'Fourth-Generation Top Dog' Stray Kids: The Journey to Becoming JYP's Ultimate Output [★22nd Anniversary] ①

*This content was translated by AI.

[Editor’s Note] Fourth-generation K-pop idol groups have achieved dazzling results in the global music market, emerging as new leading forces of K-pop. They are not merely inheriting the global influence built by senior artists like third-generation pioneers BTS; they are expanding it in their own unique ways, broadening the horizons of K-pop. Notably, Stray Kids rose to stardom with remarkable achievements in a relatively short period after debut. This demonstrates that K-pop is no longer limited to the success of individual artists but has evolved into a sustainable global music genre across generations. To mark its 22nd anniversary, StarNews explores the past, present, and future of fourth-generation K-pop idol groups that are making an indelible mark in the global music market.

"Throughout our activities, we have never set awards or records as our goal. Our biggest objective is to continue creating music that is uniquely Stray Kids, like 'This & That,' and to ensure our fans are satisfied and happy." (Hyunjin, August 6, Yeouido Conrad Seoul Stray Kids Comeback Press Conference)

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

Debuting in 2017 and having renewed their contract once, Stray Kids (Stray Kids: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, I.N) are now approaching their eighth anniversary and stand as one of the top-tier artists in today's K-pop scene. Judging by some performance metrics alone, they have even surpassed BTS, standing firmly at the pinnacle as world-class stars. Of course, Stray Kids' rise to this high position was not without countless unseen efforts, trial and error from many individuals, and the influence of the path paved by senior K-pop artists.

In fact, when considering the career span of K-pop idol groups, it is often believed that even the longest-running groups last around 10 years after debut. It takes about five years to build a fandom, rise to stardom, and become recognized by the public. Afterward, boy groups typically undergo team restructuring or enter long-term activity phases around the time of military enlistment. Girl groups, due to various practical reasons, have frequently struggled to overcome the so-called 'seven-year curse.'

Stray Kids also cannot be overly optimistic about their future. As Lee Know, the longest-serving Korean member of the group, approaches his military enlistment date, the team is inevitably facing a critical moment of reflection on their next steps.

Nevertheless, Stray Kids remains steadfast at present. Like BTS before them, Stray Kids appears destined to continue unless an unexpected event occurs. The strongest reason for this stability lies in their solid teamwork.

"When forming a new team, we discuss each member extensively and hold meetings together. For this group, we made a promise to the leader: 'You choose the members. If you are ready to debut, show us. We will approve it, and then you can debut.' As a trainee for seven years, Bang Chan selected the members, practiced with them, created music, wrote lyrics, and presented everything to us saying, 'We are ready.' I approved their debut, and that is how they debuted." (JYP Entertainment CEO Park Jin-young, August 21, 2018, JTBC 'Idol Room')

Stray Kids' direct senior group can be seen as TWICE. Their formation process was similar. Just as nine members of TWICE were born through the rigorous debut mission on Mnet's audition program 'Sixteen' in 2015, Stray Kids also passed through the challenging debut gate prepared by Park Jin-young and JYP Entertainment via the Mnet audition program 'Stray Kids' in 2017 after intense effort.

The process by which the current members joined is also intriguing. It is already well-known that Park Jin-young entrusted Bang Chan entirely with member selection, and Bang Chan personally chose each of today's members from among his fellow trainees. Thus, Stray Kids was born through a process where they independently shaped the group's color and direction centered around Bang Chan.

Bang Chan, who holds dual Korean-Australian nationality and was selected through JYP's global audition, spent seven years as a trainee from 2011. As the eldest member and leader of the group, he served as its core. Given that he personally formed the team, he can also be considered the starting point of Stray Kids. Beyond basic idol capabilities and visuals, he possesses solid production skills, with the second-highest number of registered songs among idols (237 songs) according to the Korean Copyright Association. Additionally, his fluent English and warm personality have made him a central pillar supporting both Stray Kids' music and teamwork.

Alongside this, Changbin and Han from the production and rap unit 3RACHA, which Bang Chan leads and belongs to; Lee Know, a former backup dancer for BTS; performance line members Hyunjin and Felix; and vocal line members Seungmin and I.N, the youngest, joined. The completed Stray Kids showcased their unique color, blending experimentation with darkness. Although this strong musical identity could be polarizing, Stray Kids proved it through consistent chart success.

After enduring Park Jin-young's characteristic sharp and cold evaluations while completing various missions, the members officially debuted as a nine-member group in September 2018. The loyalty of fans gained through the survival reality program 'Stray Kids' was high from the start. Industry interest was equally intense, with fans traveling to Japan specifically to attend their debut showcase. Following their victory on Mnet's 'KINGDOM: Legendary War,' they took another leap forward and gradually increased their presence in the fourth-generation K-pop competition.

