BTS, an acronym of Bangtan Sonyeondan or “Beyond the Scene”, is a seven-member South Korean boy band under Big Hit Entertainment. Debuting in 2013 with their single album, “2 Cool 4 Skool”, the group, consisting of members RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, has gained a steady following, both domestically and internationally, capturing the heart of their fans with their authentic music, social conscious, and stellar performances. Breaking several records and winning numerous awards, with their chart-topping songs and sold-out shows, BTS has become a global icon. In 2018, “Time” magazine named them one of the 25 most influential people on the internet, while “Forbes” Korea Power Celebrity named them one of the most influential celebrities of Korea. In 2019 the group was named one of “Time 100”’s most influential people.

Apink is a popular South Korean girl group that has enjoyed tremendous success since it formed in 2011. The current six members of the group are Park Cho Rong, Yoon Bo Mi, Jung Eun Ji, Son Na Eun, Kim Nam Joo and Oh Ha Young. When the group first debuted in 2011, it started with seven members but Hong Yoo Kyung left the group in 2013 to focus on her studies.

Apink

BTOB (short for Born to Beat) is a South Korean, all-male K-pop group that debuted in March 2012 with a self-titled EP featuring the songs “Insane” and “Imagine.” The group’s membership consisted of Eunkwang, the act’s leader, as well as Minhyuk, Changsub, Hyunsik, Peniel, Sungjae, and Ilhoon, but the latter departed in 2020. The group has two subunits: BTOB Blue and BTOB 4U. It has also appeared in a number of TV shows, including the reality show “The Beat” (2014-2015) and the more recent “Kingdom: Legendary Wars” in 2021.

BTOB

GOT7 is an award-winning South Korean K-Pop boy band formed by JYP Entertainment. Consisting of seven members: JB, Jinyoung, Mark, Jackson, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom, the group made their debut on January 16, 2014, with the release of their first EP, “Got It?”, which peaked at number one on “Billboard’s” World Albums Charts. Since their debut, they have released a number of chart-topping albums, held several world tours, and have won over 55 various music awards. The group has also appeared on a number of variety shows, including “Ask Us Anything” (2015) and the “2020 SBS Gayo Daejeon in Daegu” (2020).

GOT7

iKON is a South Korean all-male vocal group that was formed in 2015. The group debuted as a six-member act comprising B.I, Bobby, Jinhwan, Ju-ne (aka Junhoe), Yunhyeong, Donghyuk, and Chanwoo, singers who participated in the music-themed reality TV show “WIN: Who is Next?” (2013) – where they were known collectively as part of “Team B.” The Team B members took part in the 2014 spinoff reality survival show “Mix & Match” before debuting the following year. B.I left the act in June 2019, and iKON has continued as a six-piece act since his departure.

iKON

MONSTA X is a popular K-pop group formed in 2015 from the winners of the music survival show “No.Mercy.” The seven members of the group are Shownu (leader, vocalist), Wonho (vocalist), Minhyuk (vocalist), Kihyun (main vocalist), Hyungwon (vocalist), Jooheon (rapper) and I.M (rapper). Since releasing its first EP “Trespass” in 2015, the group has produced two studio albums, six EPs, one compilation album, one video album and many hit singles. It also has provided soundtracks for popular Korean dramas and one mobile game. In 2018, MONSTA X starred in the Viki Original series “When You Call My Name” about the meeting and shared stories between MONSTA X and Gallant, the American singer and songwriter. The mini-documentary features a must-see acoustic duet of MONSTA X’s song “Beautiful.”

MONSTA X

NCT Dream is the third sub-unit of the South Korean boy group, NCT, formed by SM Entertainment. The group debuted on August 25, 2016 with the release of their single, “Chewing Gum”. In 2017, the group released their first single album, which debuted at number one on the Gaon chart. That same year, they were named as the official ambassadors for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea. In 2018, they were listed on “Billboard’s” “21 Under 21 2018: Music’s Next Generation” as well as “TIME” magazine’s “25 Most Influential Teens of 2018”. In 2019, the group was named as the first global ambassadors of the World Scout Foundation. The recipient of multiple award nominations and wins, the group has appeared on numerous music shows, including the “SBS Super Concert in Incheon” (2019).

