Stray Kids celebrates global reign with triumphant new album 'KARMA'

K-pop act Stray Kids poses during a press conference held to commemorate the group's latest release, "KARMA," at a hotel in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Aug 22, 2025 4:29 PM KST

K-pop juggernaut Stray Kids is back, and the group is making its return into a victory lap.

On Friday at 1 p.m., the K-pop powerhouse unveiled their long-awaited full-length album "KARMA," a project that celebrates the group's hard-earned achievements and the global career they have built.

Just two hours before release, the group addressed the press at a conference at a hotel in Seoul. Clad in sharp black suits, the eight members — Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin and I.N — entered the conference hall with the poise of artists well aware of their stature on the world stage.

"This is our first comeback of the year, and we poured ourselves into it even while touring for 11 months," leader Bang Chan said. "We think of this as a big gift to STAY (the group's official fandom) and we're curious how people will respond. I'm already happy knowing we prepared without regrets."

"KARMA" marks Stray Kids' first studio album in two years since 2023's "★★★★★ (5-STAR)." Once again, the producing trio 3RACHA — Bang Chan, Changbin and Han — took the reins, writing all 11 tracks and shaping an eclectic soundscape that is distinctively Stray Kids.

"The achievements and efforts we've made with fans have come back to us as positive karma. That is what we wanted this album to represent," Changbin explained.

The centerpiece is "CEREMONY," a swaggering anthem that channels the euphoria of victory. For a group that just completed its largest world tour to date — 54 shows across 34 cities under the banner "dominATE" — the song feels like a fitting celebration.

The song's concept is rooted in sports culture, with the members likening themselves to athletes basking in hard-earned wins.

"While we were on this massive tour, we looked out at the venues and thought of each show as a kind of ceremony," Changbin said.

Seungmin added, "Sports is a universal language. Like soccer or baseball players, we each play our position, but we share the same goal. Sometimes it felt like baseball, other times a relay race or a high jump where we were constantly leaping over new hurdles."

The music video takes the metaphor further, showing the members crowned as champions in various sports. In its final moment, a surprise cameo by esports icon Faker sends a jolt of excitement.

"Just as there are countless kinds of games in the world, our music spans many genres," Bang Chan said. "In that sense, esports felt similar to our identity."

Felix admitted he was stunned when he heard Faker had filmed with them during the band's overseas schedule.

"We couldn't meet him directly, but we sent our gratitude through the video. We'd love to meet him together one day," he said. Seungmin, laughing, added, "Felix and I recently hit Platinum in League of Legends."

Beyond the title track, "KARMA" offers a wide-ranging set. "BLEEP" is the group's most quintessential Stray Kids track, while "CREED" came together easily in a hotel room during downtime. "MESS" resurfaces five years after its initial demo and "In My Head" carries rock festival energy. Across all 11 songs, each track represents its own chapter in the group's story.

For Stray Kids, "KARMA" follows a stadium tour that pushed the boundaries of what a fourth-generation K-pop group could achieve. Hyunjin recalled the nerves of preparing for such stages but said the experience left him with indelible memories.

"When I think of my last moment on earth, I believe I'll remember the eyes of STAY looking up at us from those stadiums," he said.

Seungmin, who once dreamed of becoming a baseball player, described performing at San Francisco's Oracle Park as a "surreal high point."

Changbin also reflected more broadly on the group's journey. "Early on, we questioned whether our music was right or what image we should present. We saw a lot of negative comments and felt uncertain. But because of the faith of our fans and members, we gained confidence. That persistence eventually led us to moments that feel like dreams."

Looking ahead, Bang Chan said the group's ambitions go beyond chart placements.

"Our ultimate goal is to keep making the music we love for a long time and share it widely. Of course we would be honored if this album achieves great success, but more than that, we want to show our artistry and reveal yet another side of Stray Kids."