"Fourth-generation top dog" Stray Kids: How they became JYP's top output [★22nd Anniversary] ①

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

[Editor’s Note] A fourth-generation K-pop idol group has achieved dazzling results in the global music market and emerged as a new leading force of K-pop. Not content with simply inheriting the global influence built by senior artists including BTS, the leaders of the third generation, they are expanding it in their own unique ways, broadening the scope of K-pop. In particular, it is noteworthy that they have achieved clear results within a relatively short period after debut and quickly rose to stardom. This demonstrates that K-pop is no longer limited to the success of certain artists but has established itself as a sustainable global music genre across generations. StarNews, on its 22nd anniversary, intends to discuss the past, present, and future of fourth-generation K-pop idol groups that are making a dazzling presence in the global music market.

"Throughout my activities so far, I have never set a goal of winning awards or achieving records. My biggest goal is to continue creating music unique to Stray Kids, just like 'This & That,' and for fans to be satisfied and happy." (Hyunjin, August 6, Yeouido Conrad Seoul Stray Kids comeback press conference)

The wording itself was a magnificent expression. It was not only a heartfelt message from an artist competing on the global music stage beyond the K-pop realm to their fandom, STAY, but also a vision that went even further.

Since their debut in 2017 and after renewing their contract once, Stray Kids (Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, I.N) are approaching their eighth anniversary and stand as one of the top-tier artists in the current K-pop landscape. Judging by certain performance metrics alone, they have even surpassed BTS, making them world-class stars at the very peak. Of course, Stray Kids' ascent to this lofty position was not without countless unseen efforts and trial-and-error experiences, nor without the influence of the flower-lined path paved by senior K-pop artists.

In retrospect, there is a common view that the active lifespan of K-pop idol groups, no matter how long, is around 10 years after debut. It takes about five years to build a fandom and rise to stardom in the public eye. Afterward, boy groups often undergo team restructuring or enter a period of long-term activity, with military service as a turning point. Girl groups, for various practical reasons, have frequently failed to easily overcome the so-called "seven-year curse."

Stray Kids also cannot be entirely optimistic about the time ahead. As the date approaches for Lee Know, the longest-serving Korean member of the group, to enlist in the military, the moment has come when they can no longer avoid contemplating their next steps.

Nevertheless, Stray Kids is currently solid. Like BTS has been, Stray Kids appears to remain so, barring any unexpected developments. The strongest reason is their unwavering teamwork.

"When forming a new team, we think very carefully about each member and hold meetings together. For this team, however, we made an agreement with one leader: 'You choose the members. If you are ready to debut, show us. We will approve it, and then you can debut.' This trainee had been training for seven years. He selected the other members, practiced with them, composed music, wrote lyrics, and showed us that he was ready. I said, 'It is time to debut,' and so they debuted." (Park Jin-young, JYP Entertainment's representative producer, August 21, 2018, JTBC 'Idol Room')

Stray Kids' direct senior group can be seen as TWICE in some respects, given their similar origins. Just as nine members of TWICE were formed after enduring a grueling debut mission through the 2015 Mnet audition program "Sixteen," Stray Kids also passed through the rigorous debut hurdles set by Park Jin-young and JYP Entertainment via the 2017 Mnet audition program "Stray Kids" through intense effort.

The process by which the members joined at that time is also interesting. JYP personally entrusted member Bang Chan with full authority over the group's composition, and it is already well known that Bang Chan directly selected each of today's members from among his fellow trainees he had lived with during their training days. In the process of Bang Chan leading the team to create its own color and direction, Stray Kids was born as we know them today.

Bang Chan, a Korean-Australian national selected through the JYP Global Audition, spent seven years as a trainee starting from 2011. As the eldest member and leader of the group, he served as the team's focal point and is also considered the starting point of Stray Kids, given that he directly assembled the members. Possessing not only the fundamental capabilities and visuals required of an idol, he boasts solid production skills, with the number of songs registered with the Korean Copyright Association ranking second among all idols (237 songs). Furthermore, his fluent English proficiency and warm personality have established him as a core pillar supporting both Stray Kids' music and team unity.

Here, members Changbin and Han of the producing and rap unit 3RACHA, which he led and belonged to, joined with Rino, a former backup dancer for BTS, as the core of the performance line, along with Hyunjin and Felix, and Seungmin and I.N, who are the youngest and belong to the vocal line. With this lineup completed, Stray Kids showcased their own unique color, characterized by a coexistence of distinctive experimentalism and darkness. Although it was a strong musical color that could elicit mixed reactions, Stray Kids proved it through consistent chart success.

The members endured Park Jin-young's signature sharp and cold evaluations while completing various missions, eventually debuting officially as a nine-member group in September 2018. The loyalty of the fandom that joined through the survival reality program "Stray Kids" was high from the outset. Interest from the industry was equally intense, with fans even traveling to Japan to attend the debut showcase. Following their victory on Mnet's "KINGDOM: Legendary War," they took a further leap forward and gradually established their presence in the fourth-generation K-pop competition.