NCT Dream

Stray Kids is a South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment through a 2017 survival reality program of the same name. Composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Changbin, Felix, Han, Hyunjin, I.N., Lee Know, and Seungmin, the band released a series of music videos, EPs, and singles, prior to their official debut. On March 26, 2018, the band released their second EP and made their official debut. Since then, the band has released a number of albums and singles and has frequently charted on both the Korean and World music charts. In addition to their music, the group has appeared in a number of variety programs, including “2019 KBS Song Festival” (2019), “2020 Idol Star eSports Championships - Chuseok Special” (2020), and “SEOUL PLAY” (2020).

Stray Kids

The Boyz is a 12-member South Korean boy band that made its debut in 2017. The group’s first musical release was the EP “The First,” whose lead track was titled “Boy.” The group was formed by talent agency Cre.ker Entertainment, and was originally named Cre.kerz prior to its official debut. The group’s members are Sangyeon, Sunwoo, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Q, Kevin, New, Ju Hak Nyeon, Eric, and Hwall. The act won the Best New Male Artist prize at the Melon Music Awards in 2018. The Boyz has also appeared on TV reality shows, such as “Flower Snack” (2017), “Our Happy Home” (2018), “Thumping Travel” (2019), and “School Attack 2019.”

The Boyz

TWICE is a nine-member girl group under JYP Entertainment. Formed through the 2015 survival reality show “Sixteen”, the members, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, rose to fame with the release of their 2016 single, “Cheer Up”. Charting at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart, the track became the best-performing single of the year, allowing the group to bring home both the Melon Music Awards and Mnet Asian Music Awards “Song of the Year” award. With the release of subsequent chart-topping tracks, TWICE has become one of South Korea’s most popular and widely recognized K-Pop groups, gaining an incredible following the world over. In 2017 the group was included in both “Forbes” Korea Power Celebrity ranking and “Billboard”’s 21 Under 21 2017: Music’s Next Generation.

TWICE

Wanna One

WINNER

Golden Child

gugudan

Norazo

TVXQ

Lovelyz

Red Velvet is a South Korean girl group that debuted in 2014 with the single “Happiness.” The group was formed by talent agency SM Entertainment and has enjoyed considerable chart success, scooping the Golden Disc New Artist Award in 2015 and the Mnet Asian Music Awards prize for Best Female Group in 2017. The group began as a four-piece, with founding members Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, and Joy. a fifth member, Yeri, joined in 2015. Red Velvet has appeared on numerous TV programs, including “Level Up Project!” (2017-2018) and the “2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships – Chuseok Special.”

Red Velvet

MAMAMOO is a South Korean girl group formed in 2014 that is known for its retro, jazz and R&B sounds. The group has released one studio album and five extended plays since its debut, as well as other singles, collaborations with other popular artists, and original soundtracks to television dramas. The four members of the group are Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein and Hwasa.

MAMAMOO

MOMOLAND is a seven-member South Korean girl group under MLD Entertainment. Formed in 2016 through the reality show, “Finding Momoland” the members, Hyebin, Yeonwoo, Jane, Nayun, JooE, Ahin, and Nancy, made their debut in November of that same year with the release of their EP, “Welcome to Momoland”. In 2017, two new members, Daisy and Kim Taeha, were added to the group. Since their debut, the group has been nominated for and won numerous awards, including the 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards Discovery of the Year and the 2019 Seoul Music Awards Bonsang Award.

MOMOLAND

Vibe

Baek Ji Young

Bolbbalgan4

Bizzy

VIXX

Sunmi is a South Korean singer and TV personality who was born in Iksan, South Korea, on May 2, 1992, in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, South Korea. She made her debut as a member of the pioneering all-female K-pop group Wonder Girls in 2007. She left the group in 2010 to study, but then returned to the fold in 2015, having also released a solo project titled “Full Moon” in 2013. She scored a chart smash with the song “Gashina” in 2017 and has also appeared on variety TV show titles such as “Secret Unnie” (2018).

Sunmi

Sunwoo Jung Ah

SEVENTEEN is a South Korean all-male K-pop act that debut in 2015. The group has 13 members and released its debut EP “17 Carat” in late May 2015. The group released its first full-length studio album – entitled “Love & Letter” on April 25, 2016. SEVENTEEN has since gone on to release a number of chart-topping songs and has appeared in a range of TV variety shows – including “Seventeen’s One Fine Day” in 2016.

