over Seo Taiji and Boys' 'Shidaeyugam' helped abolish what in South Korea in 1996?

Music pre-censorship was abolished in 1996: the ethics committee had rejected the lyrics of 'Shidaeyugam' in 1995, forcing Seo Taiji and Boys to release it as an instrumental, and fan protests helped end the pre-review system.

BLACKPINK, YG Entertainment's first new girl group in seven years, debuted with 'Square One' in what year?

BLACKPINK debuted on August 8, 2016, with the single album 'Square One', as the first girl group YG Entertainment had launched in seven years.

Which K-pop boy group includes members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook?

BTS, also known as the Bangtan Boys, is a seven-member group that debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment (now HYBE). They are widely regarded as one of the most popular K-pop groups globally.

What is the official fandom name for BLACKPINK?

BLINK is a portmanteau of 'black' and 'pink', revealed on January 17, 2017, signifying that fans are with the group from beginning to end.

Wonder Girls, of 'Nobody' fame, debuted under which agency in 2007?

JYP Entertainment's Wonder Girls became the first South Korean act on the Billboard Hot 100, with 'Nobody' in 2009.

Which K-pop girl group was the first to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival?

BLACKPINK made history as the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella in 2019, and later returned as headliners in 2023.

Which second-generation K-pop boy group scored its first No. 1 hit with 'Lies' in 2007?

'Lies' was BIGBANG's first No. 1 hit in 2007 and won Song of the Year at that year's Mnet KM Music Festival, cementing the group as second-generation leaders.

ITZY's "Dalla Dalla" became the fastest K-pop group debut video to pass how many YouTube views?

'Dalla Dalla' passed 100 million YouTube views about two months after its February 2019 release, making it the fastest K-pop group debut video to reach that mark at the time.

Which BTS member is known as the leader of the group?

RM, whose full name is Kim Nam-joon, is the leader of BTS. He is also a prominent songwriter and rapper within the group.

In which year did BIGBANG officially debut?

The debut came on August 19, 2006 at YG Family's 10th anniversary concert, which is how the 'Kings of K-Pop' got their start.

Which K-pop group is known for its 'infinite expansion' system of multiple sub-units?

NCT, short for Neo Culture Technology, is a boy group formed by SM Entertainment known for its unique concept of having an unlimited number of members divided into various sub-units based in different cities around the world.

On what date did "Gangnam Style" become the first YouTube video ever to reach one billion views?

Psy's "Gangnam Style" crossed a billion YouTube views on December 21, 2012, the first video to do so. YouTube marked it with an animated dancing Psy icon beside the view counter.

In January 2023, BLACKPINK's 'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' became the first K-pop group video to pass how many YouTube views?

'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' passed two billion YouTube views in January 2023, the first video by a K-pop group to do so; it had also been the first to reach one billion, in November 2019.

Which of these EXO members left the group in 2014 after suing SM Entertainment?

Kris (Wu Yifan) filed suit against SM Entertainment in 2014 and left EXO; Luhan and Tao followed, leaving a nine-member lineup.

BTS debuted in June 2013 with which single album?

Neither the album nor its lead single sold particularly well at the time; the group had spent years living together and practising up to 15 hours a day.

Which boy group's 2009 single 'Sorry, Sorry' was the title track of its third album?

Super Junior released 'Sorry, Sorry' in March 2009 as the title track of their third studio album; it became one of the year's biggest hits across Asia.

'Gangnam Style' forced YouTube to upgrade its view counter from a 32-bit integer to what?

YouTube switched its view counter to a 64-bit integer in December 2014 after 'Gangnam Style' approached the 32-bit maximum of 2,147,483,647 views; the new ceiling is over nine quintillion.

EXO debuted in April 2012 with which single?

EXO's debut single 'Mama' was released on April 8, 2012 by both sub-units, EXO-K in Korean and EXO-M in Mandarin, after the pre-release tracks 'What Is Love' and 'History'.

In K-Pop terminology, what does the term 'maknae' refer to within a group?

The 'maknae' is the youngest member of a K-Pop group, a term widely used in South Korean culture to denote the youngest person in any group or family.

