In 2021, the number of virtual idols powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence) is truly growing. Aside from aespa, other virtual female artists such as Eternity, Rozy, and more are not only making noise in the metaverse but as well as in the actual music stage! Due to this, will virtual idols become the future of K-pop?
In particular, there are currently three K-pop groups with virtual members and two AI solo artists who are making an impact in the entertainment scene. This includes K/DA, aespa, Eternity, Rozy, and Apoki.
aespa, K/DA, Eternity & More: List of Virtual Idols & K-pop Groups with Virtual Members
Starting with aespa, the group was introduced by SM Entertainment and debuted with its single, "Black Mamba," in 2020. There are four members present in the real world such as Karina, Winter, Giselle, and NingNing. However, the female stars emphasized that they are an eight-member group along with its avatars: ae-Karina, ae-Winter, ae-Giselle, and ae-NingNing.
The concept of the group will revolve around aespa's unique view of the world or the KWANGYA. The members and avatars will also appear together during the group's performance, fan meetings, and concerts – to unveil stories related to SMCU.
Prior to them, K/DA is the first K-pop girl to debut with virtual idols in 2018. But unlike aespa, K/DA is comprised solely of AI members. The four-member group includes Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai'Sa. All are K-pop-inspired version League of Legends game characters.
Though several music fans raised their brows against the group, K/DA, who debuted under Riot Games, became massive not only in Korea but as well as in the U.S., with their single, "POP/STARS." On August 1, the groups voiced by TWICE, (G)I-DLE, and more received a gold certification from RIAA – proving its success.
Meanwhile, in March 2021, an 11-member group, Eternity, debuted under Pulse9, an AI brand company. The group is comprised of Jaein, Yejin, Minji, Sujin, Seoa, Yeoreum, Jiwoo, Chorong, Sarang, Dain, and Hyejin.
Following its debut track, "I'm Real," it accumulated more than 700,000 views already, gaining huge interest from foreign fans.
The concept of the groups focuses on communication with humans. The red flower, an energy source of the planet AIA, which has parallel time to the Earth, begins with a rather unique setting when one day its happy life was broken after it withers.
The AIANs have learned that it is "love" that exists on Earth that can solve this problem. They come to Earth in the form of a girl group called Eternity and begin a journey of growing up communicating with the people of the Earth.
Also Read: New Girl Group Eternity Composed Entirely of AI Members Attracts Attention
Lastly, Rozy and Apoki are solo virtual artists who also exist in the metaverse, a space where humans and computer-generated people can co-exist.
Apoki debuted this year under VV Entertainment with her single, "GET IT OUT." Due to her cute and lovely appearance, Apoki also captured the interests of K-pop fans, establishing growing fandom.
As for Rozy, she is also a popular virtual influencer. Due to her idol-like visual and dancing skills, Rozy Oh also received much love from Koreans.
Can Virtual Idols and Metaverse be a New Growth Engine for K-pop?
Recently, K-pop is opening a new world with the combination of virtualization. It is an era in which avatars of idol groups meet fans in virtual spaces and cyber singers who combine AI and CG technology perform.
This is a world that is currently being built around fandoms, but the base is gradually expanding to the general public, and the public is gradually accepting the metaverse as if it were real.
With the growing population of virtual idols, Metaverse is already operating as an important growth engine for K-pop.
In fact, SM Entertainment, the agency of aespa, recently partnered with KAIST for more advanced research of metaverse and K-pop.
Read More: SM Entertainment Partners With KAIST for Joint Research on Metaverse
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Written by Eunice Dawson