Stray Kids' music fundamentally pursues the typical grammar of danceable hip-hop found in K-pop boy groups, characterized by powerful performances. The formula involves layering intense beats onto the overwhelming scale of synchronized group choreography and adding diverse genre variations centered around hip-hop. It also evokes a sense similar to MONSTA X's dark charm combined with SEVENTEEN's cheerful energy. 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 light-hearted fans or listeners unfamiliar with intense sounds, this style may present a relatively high entry barrier.

Of course, since Park Jin-young granted significant autonomy to the members, Stray Kids' musical spectrum could have been infinitely broadened. However, no matter how loyal the fandom is, if the songs are not good, they will quickly fade away. In fact, some argue that there is considerable resistance or unfamiliarity toward Stray Kids' music. While targeting the global music market, it is not easy to satisfy both the unique sensibility and grammar of Korean pop music. Stray Kids is finding answers by walking their own path rather than compromising in between.

* List of Stray Kids' Billboard 200 No.1 Albums

Mini Album 6th 'ODDINARY' Released March 18, 2022 (First-week sales: 850,000)

Mini Album 7th 'MAXIDENT' Released October 7, 2022 (First-week sales: 2.16 million)

Full Album 3rd '★★★★★ (5-STAR)' Released June 2, 2023 (First-week sales: 4.62 million)

Mini Album 8th '-STAR' Released November 10, 2023 (First-week sales: 3.70 million)

Mini Album 9th 'ATE' Released July 19, 2024 (First-week sales: 2.37 million)

'SKZ-HIP TAPE' (HOP) Released December 13, 2024 (First-week sales: 1.81 million)

Full Album 4th 'KARMA' Released August 22, 2025 (First-week sales: 3.03 million)

'SKZ-IT TAPE' DO IT Released November 21, 2025 (First-week sales: 2.21 million)

Mini Album 10th 'THIS & THAT' Released August 7, 2026 (First-week sales: 3.28 million)

2018 AAA Rookie Award

2019 AAA Groove, Star15 Popularity Award, etc. (Double Crown)

2020 AAA Best Music Video

2021 AAA Grand Prize (Performer of the Year)*First Grand Prize

2022 AAA Grand Prize (Album of the Year), etc. (Double Crown)

2023 AAA Grand Prize (Stage of the Year), etc. (Triple Crown)

2024 AAA Best K-Pop Record

2025 AAA Grand Prize (Singer of the Year, Album of the Year), etc. (Quintuple Crown)

Now in its 11th year, the Asia Artist Awards (hereinafter AAA) is on a clear upward trajectory. Starting as Korea's only integrated awards ceremony for singers and actors, it has gathered stars who shone brightest in the entertainment industry each year, creating a festival atmosphere and adorning all of Asia with a celebration of stars. As AAA celebrates its 10th anniversary 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 preparing to head once again to Kaohsiung.

Stray Kids also walked hand-in-hand with AAA through their own confident upward trajectory. Starting with the Shin In-sang (수상) award in the singer category in 2018, Stray Kids took their first step as a global artist. Since then, starting with their first Grand Prize in 2021, they have achieved a total of four Grand Prizes and an overall 16 AAA awards, solidifying their status as a fourth-generation headliner-level boy group.

"I believe fulfilling military service obligations is natural, and if called upon, I will diligently carry out the assigned duty. We have not yet discussed album activity plans after my military enlistment, but one thing is certain: we will reunite. Please wait just a little while; I will return soon." (Lee Know, August 6, Yeouido Conrad Seoul Stray Kids Comeback Press Conference)

Stray Kids, belonging to the fourth generation of K-pop, are now facing the critical juncture of 'military enlistment period.' Coincidentally, JYP Entertainment's recent stock price trend is also not favorable. The company's performance in the second quarter this year was evaluated as an 'earnings shock,' leading to a decline of nearly 70% over three years since 2023. Furthermore, even TWICE, which seemed eternal, saw renewed contracts for Jeongyeon and Chaeyoung fail consecutively, heightening industry tension. Securities firms are already repeatedly downgrading JYP Entertainment's target price, citing that the performance of the next lineup expected to take responsibility after TWICE and Stray Kids may not meet expectations.

The military enlistment period inevitably acts as a burden on a boy group's career. Even with a solid fandom, full-group activities are suspended for an extended period, and during this time, members' ages continue to rise. This is a variable that cannot be taken lightly by idols in their prime twenties. To minimize negative impacts caused by full-group hiatuses, both members and the agency must prepare thoroughly.

However, it is too early to define Stray Kids' current situation solely as a crisis. Having continuously run as a top-tier global artist for over four years since first reaching the Billboard

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*This content was translated by AI.