Which 2NE1 single won Song of the Year at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards?

'I Am the Best' (June 2011), produced by Teddy Park, won Song of the Year at the 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards and became 2NE1's signature song.

Blackpink's debut single album Square One contained 'Whistle' and which other track?

'Boombayah' was the other track on 'Square One' (August 2016); it topped Billboard's World Digital Songs chart while 'Whistle' gave BLACKPINK their first Korean No. 1.

In K-Pop culture, what does the term 'aegyo' typically refer to?

Aegyo is a Korean term that describes a cute, charming, or affectionate display, often involving voice, facial expressions, or gestures.

Which member serves as the leader of the K-Pop boy group EXO?

Suho is the leader of the K-Pop boy group EXO, which debuted under SM Entertainment in 2012.

Which of these is a fixed sub-unit of the K-Pop group NCT, known for being based in Seoul?

NCT 127 is a fixed sub-unit of NCT, based in Seoul, with '127' representing the longitude coordinate of the city. WayV is a China-based unit, NCT U has a rotational lineup, and NCT Dream originally had a rotational concept.

Which of TWICE's mini-albums carried the hit 'Cheer Up'?

'Page Two', released on 25 April 2016, carried 'Cheer Up' and also held 'I'm Gonna Be a Star', the theme song of the survival show that formed TWICE.

Which EXO sub-unit debuted in 2016 with the EP 'Hey Mama!'?

Exo-CBX, named for the initials of Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin, debuted in October 2016 with the EP 'Hey Mama!', a nod to EXO's debut single 'Mama'.

Which girl group's 'Up & Down' topped Korean charts in early 2015, months after release?

EXID's 'Up & Down' (August 2014) climbed to No. 1 on Korea's Gaon chart in January 2015 after a viral fan-filmed video of member Hani revived interest in it.

Blackpink's 2020 single 'Ice Cream' featured which American singer?

'Ice Cream' (August 2020) features Selena Gomez and peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, at the time the highest placing for a female Korean act in the US.

Which girl group's 'Tell Me' sparked a nationwide dance craze in Korea?

Wonder Girls' 'Tell Me' (September 2007), with its retro sound and 'Tell Me dance', swept Korea, spawning parody videos by police officers and soldiers and kicking off the girl-group boom.

Which Mnet boy-group competition show did Stray Kids win in 2021?

Stray Kids won Mnet's 'Kingdom: Legendary War' in June 2021, beating Ateez, The Boyz, BtoB, iKON and SF9 over five rounds; the prize included their own reality show.

Which girl group released the 2012 hit 'Electric Shock'?

f(x) released 'Electric Shock' in June 2012 as the lead single of their second EP; the SM Entertainment group comprised Victoria, Amber, Luna, Sulli and Krystal.

Where did SM founder Lee Soo-man discover Kangta, the first member recruited for H.O.T.?

Kangta was scouted at Seoul's Lotte World amusement park as the first H.O.T. recruit; Lee Soo-man shaped the lineup using polls of high-school students about their ideal idol group.

Which girl group released 'Psycho' in 2019 and 'Bad Boy' in 2018?

Red Velvet, a girl group under SM Entertainment, is known for popular tracks including 'Red Flavor' and 'Psycho'.

SEVENTEEN's fan club name is a reference to which of the group's releases?

SEVENTEEN's fans are Carats, after the debut EP '17 Carat' (May 2015), which became the longest-charting K-pop album of 2015 in the US and made Billboard's ten best K-pop albums of that year.

EXO's 'Growl' (2013) promoted the repackage of which album, the first million-seller in twelve years?

'XOXO' (June 2013), repackaged with 'Growl' that August, sold over a million copies, the first Korean album to do so since 2001, and won Album of the Year at the 2013 MAMA.

Who is the leader of the K-Pop boy group Stray Kids?

Bang Chan is the Australian-Korean leader of the JYP Entertainment boy group Stray Kids, and is also a producer for the group.

In K-Pop, what does the term 'comeback' most commonly refer to?

The release of new music by an artist or group is a 'comeback' even when nobody went anywhere; each promotional cycle gets the label.

