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| K-pop juggernaut BTS / Courtesy of Big Hit Music |
More than 15 boy groups to debut this year
By Dong Sun-hwa
The K-pop scene is likely to be buzzing more than ever this year, as many new boy groups are gearing up for their debut. The competition will be cutthroat, as these singers will strive to become the next kings of K-pop following Grammy-nominated BTS, the members of which have just begun serving their mandatory military service.
In 2023, more than 15 boy bands will burst onto the music scene.
K-pop powerhouse HYBE is set to launch three male acts this year. Three sub-labels under HYBE ― Big Hit Music, Pledis Entertainment and KOZ Entertainment ― will debut one group each. Big Hit Music represents BTS, while Pledis manages another high-profile act, SEVENTEEN. KOZ was established by rapper-producer Zico in 2019, but was acquired by HYBE in 2020.
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| NCT DREAM, a sub-unit of NCT / Courtesy of SM Entertainment |
SM Entertainment ― which gave birth to numerous A-list stars like Super Junior, Girls' Generation, EXO and aespa ― is going to showcase more sub-units of its 23-member boy group, NCT.
The sub-units are tentatively called, "NCT Hollywood" and "NCT Tokyo," and they will be based in the U.S. and Japan, respectively. A new boy band that does not belong to NCT is reportedly in the pipeline as well, but details about this act have been kept under wraps.
JYP Entertainment, best known for its groups like TWICE, ITZY and Stray Kids, plans to debut three boy groups this year. It will showcase the male version of its all-Japanese girl group, NiziU, while debuting a boy band consisting of five contestants from SBS' 2021 audition program, "LOUD." It will also launch "Project C," which is made up of Chinese members.
In addition, KQ Entertainment that houses boy group ATEEZ, MNH Entertainment that represents K-pop diva Chungha, and Biscuit Entertainment that manages girl group Kep1er, are also launching rookie boy bands in 2023. Great M Entertainment ― which was established by Kim Young-sun, the former director of FNC Entertainment ― will also showcase its first-ever male act.
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| A poster for Mnet's upcoming show, "Boys Planet" / Courtesy of Mnet |
Several audition programs to pick members for rookie boy bands will also hit the air in 2023. Mnet is poised to premiere "Boys Planet" ― the sequel to "Girls Planet 999" that gave birth to Kep1er ― in February and MBC will air "Fantasy Boys" ― the sequel to "My Teenage Girl," in which girl group CLASS:y was formed ― in March.
In the case of "Boys Planet," thousands of people from 84 countries applied to join the show.
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