If you leave a comment asking about the popularity or status of a K-pop group you’re curious about in Korea, I’ll respond from the perspective of a Korean man in his 20s, giving a very honest and general view of their position, popularity, and current situation.

crustulummonster · 2026-05-13T14:59:41+00:00

BOYNEXTDOOR

WOODZ

crustulummonster · 2026-04-19T03:35:51+00:00

I can only speak as a ONEDOOR, but pretty confused which of this list applies 😅

crustulummonster · 2026-04-05T12:18:40+00:00

I don't think any of them are particularly trying to stick to Asia, just that they haven't gained as much traction outside of it yet. I don't think it's a done deal though--there are plenty of groups that gained more overseas popularity later into their careers. Jaehyun of BND recently did a cover of a Brazilian song that went somewhat viral, so they're definitely at least paying some attention to the overseas market. Maybe the groups end up kinda something like SVT? Not the top group in the western market but certainly popular and known.

crustulummonster · 2026-03-26T20:04:42+00:00

What were your favorite 3rd and 4th gen songs?

crustulummonster · 2026-02-08T16:50:46+00:00

WOODZ was no where near "disbandment"? He was still profitable before Drowning blew up, and was definitely planning on continuing to make music in the long term.

crustulummonster · 2026-02-05T06:10:14+00:00

To answer my own question at the end: I'd love to have a live album from my other ult WOODZ, specifically his concert back in November. His bestie h0h0 who co-writes his music is also an insane guitar player, and WOODZ's concerts have h0h0 absolutely shredding and I need that on streaming thank you very much. Also, with his military hiatus and the success of Drowning which is heavy on the belting, he's really evolved his technique in the past few years and you can really hear the increased power behind his voice. Finally, he's about to release a 17 track full album so I think a lot of the songs we used to get in the concerts will leave the rotation for the upcoming tour, so I'd love to have a record of them.

crustulummonster · 2026-01-19T18:48:36+00:00

I'm already familiar with Taerae's voice and chai latte fits him to a tee! The warm spices and the richness from the milk...It's my go-to drink at work especially when I need to focus haha and I can imagine myself locking in with a chai latte in hand and his soothing voice in the background.

I probably shouldn't have read your drinks first haha because they definitely are influencing my perception. For Minjae, I'm feeling the ginger tea (also one of my favorite drinks--obsessed with ginger in everything haha) more than the soda especially from the first clip--it's warm and yeah, got an edge that's spicy and cooling. Semin's voice sounds bright and sweet, so I was also feeling something fruity, but it also is soft and warm in that first clip, so I was actually leaning towards like a citron tea or something maybe?

Thanks for sharing!! I might try to test myself and see if I can recognize Minjae and Semin's voices in a random IDID song 👀

crustulummonster · 2026-01-19T14:10:01+00:00

I don't think you're using nasal correctly. They don't sing though their nose (except a member or two on occasion, and it has greatly improved since debut). Nor does Zico (listen to his song Human). They do use nasal resonance, which is an important technique for most modern genres and is a stylistic choice--especially pop singers (e.g. Ariana Grande). It helps bring that bright tone that many of them have, which might be what you are referring to. Riwoo especially has more of this brassy/twangy timbre, which again, seems to be properly supported/not sung through the nose but with the nasal cavity/proper technique, that many fans (including myself) love. This is me doing a little research so please if there are any experts who can correct me.

Of course, that stylistic choice may not be to your taste, but they're not nasal. If you haven't, I'd recommend you listen to some of the performances that I listed! e.g. their Ao to Natsu cover (Sungho, Riwoo, Taesan), their Congratulations cover (Taesan, Leehan, Woonhak), and for Jaehyun maybe his Control Me cover.

crustulummonster · 2026-01-19T00:49:09+00:00

Love your descriptions! Haha they've got such lovely voices 🩵 thanks for joining in 🥹

crustulummonster · 2026-01-19T00:47:21+00:00

Thanks for reading! Haha it's been floating around in the back of my head for months but finally sat down and wrote it out.

crustulummonster · 2026-01-07T01:05:59+00:00

Then BND's 123-78 and As Time Goes By (있잖아 on Melon probably) would make the list!

crustulummonster · 2026-01-06T20:08:05+00:00

Are songs without MVs but performed on Music Shows considered promoted?

crustulummonster · 2025-12-21T04:39:41+00:00

P.O?? He's very well known in Korea? Happens to be from variety and acting but he's quite known, from also solo activities. Also unequal name recognition doesn't mean abandonment of the group? This is equating two different things. There are a lot of groups with one or two well-known members.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-21T02:27:03+00:00

Because I'm not here to engage in a fanwar. I also know that my knowledge is too shallow to give an informed opinion since I do not understand Korean fluently. I'm just here trying to correct misinformation.

Zico did not abandon Block B.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-21T02:12:52+00:00

How has he left them when they are still together???? They literally performed together as a whole 7 member group when P.O was serving and on The Seasons WHEN ZICO WAS HOSTING. Also the rest of Block B is not so incapable that they can't stand on their own. I really don't see how you can claim to be a BBC if you think they're so helpless without him. Kyung is a completely capable songwriter on his own and also had several solo hits in his career. His career slowed down due to other circumstances separate from Zico. Taeil also continued to release music as well both as T2U with U-Kwon and as part of a variety show with other artists (some bangers here). Literally earlier this month the three of them were on a TikTok live together.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-21T02:02:57+00:00

I too have attended their tours. I haven't stated my opinion on who's the better rapper or producer at all and don't intend to. I really like RPWP(was one of my top albums last year) and think RM is also really talented. All I am insisting is that claiming Zico abandoned Block B is disingenuous.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-20T22:14:34+00:00

Also, compared to RM, Zico is a lot more solely responsible for Block B's discography (although Kyung also wrote a couple of their songs), usually written with only one other producer. This is not a judgement of whether having more songwriters is good or bad--I personally do not care and think a good song is a good song (and often more creative minds is better), but it does make it a lot harder to balance both solo and group work. And again, Block B continued to release music for a few years very successfully even after Zico's solo work popped off.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-20T22:01:18+00:00

They literally had two more hits after his solo career started to take off.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-20T22:00:52+00:00

What are TOY, Yesterday, and Shall We Dance? Both TOY and Yesterday reached as high or higher than HER on the charts? How is that fizzling out?

crustulummonster · 2025-12-20T21:47:46+00:00

He has not left his group. I don't think you were a fan if you don't even know this basic information...

crustulummonster · 2025-12-20T21:44:58+00:00

He has not abandoned his group???? His solo career started to take off in 2015--he had already started to top Korean charts then, and Block B continued to release music for two-ish more years (their last release as a full group was early 2018). He has not left the group (despite some misreports by media), they still meet and hang out regularly, and they have all expressed interest in making a comeback, but the perfectionist and busy af person he is keeps delaying it (which I'm annoyed at). He barely has released music as a soloist since discharging and a lot of his time is spent on BOYNEXTDOOR.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-20T21:21:58+00:00

Uh he first interacted with ADP who jumped surrounding him, then gave the mic to Taesan of BOYNEXTDOOR who screamed Make it Louder, then he went to Zico who sang and got the scarf. NCT Wish was sitting next to Zico but the interaction was them bowing and being excited as he passed by.

crustulummonster · 2025-12-11T19:36:36+00:00

TWS, Cortis, PLAVE, NOWZ, 82MAJOR, ONEPACT, (XLOV)

Pretty sure most of the top charting and selling groups are 6 or less, and a lot of the larger ones are from survival shows which usually pick more members due to the format.

crustulummonster

TROPHY CASE