Due to the number of idol groups debut every year, it can be difficult to catch the public's attention. For that reason, many idol groups try to stand out by establishing their own unique concept. From EXO to BTS to Red Velvet, these groups take pride in their unique concepts!
EXO
When EXO first debuted, they shocked fans with their superpower concept. The members all fly from earth to "Exo Planet," an extrasolar planet. Each member has a unique superpower that represents them.
During their debut, the group was judged for their concept, as many thought it would hinder them from breaking into the mainstream. However, as time went on, people became more enamored by EXO and their concept's uniqueness, especially when they introduced their evil clones in their dark release, "Obsession."
EXO-Ls themselves scratch their heads as they try to solve EXO's mystery!
LOONA
LOONA's universe - Loonaverse - is shrouded in mystery. Their concept is celestial embodiment. The group is divided into three units: LOONA 1/3, ODD EYE CIRCLE, and yyxy.
The first one refers to Earth, and the usal settings are roads and campuses.
ODD EYE CIRCLE, on the other hand, is the "middle Earth," one that's between Earth and space.
Lastly, yyxy is called the "Edenism," a utopia farther than Earth or "middle Earth."
BTS
Unlike the other groups on this list, BTS drew praise for their albums' concepts, not just the group's concept as a whole. Since their debut, the group has enchanted fans with storytelling.
They began from a school-themed trilogy, a youth-themed trilogy, and the "Love Yourself" series. The songs and music videos contain many references to psychological concepts and literature, which fans appreciate.
aespa
aespa debuted in November 2020, but back then, they already made headlines for their concept.
When SM Entertainment introduced them, they shocked people by introducing virtual counterparts to each of their members.
While aespa has four real members, they each have their own AI (known as ae) counterparts, making them eight members in total.
WJSN (Cosmic Girls)
WJSN's group concept follows constellations.
When they first debuted as twelve members, each member got her own astrological sign. The sign is their actual star sign and represents them.
When member Yeonjung was added to the group, she was assigned as the 13th unofficial astrological sign Ophiuchus or the serpent-bear.
Read also: 15 'Underrated' K-pop Songs That Deserve More Attention: 'Midnight,' 'DALALA,' 'Undo,' More!
Yeonjung started promoting with the group during their "Secret" promotions. During the music video, Bona is seen reaching out to Yeonjung, who in turn joins them. Her astrological symbol is then shown.
VIXX
This list wouldn't be complete without VIXX, the group that's actually infamous for having a dark, unique concept.
Dubbed as the "King of Concepts" by fans, VIXX presents multiple storylines, all with different concepts only them can pull off!
Case in point, their 2017 release "Shangri La." Apart from the overflowing aesthetic of the music video, you will find yourself drawn in their world as you watch the 3-minute release.
KARD
KARD debuted in 2016 and shocked everyone by being one of the few mixed-gender groups in the K-pop industry. But there is more to the group than them having both girls and boys.
Like their name, each member is seen as a trump card, and each member represents a letter in KARD. BM is the King (K), J.Seph is the Ace (A), Somin is the Black Joker (R), and Jiwoo is the Color Joker (R).
The D in KARD represents a hidden card, which can refer to a special guest or feature.
OnlyOneOf
Similar to a few, K-pop group OnlyOneOf introduces a concept of multiverses. To be precise, their main themes are "mystery, lust, and religious allusions," which is why their music videos and releases often have Christian and witchcraft symbols.
One example is their "sage" music video, which "projects extreme desperateness through the lyrics 'forgive my sins,' 'I beg you to give me salvation,' but God turns his back on them."
Red Velvet
Red Velvet stands out from other groups due to the two sides of their music - the "red" and the "velvet." The group's "red" sideshows off their bright and cheerful atmosphere, while their "velvet" sideshows off their more mature and sensual side.
Notable songs from their "red" concept include "Red Flavor" and "Power Up," while notable songs from their "velvet" concept include "Psycho" and "Bad Boy."
What's more? Their latest comeback "Feel My Rhythm" MV pays homage to classical art, earning praises from fans across the globe!
DREAMCATCHER
Dreamcatcher debuted on January 13, 2017. However, before their debut, reports went viral over the group's unique concept.
Previously, Dreamcatcher debuted as MINX in 2014 with a bright concept. However, with their re-debut in 2017, they went the complete opposite direction. The group donned a nightmare concept, with their songs leaning towards a young metal and rock sound. The group remains loyal to this concept to this day.
MAVE:
Though not the first virtual K-pop group, they are one of the most prominent in the industry! MAVE debuted in 2023 with four AI-generated members: Siu, Zena, Tyra, and Marty.
As mentioned, they are not the first all-AI K-pop group. However, they are the first K-pop group created entirely within the metaverse. The members are able to communicate in four languages: Korean, English, French, and Bahasa.
NCT
NCT has been dubbed the "most experimental boy band" due to their concept of having limitless members. Though this has since been abolished, it is still incredibly unique that NCT has a whopping 26 members (and three former members)!
NCT has several sub-units under their belt, namely: NCT 127, NCT Dream, WayV, NCT DoJaeJung, and NCT Wish. When the group mix-and-matches members or promotes as a whole, they promote under NCT U.
K/DA
K/DA is another virtual girl group on this list! However, this group is unique because the members of the group are characters from the hit video game, League of Legends. The members of K/DA are Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa.
K-pop stars have lended their voices to K/DA. Originally, (G)I-DLE members Miyeon and Soyeon are the voices of Ahri and Akali, respectively. In other releases, Ahri has been portrayed by TWICE's Nayeon, Sana, and Jihyo, while Akali was voiced by Chaeyoung.
Which unique concept is your favorite?
Source: Insight
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Written by Alexa Lewis
