[카테고리:] K-Pop

“Wish You Were Here,” Sung on the Han River in Seoul

K-Pop (Girl Group)

FIFTY FIFTY is back. Their new release is “Wish You Were Here” — a cover of Pink Floyd’s 1975 classic, and the group’s first English digital single. The music video, filmed along the Han River in the dead of winter, is quiet and cool. Where Cupid was sweet and dreamy — a slice of 60s and 70s disco-pop — this is something else entirely. Restrained vocals, understated emotion, and a 50-year-old rock anthem meeting a K-pop girl group’s voices for the first time. An unlikely combination. Somehow, it works.

Cupid — The Unlikely Breakthrough

FIFTY FIFTY debuted in November 2022 under ATTRAKT, a small independent label. No Big Four backing. No established fanbase. Then, in February 2023, “Cupid” changed everything.

The English Twin Version went viral on TikTok, and the group entered the Billboard Hot 100 just 130 days after debut — the fastest any K-pop act had ever done it. The song peaked at No. 17 and became the longest-charting song by a K-pop girl group in Hot 100 history. A remix with Sabrina Carpenter followed. So did a spot on the Barbie movie soundtrack. All of it within six months of debut, from a label nobody had heard of.

What Happened Next

In June 2023, at the height of that success, all four members filed an injunction to suspend their exclusive contracts with ATTRAKT. The agency countered that outside forces had manipulated the members into the move. In August, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the case.

In October, only Keena returned to ATTRAKT. The contracts of Saena, Sio, and Aran were terminated. It became one of the most dramatic disputes in K-pop history.

FIFTY FIFTY Now

The current lineup is Keena, Chanelle Moon, Yewon, Hana, and Athena. The group relaunched as a five-member act in September 2024, with a new fandom name — Tweny — to mark the fresh start.

In November 2025, they released “Skittlez,” the group’s first hip-hop track. It entered the North American Mediabase Top 40 chart at No. 38 and stayed on the chart for three consecutive months — a long way from the bubbly disco-pop of Cupid, and proof that American radio was paying attention. The Skittles candy brand even jumped into the comments on the music video, adding to the buzz.

Then in March 2026, FIFTY FIFTY became the first K-pop group to participate in Sony Music’s tribute project marking Pink Floyd’s 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of “Wish You Were Here.” The most significant moment of their post-relaunch era so far.

The Members Who Left

Original members Saena, Sio, and Aran re-debuted in 2024 under the name Ablume, signing with a new agency. All three were part of what made Cupid the global hit it became. Their next chapter is worth watching.

One Last Thing

FIFTY FIFTY’s story is still being written. If Cupid expanded what K-pop could be, the current group is working on the next chapter.

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By KwaveInsider | March 31, 2026 | K-Pop

I was at Gwanghwamun last week.

260,000 people. The palace walls glowing purple. Strangers standing next to me quietly wiping tears. It was one of those nights that stays with you.

Then I went home and spent the next few hours watching rookie group fancams.

While everyone’s attention was on the comeback — understandably so — something quietly interesting has been building in the rookie scene. These groups aren’t trying to be the next BTS. They’re finding their own direction. Honestly, right now that’s what I find more compelling.

Here are the four I’m watching closely.

CORTIS — BigHit’s new crew, but nothing like you’d expect

Guitars, raw textures, a clear point of view. Their debut track “What You Want” made me sit up straight the first time I heard it — a blend of 60s psychedelic rock and boom bap hip-hop that somehow works completely. They even dropped an English version featuring Teezo Touchdown.

What makes CORTIS interesting isn’t just the sound. The members planned, filmed, and edited their own music video independently. That kind of creative ownership at debut is rare.

I don’t know exactly where they’re headed yet. That’s precisely why I keep watching.

▶ Watch “What You Want”

AHOF — The survival show group that actually delivered

I tend to approach survival show debuts with caution. AHOF changed that. “Rendezvous” is a band-driven track built around guitars and drums, and it hits harder the more you listen. Nine members from six countries, with one of the most cohesive sounds in this year’s rookie class.

Their debut MV hit 3.6 million views in 24 hours. The numbers reflect something real.

Worth knowing before they get much bigger.

▶ Watch “Rendezvous”

LNGSHOT — Jay Park’s crew, and they earned every bit of it

Debut average age: 18. They went viral off a single fancam. Won their first music show win sooner than expected, and the members cried on stage — not as a performance, but as a genuine reaction.

“Moonwalkin'” is their title track — atmospheric, dreamy, and surprisingly mature for a group this young. There’s an unforced authenticity here that’s hard to manufacture.

▶ Watch “Moonwalkin'”

KiiiKiii — The girl group making music on their own terms

“Dancing Alone” is city-pop shimmer at its best. Shot on 16mm film, still living on my playlist months after release. NME and Dazed both named it one of the best K-pop tracks of 2025.

Five members, each with a distinct personality, all clearly making music they actually enjoy. That energy comes through in every frame.

They’ll be part of the rookie-of-the-year conversation. Watch closely.

▶ Watch “Dancing Alone”

The kings had their night at Gwanghwamun.

The next chapter is already being written — quietly, in smaller venues, for now.

Which rookie group are you following this year? Leave a comment — I’d genuinely like to know.

— Written from Seoul, where the next generation is already rehearsing. KwaveInsider

*Some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.*