Which soloist, known for 'Good Day', teamed with SUGA of BTS on 'Eight'?

'Eight' arrived on May 6, 2020, with Suga both featuring on and producing the track.

Which ITZY member was an eliminated contestant on JYP's 2015 survival show Sixteen?

Chaeryeong competed on Sixteen in 2015 but was cut before the final lineup; she debuted with ITZY in February 2019. Her sister Chaeyeon was a member of IZ*ONE.

Under its original concept, NCT Dream members were to 'graduate' from the unit when they reached what?

Members were to graduate on reaching the age of majority (Korean age 20): Mark did so at the end of 2018, but the rule was scrapped in 2020 and he rejoined, fixing the unit at seven.

Which eliminated Sixteen contestant did Park Jin-young personally add to TWICE?

Tzuyu was the other late addition as the 'audience's pick', taking the group from seven members to nine.

Which 2023 release became the first K-pop album to pass six million copies sold?

SEVENTEEN's 'FML' (April 2023) sold more than 4.5 million copies in its first week and passed six million in total, the first K-pop album to do so; it was the group's first release with two lead singles.

Which boy group, whose members write and produce much of their own music, recorded 'God's Menu' and 'Maniac'?

Stray Kids members are heavily involved in producing their own tracks, including the powerful 'God's Menu' and 'Maniac'.

The K-Pop boy group ENHYPEN was formed through which Mnet reality survival show?

ENHYPEN was formed through the 2020 survival competition show 'I-LAND', a joint venture between CJ ENM and HYBE Corporation.

Which 'contemporary R&B' K-Pop boy group released 'Sherlock' and 'Ring Ding Dong'?

SHINee, a group under SM Entertainment, is recognized for their unique 'contemporary R&B' sound and hit songs like 'Sherlock' and 'Ring Ding Dong'.

Which girl group released the 2011 hit 'Roly-Poly'?

T-ara's 'Roly-Poly', released in June 2011 from the EP 'John Travolta Wannabe', became one of Korea's biggest digital hits of the year with its retro-disco sound and 1970s-nightclub video.

What was the title of G-Dragon's 2009 debut solo album?

'Heartbreaker' (August 2009) won Album of the Year at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards, and G-Dragon supported it with his first solo concert, 'Shine a Light', at Seoul's Olympic Gymnastics Arena.

EXO's winter special albums, such as 2013's 'Miracles in December', centre on what kind of song?

Emotional ballads anchor EXO's winter releases: 'Miracles in December' led the first in 2013, and Billboard singled out 'Universe' from the 2017 winter EP as a power ballad showcasing the members' vocals.

The phrase 'Gangnam Style' refers to what?

Gangnam is the affluent area south of the Han River; the video's 'horse dance' pokes fun at the nouveau riche who live there.

Which girl group released 'Alone' in 2012 and 'Touch My Body' in 2014?

Sistar, the Starship Entertainment quartet of Hyolyn, Bora, Soyou and Dasom, released 'Alone' in April 2012 and 'Touch My Body' in July 2014, both No. 1 hits in Korea.

Which Girls' Generation member has had a successful solo career with hits such as 'I' and 'Fine'?

Taeyeon, the leader and main vocalist of Girls' Generation, has established a successful solo career with popular tracks including 'I' and 'Fine'.

Which South Korean music awards ceremony, first held in 1986, is the country's oldest?

The Golden Disc Awards began in 1986, making them South Korea's oldest music awards; the Seoul Music Awards started in 1990 and Mnet's MAMA in 1999.

The BTS fan club name, chosen at the group's first fan meeting in Seoul, is an acronym for what?

ARMY stands for 'Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth', announced on July 9, 2013; the fandom translates BTS's lyrics and posts into other languages and matches the members' charitable donations.

Which girl group's 2009 hit 'Mister' popularised the hip-swinging 'butt dance'?

KARA's 'Mister', a follow-up single from their 2009 album 'Revolution', became a sensation for its 'butt dance' and was reissued as the group's Japanese debut single in 2010.

Which girl group debuted in 2011 with the single 'I Don't Know'?

Apink debuted on April 19, 2011 with 'I Don't Know' from the EP 'Seven Springs of Apink', under A Cube Entertainment, then a subsidiary of Cube.

