Kakao Entertainment Unveils Plans for New Artists in 2025

Kakao Entertainment (카카오엔터테인먼트), co-led by Kwon Ki-soo and Jang Yoon-jung, is drawing attention with its announcement of various activity plans for new artists in 2025. Following a successful year that saw major artists like IU and IVE embark on world tours and expand their global presence, the company is set to introduce a range of new talent this year. Notable among them are the rookie girl group KiiiKiii (키키) from Starship Entertainment (스타쉽엔터테인먼트) and the British boy group dearALICE (디어앨리스), a collaboration between Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment (SM).

Kakao Entertainment aims to enhance its multi-label system through systematic support and partnerships, focusing on securing mega intellectual properties (IPs) with global influence, thereby solidifying its position as a key player in the K-pop industry. The company plans to continuously discover talented new artists and present them on the global stage while diversifying the global activities of its existing artists to strengthen their fanbase.

Starship recently announced the debut plans for the girl group KiiiKiii, which is generating significant interest as it marks the first girl group launch since IVE's debut in 2021. With IVE having established itself as a 'MZ wannabe icon' both in Korea and globally, expectations are high for KiiiKiii as well. The group has been actively sharing diverse content on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok, creating an organic storytelling experience that has heightened anticipation for their debut. Even before specific debut plans are revealed, KiiiKiii has received acclaim for its unique visual creativity showcased through stylish photos and videos. Starship has been strengthening its multi-producing system and detailed management structure since 2024, focusing on providing comprehensive support tailored to each artist while maintaining their unique identities.

Dragon Pony (드래곤포니), a boy band from Antenna that debuted in September 2024, is also set to expand its reach this year with performances both domestically and internationally. The members, including vocalist Ahn Tae-kyu, bassist Pyeon Seong-hyeon, guitarist Kwon Se-hyuk, and drummer Ko Kang-hoon, are all skilled in songwriting, composition, and production. They have already made a mark by performing at major festivals like the 2024 Busan International Rock Festival and the Grand Mint Festival 2024, and they are set to perform at the EMERGE FEST 2025 in Taiwan on February 22, further connecting with global fans. Additionally, they will participate in THE GLOW 2025 on March 29, promising an energetic performance that captures the spirit of youth.

The British boy group dearALICE, launched by Kakao Entertainment and SM's North American subsidiary, will officially debut with their single album 'Ariana' in February 2025. The song 'Ariana' is an electro-pop dance track that explores complex feelings of love towards an unattainable woman. dearALICE made their debut stage appearance at the SMTOWN LIVE 2025 [THE CULTURE, THE FUTURE] in SEOUL, where they first performed 'Ariana', capturing the attention of global music fans. Kakao Entertainment and SM have partnered with the music label gamma., associated with pop stars like Snoop Dogg and Usher, to handle the production, release, distribution, marketing, and brand partnerships for dearALICE's debut album, generating excitement for their promotional activities. The group plans to engage in diverse activities across Europe, North America, Asia, and their home base in the UK.

In addition, SM is also revealing plans for new artists, including the eight-member girl group Hearts2Hearts (하츠투하츠), which is set to debut with their first single 'The Chase' on February 24. The male trainee group SMTR25 will also participate in the SMTOWN LIVE global tour this year, quickly building a fanbase with their proven skills even before their official debut.

Kakao Entertainment stated, "We plan to enhance the global activities of our major artists while continuously discovering and presenting talented new artists across various genres on the global stage, thereby strengthening our competitiveness in the music business. Through this, we aim to introduce diverse genres of K-pop to the global music industry and build a more solid influence."