Stray Kids' music fundamentally pursues the grammar of danceable hip-hop typical of K-pop boy groups, characterized by powerful performances. The formula involves layering intense beats onto the overwhelming scale of multi-member group choreography and adding diverse genre variations centered around hip-hop. It also evokes a sense where SEVENTEEN's cheerfulness is added to MONSTA X's dark charm. Particularly as they climbed to the top of the Billboard 200 chart and expanded their world tour scale, this musical tendency has become even more pronounced. For casual fans or listeners not accustomed to intense sounds, it may be a style with a relatively high barrier to entry.

Of course, while JYP Park Jin-young granted the members considerable autonomy, allowing Stray Kids' musical spectrum to expand infinitely, no matter how loyal their fandom is, if the songs are not good, they will inevitably fade quickly. In fact, some argue that there is also quite a bit of resistance or unfamiliarity toward Stray Kids' music. It is not an easy task to target the global music market while satisfying both the unique emotions and grammar characteristic of Korean pop music. Stray Kids, rather than compromising in between, are walking their own path and searching for answers.

* Stray Kids' Billboard 200 No. 1 Album List

Mini album ODDINARY released on March 18, 2022 (first-day sales of 850,000 copies)

MINI 7th Album MAXIDENT released on October 7, 2022 (first-week sales: 2.16 million)

Regular 3rd Album ★★★★★ (5-STAR), released on June 2, 2023 (first-week sales: 4.62 million)

Mini album 8th '-STAR' released on November 10, 2023 (first-week sales: 3.7 million)

MINI Album 'ATE' released on July 19, 2024 (first-week sales: 2.37 million)

Stray Kids Hip Tape' HOP released on December 13, 2024 (first-week sales: 1.81 million)

Regular 4th album KARMA released on August 22, 2025 (first-week sales: 3.03 million)

'SKZ Tape' 'DO IT' to be released on November 21, 2025 (initial sales of 2.21 million)

MINI ALBUM 10TH THIS & THAT, released August 7, 2026 (first-week sales: 3.28 million)

2018 AAA Rookie of the Year

In 2019, he won the AAA Groove and Star15 Popularity Awards, achieving a double crown.

2020 AAA Best Music Video

2021 AAA Awards (Performance of the Year) *First Grand Prize

Double crown, including the 2022 AAA Album of the Year

Won the Triple Crown in 2023, including the AAA Awards (Stage of the Year)

2024 AAA Best K-Pop Record

Winner of five awards at the 2025 AAA Awards (Singer of the Year, Album of the Year), among others

This year marks the 11th anniversary of Asia Artist Awards (hereinafter AAA), which is soaring to new heights. Starting as Korea's only integrated awards ceremony for singers and actors, AAA has gathered stars who have shone in the entertainment industry with their top performances every year, creating a festival venue that has adorned the entire Asian region with a celebration of stars. As it celebrates its 10th anniversary since its launch in 2025, amidst the full participation of artists who have transformed AAA into a glamorous awards ceremony over the years, AAA has reached its peak and is continuing preparations to head toward Kaohsiung once again.

Stray Kids, too, marched forward with a confident upward trajectory, keeping pace with AAA. Starting with the Artist of the Year award in the music category in 2018, Stray Kids took their first step as global artists and have since achieved a total of four Grand Prizes starting from their first Grand Prize in 2021, along with 16 overall AAA awards, solidifying their status as a definitive fourth-generation headliner boy group.

"I believe that military service is a natural obligation, so if I am called upon, I will fulfill my duty faithfully. We haven't discussed plans for album activities after military service yet, but one thing is certain—we will reunite. Please wait a moment, and I'll be back soon."(Lino, August 6, Stray Kids Comeback Press Conference, Conrad Seoul Yeouido)

K-pop's fourth-generation group Stray Kids is also approaching the critical juncture known as "military enlistment season." As expected, JYP Entertainment's recent stock performance has not been smooth either. The company's second-quarter results were labeled an "earnings shock," causing its stock price to plummet by nearly 70% in just three years since 2023. Adding to the tension, even TWICE, which seemed destined for eternity, saw re-signing talks for members Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung fail consecutively, heightening industry anxiety. Already, securities firms are repeatedly lowering JYP Entertainment's target price, citing concerns that the performance of the next LINE group expected to take over after TWICE and Stray Kids may fall short of expectations.

A career hiatus will inevitably become a burden for Boy Group. Even with a solid fanbase, the group must endure a long period of inactivity without full-group activities, and during that time, the members' ages will also increase. This is a variable that cannot be taken lightly by idols whose prime years are in their 20s. To minimize the negative impact caused by the full-group hiatus, both the members and the agency must prepare thoroughly.

That said, it is premature to define the current Stray Kids solely in terms of crisis. Having reached the top of the Billboard 200 chart for the first time in 2022 and spent over four years as a global top-tier artist without pause, Stray Kids' influence within JYP is expected to remain solid at least through the first half of next year based on this comeback activity alone. Considering that the first major hurdle in recent idol group contract renewals is no longer limited to the "curse of seven years" for groups in their seventh debut year, Stray Kids, who completed full team re-signings in 2024, are expected to face a new critical juncture in either next year or the year after when military service periods overlap, which will determine their trajectory for the coming years.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original