What is the name of BtoB's official fan club?

The group's first solo concerts were billed 'Hello Melody' after the fandom, and they later gathered fans for a 'Melody Company Training' fan meeting.

In 2018, which EXO song became the first K-pop track played at the Dubai Fountain?

'Power', from EXO's 2017 repackage 'The Power of Music', was played at the Dubai Fountain in January 2018, the first K-pop song chosen for the Burj Khalifa Lake show; members flew in for the first showing.

Which Korean soloist's 2002 album 'Listen to My Heart' topped Japan's Oricon chart?

BoA's 'Listen to My Heart' (March 2002) became the first album by a Korean artist to top Japan's Oricon weekly chart, making her a star in both countries.

Which K-Pop girl group is known for its unique dark, rock-inspired sound and horror-themed concepts?

Dreamcatcher is distinctive in the K-Pop industry for consistently maintaining a dark, rock-inspired sound and horror-themed concepts throughout their releases.

Girls' Generation wore marine-inspired uniforms and shorts for which single?

'Genie' (2009), also released as 'Tell Me Your Wish', put the group in sailor-style uniforms and shorts; earlier that year 'Gee' had set a colorful skinny-jeans trend.

Which BTS member's 2023 solo single 'Like Crazy' topped the Billboard Hot 100?

Jimin's 'Like Crazy', from his March 2023 album 'Face', debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, the first chart-topper there by a Korean soloist.

Which girl group's 2018 hit 'Bboom Bboom' became a viral sensation?

MOMOLAND's 'Bboom Bboom' (January 2018), produced by Shinsadong Tiger, became a viral hit and gave the group its first music-show wins.

Which SM boy group released 'Mirotic' in 2008?

TVXQ released 'Mirotic' in September 2008; Korea's youth-protection commission deemed the lyric 'I got you under my skin' harmful to minors, forcing a cleaned-up version for broadcast.

Which BTS member's 2023 solo single 'Seven' debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100?

Jungkook's 'Seven' (July 2023), featuring Latto, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first single from his solo album 'Golden'.

Which boy group released 'Love Scenario' in January 2018?

iKON's 'Love Scenario' (January 2018) topped Korean charts for weeks, won Song of the Year at the 2018 Melon Music Awards, and became famous as a sing-along among schoolchildren.

Besides South Korea, Twice's line-up includes members from which two countries?

Momo, Sana and Mina are Japanese, and Tzuyu is Taiwanese, making Twice one of K-pop's more international groups.

Which song gave BTS their first number one on the Billboard Hot 100?

"Dynamite" entered the Hot 100 at number one in 2020, the first chart-topper for an all-South Korean act.

BTS earned their first-ever Grammy nomination in which category?

The nomination was for 'Dynamite' in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 63rd Grammy Awards in 2021, making BTS the first K-pop act ever nominated for a Grammy.

Which 2022 Psy single was produced by and featured Suga of BTS?

'That That' (April 2022), produced by and featuring Suga of BTS, led Psy's ninth album 'Psy 9th', his first since 2017.

Which girl group debuted under SM Entertainment in 1997 with 'I'm Your Girl'?

S.E.S. — Bada, Eugene and Shoo — debuted under SM Entertainment in 1997 with 'I'm Your Girl', becoming the first-generation rival of DSP Media's Fin.K.L.

Aespa launched in November 2020 with which single?

Black Mamba is also the villain of Aespa's metaverse storyline, a threat to the members' virtual avatars.

NewJeans debuted under ADOR, a sub-label belonging to which company?

HYBE owns ADOR, where producer Min Hee-jin launched NewJeans in 2022.

Which boy group debuted under SM Entertainment in 1998 with members including Eric and Andy?

Shinhwa debuted under SM Entertainment in March 1998 with 'Resolver'; the six members — Eric, Lee Min-woo, Kim Dong-wan, Shin Hye-sung, Jun Jin and Andy — left SM together in 2003.

Stray Kids write and produce much of their own output through an in-house team called what?

3Racha is Bang Chan, Changbin and Han. The trio anchors Stray Kids' self-production, which is unusual for a major idol group.