SEVENTEEN

(G)I-DLE is a six-member South Korean girl group that debuted under talent agency Cube Entertainment in 2018, releasing the EP “I Am” – which featured the hit track “Latata.” (G)I-DLE’s members are Miyeon, Minnie, Soojin, Soyeon, Yuqi, and Shuhua. In 2018, the group was nominated for the Best Korean Act prize at the MTV Europe Music Awards and won the Best New Female prize at the Melon Music Awards. The group has also featured in reality TV shows, including “Queendom” (2019) and the “2019 Idol Star Athletics Championships – Chuseok Special.”

(G)I-DLE

GFRIEND is a South Korean girl group that debuted in 2015, with the “Season of Glass” EP. The group’s six founding members are Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, and Umji. The group has appeared in reality TV shows such as “One Fine Day” (2015) and “Mamamoo x GFRIEND Showtime” (2016), as well as televised concerts such as “SMUF K-POP 2019.”

GFRIEND

Oh My Girl is a South Korean pop girl group that debuted in 2015 as a sister group to the popular boy group B1A4. The seven members of the group are Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Jiho, Binnie and Arin. An eighth member, JinE, went on hiatus in 2016 to get treatment for a medical condition and then was dropped from the group in 2017. Oh My Girl won Best New Artist at the 2015 SBS Power FM Cultwo Show Awards.

Oh My Girl

WJSN

Yoon Mi Rae

Tiger JK

Hong Jin Young is a South Korean trot singer, actress, and entertainer. She was born in Gwangju on August 9, 1985 and made her acting debut in 2006, taking on small roles in both film and television. She made her debut as a singer in 2007 when she joined the idol group, SWAN.In 2009 she left the idol world to pursue her career as a solo trot singer. No stranger to the world of variety television, she has made numerous appearances over the years, including “Secretly Greatly” (2016), “Sisters Slam Dunk Season 2” (2017), and “My Little Television 2” (2019).

Hong Jin Young

Hwan Hee

Noh Hong Chul

Yoona is the stage name of Im Yoona, a South Korean singer and actress who is best known for being a member of the popular K-pop girl group Girls’ Generation. Born on May 30, 1990, Yoona has said she always dreamed of becoming a singer and passed an open audition when she was 12. After five years of training, she made her debut as a member of Girls’ Generation in 2007, two years before she graduated from high school. After the hit single “Gee” became “the most popular song of the decade” upon release in 2009, Girls’ Generation became known as “The Nation’s Girl Group.” Yoona made her acting debut in the 2007 television drama “Two Outs in the Ninth Inning” and has gone on to star in other popular dramas, including “You Are My Destiny” (2008), “Love Rain” (2012), “The Prime Minister Is Dating” (2013), “The K2” (2016), as well as the starring role in the Chinese drama “God of War, Zhao Yun” (2016).

Yoona

Choi Minho is a South Korean singer, actor and model. Born on December 9, 1991, he is best known for being a member of the boy band SHINee. Choi Minho was discovered during a casting call in 2006 and was chosen to become a part of SHINee, which debuted in 2008. He has been credited for writing or co-writing many of the rap songs on SHINee’s albums. Choi Minho made his acting debut in the 2010 television drama “Pianist” and has acted in a number of dramas since, including “To the Beautiful You” (2012), “Medical Top Team” (2013), “Because It's the First Time” (2015) and “Hwarang” (2016-2017). Choi Minho’s father, Choi Yun Gyeom, is a famous South Korean soccer coach.

Choi Minho

Cha Eun Woo is a South Korean musician and actor. He made his first movie appearance in 2014's "My Palpitating Life," and later went on to make a name for himself in the music world as part of the boyband ASTRO, which debuted in 2016. He played one of the two also had a lead roles in the drama series "My Romantic Some Recipe," also in 2016. More recently, he has appeared in hit drama titles such as "My ID Is Gangnam Beauty" (2018) and "Top Management" (2018).

Cha Eun Woo

MBC, KOCOWA

The hottest K-pop stars are all gathered at this year's MBC Music Festival. The lineup includes BTS, TWICE, MAMAMOO, GFRIEND, EXO, Wanna One, Red Velvet, Winner, Apink, SUNMI, Vibe, Ben, BOL4, SEVENTEEN, MONSTA X, and MOMOLAND. Stay tuned to watch their special year-end performances!

2018 MBC Music Festival

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