These K-pop groups might be the hottest in 2023!

2023 is the year of a major shift in the K-pop industry. Some of the biggest bands, like BTS, are taking a hiatus while other K-pop groups are on the rise. Who are they? Let’s check out these rising stars!

(Image: Metaverse Entertainment)

Although the concept is not new, MAVE: is a K-pop group that is full of members who will never be able to hold a meet-and-greet session with their fans because they are all artificial intelligence (AI). MAVE: made their debut on January 25 with the song 'Pandora’s Box.'

(Image: Metaverse Entertainment)

It’s probably a coincidence that their band names rhyme, but PLAVE can be considered the male counterpart to the A.I. female K-pop band MAVE: despite having different concepts and management. PLAVE debuted its new single ‘Asterum’ on March 12.

(Image: VLAST)

Many are looking to see the first ever Turkish-Azerbaijani K-pop idol debut in A.iRiD, and her name is Bell! Bell had already amassed quite the following before it was revealed she was due to debut in A.iRiD, and this garnered a lot of attention within the K-pop community. A.iRiD is due to debut this year.

(Image: ONO Entertainment)

X:in is an interesting K-pop girl group to look out for, like A.iRiD, X:in features two members from places of origin where you’ll normally not find K-pop stars from — Russia and India! Members Nova and Aria are from Russia and India, respectively. X:in will be debuting on an unconfirmed date this year.

(Image: ESCROW Entertainment)

Bebez is a seven-person girl group under BlockBerry Creative. With only three members revealed now, it is known that current members have been part of the idol competition ‘Girls Planet 999’. Bebez has no official debut date set yet, and many are waiting for more to be revealed!

(Image: blockberry_bebez on Instagram)

THE7, is a seven-member Korean-Thai K-pop boy band. The group consists of 4 Thai members and 3 Korean ones; the Thai members of the group have been specially selected from the Thai audition survival show ‘Seven Stars’. They debuted on January 29 with ‘Get Loose’.

(Image: Ganada Entertainment)

Although their debut hasn’t been announced yet, XODIAC is a seventeen-member boyband expected to debut in the first half of 2023. Yes, you read that right, 17 members! Despite not having an official date set for their debut, XODIAC has already released a pre-debut music video, ‘Calling’, featuring six of their confirmed members.

(Image: One Cool Jacso)

AMBITION is a five-member K-pop group that has members who previously belonged to the now defunct group ATEEN. Despite also not having a set debut date, AMBITION has been heavily promoting their band in Japan and has already held a pre-debut concert in 2022.

(Image: ambition_1004 on Twitter)

n.SSign, also known as ‘Net of Star Sign’, is a seven-member boy band group. One interesting fact about n.SSign is that the group is meant as a project group – meaning that there’s a set disband time for their activities. They’ve come out with their pre-debut song in February, titled ‘Salty’.

(Image: n.CH Entertainment)

Although their official band name has yet to be confirmed, JYPE Loud is an upcoming five-member boy band that has its members selected from the K-pop reality contest show ‘LOUD’. JYPE Loud is JYP Entertainment's boy band from the show, and they’re expected to debut this year.

(Image: JYP Entertainment)

One girl band that many have their eyes on debuting this year is YG Entertainment’s BABYMONSTER. BABYMONSTER, a seven-member girl group, is considered the spiritual successor to the world-famous BLACKPINK.

(Image: YG Entertainment)

The Wind did blow into K-pop like a sudden cool breeze, as news of this boy band only popped up this year in February! The Wind has already released a pre-debut album in the short time since their announcement, titled 'Beginning: The Wind Page.'

(Image: Around US Entertainment)

Due to debut at the end of this month, xikers is a ten-member boy band Kpop group with an interesting hiking concept embedded in their name. Pre their music release, xikers released their own reality TV show, ‘Tricky House’, which started airing in February.

(Image: KQ Entertainment)

Clair is Rainbow E&M’s first idol group released in 2023, with nine female members. Clair made their dance and pop debut with the song ‘Dubi dubi dum dum’ on February 10.

(Image: Rainbow E&M)

Alongside its sister group, Clair, Cherish is another female K-pop group by Rainbow E&M, and it comprises six female members. Unlike Clair, the members of Cherish have previously been part of Rainbow E&M’s ‘Future Idol’ franchise. Cherish released ‘Bloom’ on January 13, just a month before its sister group.

(Image: Rainbow E&M)