The Korean term "hallyu" pairs the word for Korean with a word meaning what?

Hallyu joins han (Korean) with ryu (flow, wave, trend). The phrase was first printed by a Beijing newspaper in 1999.

Which 2013 single was Psy's follow-up to 'Gangnam Style'?

'Gentleman' (April 2013) was Psy's follow-up to 'Gangnam Style'; its video set a YouTube record for views in its first 24 hours and the song reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100.

Which 1999-debut boy group, produced by Park Jin-young, included Yoon Kye-sang and Kim Tae-woo?

g.o.d ('Groove Over Dose') debuted in January 1999 with Park Jin-young as producer; the quintet of Park Joon-hyung, Yoon Kye-sang, Danny Ahn, Son Ho-young and Kim Tae-woo became one of Korea's best-selling acts.

Which first-generation boy group, DSP's rival to H.O.T., reunited in 2016 and signed with YG?

Sechs Kies, DSP Media's 1997 answer to H.O.T., disbanded in 2000; after a 2016 reunion concert organised by the show 'Infinite Challenge', they signed with YG Entertainment.

The name H.O.T. was an acronym for which phrase?

H.O.T. stood for "Highfive of Teenagers," a nod to the five-member line-up and their teenage audience.

Seo Taiji and Boys, pioneers of modern K-pop, debuted in 1992 with which song?

The trio performed "Nan Arayo" on an MBC talent show in April 1992, pioneering rap in Korean pop.

Which 2NE1 member made her solo debut with 'The Baddest Female' in 2013?

CL, 2NE1's leader, released her solo debut single 'The Baddest Female' in May 2013 under YG, and later issued the English-language single 'Lifted' in 2016.

What was the highest position "Gangnam Style" reached on the Billboard Hot 100?

Psy stalled one place short of the top, and for years that number two peak stood as the best showing by any Korean act.

Which Woollim boy group won its first music-show trophy with 'Be Mine' in 2011?

Infinite, Woollim Entertainment's seven-member group that debuted in 2010, won its first music-show trophy with 'Be Mine', the lead single of the 2011 album 'Over the Top'.

Which boy group, formed by Cube in 2009, re-formed under the name Highlight in 2017?

BEAST debuted under Cube Entertainment in October 2009; after leaving Cube, the members re-formed as Highlight in 2017 because Cube retained the BEAST trademark.

Lee Hyori rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of which girl group?

Fin.K.L, DSP's four-member group of Lee Hyori, Ock Joo-hyun, Lee Jin and Sung Yu-ri, debuted in 1998 with 'Blue Rain' and became S.E.S.'s main first-generation rival.

Which eight-member KQ Entertainment boy group debuted in 2018 with 'Treasure EP.1: All to Zero'?

ATEEZ, originally known as KQ Fellaz, consists of members Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jongho. They are recognized for their powerful performances.

Which former I.O.I member had solo hits with 'Roller Coaster' and 'Gotta Go'?

Chungha, a member of the Produce 101 project group I.O.I, went solo in 2017; 'Roller Coaster' (2018) and 'Gotta Go' (2019) were her breakout hits.

Which YG boy group debuted in 2014 with the album '2014 S/S'?

WINNER debuted in August 2014 with the album '2014 S/S' after being formed as Team A on YG's survival show 'WIN: Who Is Next'; the losing Team B became iKON.

'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' (2018) was the first song by a Korean female group to enter which of these?

'Ddu-Du Ddu-Du' entered the UK Singles Chart in June 2018, the first song by a Korean girl group to chart there; it also reached No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Which BIGBANG member's 2014 solo single 'Eyes, Nose, Lips' won Song of the Year at MAMA?

Taeyang's 'Eyes, Nose, Lips', from his June 2014 album 'Rise', swept Korean charts and won Song of the Year at the 2014 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

Which girl group wore helmets for its 2013 hit 'Bar Bar Bar'?

Crayon Pop's 'Bar Bar Bar' (June 2013) went viral on the strength of the quintet's helmets, tracksuits and bouncing 'straight-five engine' dance; the group later opened for Lady Gaga's 2014 ArtRave tour.

