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.

EXO is an award-winning South Korean-Chinese boy band formed under SM Entertainment. Consisting of Chen, Chanyeol, D.O, Xiumin, Kai, Lay, Sehun, Baekhyun, and Suho, the nine-member group made their debut in 2012. Ranked from 2014-2018, as one of the top five most influential celebrities on the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list, the group has garnered numerous labels over the years, including "Kings of K-pop" and the "biggest boyband in the world”. Since their debut, they have released countless albums and singles, held a number of tours, and appeared on an endless variety of television programs, including “Music Bank K-Chart in Hanoi” (2015), “Ask Us Anything” (2015), “Star Show 360” (2016), “Music Bank K-Chart in Jakarta” (2017), and “2018 KBS Song Festival” (2018).

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

BLACKPINK is a South Korean girl group under YG Entertainment. The four-member group, consisting of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, made their debut on August 8, 2016, with the release of their single album, “Square One”. The two lead singles, “Whistle” and “Boombayah” charted at numbers one and two on the “Billboard” World Digital Songs chart and won the group the record for the most-viewed debut music video by a Korean act. Since debut, the group has continued to top charts, both domestically and internationally, landing on both the “Billboard” Hot 100 and “Billboard” 200, as well as “Billboard”’s Emerging Artists chart. Winning numerous awards since debut, the group continues to be met with success, topping charts, selling out stadium tours around the world, and finding themselves listed as one of the most influential celebrities of Korea in 2019 by “Forbes” Korea Power Celebrity.

BLACKPINK

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

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

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

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

Wanna One was a South Korean all-male pop group whose membership was composed of the 11 highest-placing contestants on the audition-based reality TV show “Produce 101 Season 2” (2017). The group debuted on August 7, 2017, and disbanded after it last appeared on stage at a concert held on January 27, 2019. The act scored hits with songs such as “Energetic” and “Beautiful.”

Wanna One

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

WINNER

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

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

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

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

NCT is a multinational all-male K-pop group that began on its musical journey in 2013 with members of the SM Rookies pre-debut project – eventually making its debut in 2016. With a number of sub-units, including NCT U, NCT Dream, WayV, and NCT 127, the group’s membership is fluid, with new members joining in 2018 and 2020. The group has also appeared on TV shows, including “NCT World 2.0” (2020).

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

Jun Hyun Moo is a South Korean announcer and television host. Born on November 7, 1977, he is a well-recognized face on many popular variety shows. Some of his current shows where he serves as a host or regular cast member include “Hidden Singer,” “Good Morning FM,” “I Live Alone,” “Non-Summit,” “Brave Writers,” “Problematic Man,” “Happy Together,” “Fantastic Duo” and “Hit the Stage.”

Jun Hyun Moo

Jo Bo Ah is a South Korean actress. Born on August 22, 1991, as Jo Bo Yoon, she made her acting debut in the 2011 television sitcom “I Live in Cheongdam-dong.” She went on to star in other popular dramas, including “Shut Up! Flower Boy Band” (2012), “Surplus Princess” (2014), “Missing Noir M” (2015), “All About My Mom” (2015), “The Man Living in Our House” (2016) and “Degree of Love” (2017).

Jo Bo Ah

SBS, KOCOWA

This year's SBS Gayo Daejeon Music Festival is back with the best K-pop stars. The lineup includes BTS, TWICE, BLACKPINK, iKON, MAMAMOO, GFRIEND, GOT7, EXO, Wanna One, Red Velvet, Winner, Apink, SUNMI, NCT, SEVENTEEN, MONSTA X, MOMOLAND, and BTOB. Stay tuned to watch their special year-end performances!

2018 SBS Gayo Daejeon_Music Festival

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