Which singer-actor, born Jung Ji-hoon, starred in the 2004 KBS drama 'Full House'?

Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) starred opposite Song Hye-kyo in KBS's 2004 hit drama 'Full House' while scoring with the single 'It's Raining', becoming one of Hallyu's first pan-Asian stars.

Which SEVENTEEN member leads the group's vocal unit?

Woozi leads SEVENTEEN's vocal unit and produces most of the group's music; Hoshi heads the performance unit and S.Coups the hip-hop unit as overall leader.

Fans of the JYP Entertainment girl group formed on the 2015 show Sixteen go by which name?

ONCE, announced shortly after TWICE's 2015 debut, comes from the promise that if fans love them once, the group will repay that love twice.

Which girl group's 2009 hit 'Abracadabra' popularised the 'arrogant dance'?

Brown Eyed Girls' 'Abracadabra' (July 2009) spread its hip-swaying 'arrogant dance' across Korea; the quartet of JeA, Miryo, Narsha and Ga-in had debuted in 2006 as a vocal group before turning to electro-pop.

Which boy group, formed in 2019, disbanded the next January after Mnet's vote-rigging scandal?

X1, formed on Produce X 101 in 2019, disbanded in January 2020 after Mnet producers were found to have manipulated the show's votes.

American producer Teddy Riley co-wrote which Girls' Generation title track?

'The Boys' (October 2011), co-written and produced by New Jack Swing pioneer Teddy Riley, was Girls' Generation's third album title track and was also released in English for a US push.

Which label did Psy found in 2019 after leaving YG Entertainment?

Psy founded P Nation in January 2019, eight months after leaving YG Entertainment, and signed artists including Jessi and Hyuna.

The boy group Super Junior, one of the pioneers of K-pop's global expansion, debuted in what year?

They debuted on SBS's Inkigayo on November 6, 2005 with 'Twins (Knock Out)', originally planned as a 12-piece with rotating members.

Which BLACKPINK member was the first to go solo, with the 2018 single 'Solo'?

Jennie's 'Solo', released in November 2018, made her the first BLACKPINK member to release solo music; it topped Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.

Yeri joined Red Velvet as its fifth member in March 2015, alongside the release of which chart-topping first EP?

Ice Cream Cake arrived in March 2015 with Yeri's addition; Red Velvet had debuted in August 2014 as a quartet with the single 'Happiness'.

Which EXO member's 2020 album 'Delight', led by 'Candy', sold over a million copies?

Baekhyun's second solo EP 'Delight' (May 2020), led by 'Candy', became the first album by a Korean soloist to sell a million copies in nineteen years.

2NE1's 2009 debut EP produced 'Fire' and which other hit single?

'I Don't Care', the lead single of 2NE1's self-titled July 2009 EP, won Song of the Year at the 2009 Mnet Asian Music Awards; like 'Fire', it was produced by former 1TYM rapper Teddy Park.

Which SHINee member launched his solo career in 2014 with the EP 'Ace'?

Taemin's 'Ace' (August 2014), led by 'Danger', made him the first SHINee member to debut solo; it topped Korea's Gaon album chart.

'Maniac' (2022) was the lead single of which extended play?

'Oddinary', Stray Kids' March 2022 EP led by 'Maniac', debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, the group's first chart-topper there; the single reached No. 19 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100.

Which Red Velvet member is the group's leader?

Irene (Bae Joo-hyun), the oldest member, has led Red Velvet since its August 2014 debut and also hosted KBS's 'Music Bank' from 2015 to 2016.

Which K-pop girl group, known for powerful vocals, debuted in 2014 with 'Mr. Ambiguous'?

MAMAMOO debuted on June 18, 2014, under RBW Entertainment. They are celebrated for their strong vocal performances, diverse musical styles, and confident 'girl crush' image.

In K-pop fan slang, what is the word for the group member a fan likes most?

A 'bias' is the member a fan favours most within a group; an 'ultimate bias' is the favourite across every group a fan follows.

Which MAMAMOO member's first solo single, 'Twit' (2019), topped Korean charts?

Hwasa's first solo single 'Twit' (February 2019) debuted at No. 1 on Korea's Gaon Digital Chart, cementing the MAMAMOO member's status as a solo star.

Which Lady Gaga album featured a K-pop girl group on the 2020 track 'Sour Candy'?

'Sour Candy', Lady Gaga's collaboration with BLACKPINK on 'Chromatica' (May 2020), peaked at No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100, at the time the highest placing for a Korean girl group.

The Korean name of BTS, Bangtan Sonyeondan, literally translates to what?

Bangtan Sonyeondan means 'Bulletproof Boy Scouts', a name meant to deflect the stereotypes and pressures aimed at young people; the 'school trilogy' that opened with 'No More Dream' explored those themes.

Which K-pop group debuted with 'Crown' in 2019 as Big Hit's second boy group after BTS?

TXT, short for Tomorrow X Together, debuted on March 4, 2019, with the mini-album 'The Dream Chapter: STAR' and its title track 'Crown'.

Which BTS single spent ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2021?

'Butter' (May 2021) logged ten non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100, the most for any BTS song; 'Permission to Dance' briefly replaced it at the top.

Which eleven-member group was formed from the winners of Produce 101 Season 2?

Wanna One, the eleven winners of Mnet's Produce 101 Season 2, debuted in August 2017 and promoted until the end of 2018; Kang Daniel had finished first in the vote.

Which Girls' Generation video won Video of the Year at the 2013 YouTube Music Awards?

'I Got a Boy' (January 2013) beat videos by Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga and Psy to Video of the Year at the inaugural YouTube Music Awards in November 2013.

Which ATEEZ member is the group's leader?

Hongjoong, a rapper and producer, has led ATEEZ since its October 2018 debut and co-writes much of the group's music.

Which Red Velvet member grew up in Canada before joining SM Entertainment?

Wendy (Son Seung-wan) spent her teens in Canada and the United States before joining SM; she is Red Velvet's main vocalist and released the solo EP 'Like Water' in 2021.

SHINee debuted in May 2008 with an EP fronted by which single?

'Replay' ('Noona, You're So Pretty'), the title track of SHINee's May 2008 debut EP of the same name, launched the group's contemporary R&B sound before later turns into funk rock, hip hop and EDM.

ENHYPEN debuted in November 2020 with which EP?

'Border: Day One' (November 30, 2020), led by 'Given-Taken', was ENHYPEN's debut EP; 'Border: Carnival' followed in April 2021.

The K-pop survival show 'Produce 48' created which temporary girl group?

'Produce 48' was a 2018 reality competition show that combined trainees from South Korea and Japan, resulting in the formation of the twelve-member girl group IZ*ONE.

Which K-pop boy group debuted under Starship Entertainment in 2015, known for their hip-hop sound?

MONSTA X officially debuted on May 14, 2015, with their first mini-album 'Trespass' and its title track of the same name, known for their powerful performances and distinct hip-hop style.

The 2021 K-pop hit 'Next Level' remakes a track from the soundtrack of which film?

aespa's 'Next Level' (May 2021) reworks A$ton Wyld's track of the same name from the 2019 'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw' soundtrack into a two-part single tied to the group's virtual-avatar storyline.

Which 2016 TWICE single is named for a crying emoticon mimicked by its hand gesture?

'TT' (October 2016) takes its name from the crying emoticon, which the members mimic with their hands; the song topped Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.

Which girl group was formed on Mnet's 2021 survival show 'Girls Planet 999'?

Kep1er, the nine winners of Mnet's 2021 show 'Girls Planet 999', debuted in January 2022 with 'Wa Da Da'.

GOT7 debuted under JYP Entertainment in January 2014 with which EP?

'Got It?', released on January 20, 2014 with the lead single 'Girls Girls Girls', was GOT7's debut EP; the group's shows are known for martial-arts tricking and street dance.

Which K-pop soloist, formerly of a girl group, is known for hit songs like 'Gashina' and 'Siren'?

Sunmi, a former member of the Wonder Girls, transitioned into a successful solo career with her unique blend of pop, retro, and sensual concepts, releasing hits like 'Gashina' in 2017 and 'Siren' in 2018.