KiiiKiii takes torch from IVE as Starship's newest act

By Pyo Kyung-min

Following in the footsteps of K-pop icon IVE, Starship Entertainment's new girl group, KiiiKiii, has stepped into the spotlight to help shape the future of K-pop — especially at a time when the industry is in dire need of new leaders of the generation.

Even before its debut, KiiiKiii — featuring Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum and Kya — drew attention as Starship's next big girl group, currently home to IVE, one of the most defining acts in K-pop today.

When news of the group's launch, final lineup and concept photos finally broke, critics and fans were both eager to hail the girl group's rare "country girl" aesthetic, calling it a refreshing twist" in the scene.

The group's prerelease title track, "I DO ME," also took the industry by storm. Upon its Feb. 24 release, the song topped YouTube's trending videos in Korea for two consecutive days while securing spots on major domestic music charts, making KiiiKiii one of the most remarkable rookies among recent K-pop acts.

"We never expected this kind of response," the KiiiKiii members said, reflecting on their whirlwind pre-debut promotions during a media event at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Yongsan District, Seoul, a few hours before the group's official debut on Monday.

"When we first appeared on music shows, fans started calling us 'the organic girls.' We thought it was such a cute and fun nickname, so it gave us a lot of strength," Kya said.

Despite not having officially debuted at the time, the members said they learned a lot about being idols through "I DO ME."

"The more we performed, the more we realized that obsessing over minor details on stage isn't always a good thing. If we focus only on executing what we practiced, it can feel disconnected from the audience. We learned that truly enjoying the stage and engaging with our fans in a natural way is just as important," Leesol said, impressing the attendees with her insight.

For those unfamiliar with the name KiiiKiii, the members described themselves as a group that is "even more charming because they are unpolished." Sui added that the group’s name reflects their identity.

"Just like how our name sounds like laughter, KiiiKiii represents the unfiltered and unique energy of Gen Z. Rather than conforming to a specific mold, we want to express our most natural selves through music," she said.

Jiyu added, "Each of us has a distinct personality, but when we come together as a group, we shine even more. We want to spread joy with our natural yet unique appeal."

The group's debut album, "UNCUT GEM," released Monday, embodies this very identity of the group — an unrefined yet dazzling gem.

The six-track record includes "DEBUT SONG," a celebratory pre-debut track; "GROUNDWORK," featuring deep 808 bass and vintage synths; "THERE THEY GO," blending instrumentals with vocal chop sampling; "BTG," a genre-bending mix of hip-hop and EDM; and "ONE OFF," a nostalgic, retro-inspired track.

The group members said that they aim to build on the success of "I DO ME" with "BTG," short for "Been That Girl," which showcases a bolder, trendier side of KiiiKiii.

"We're so grateful for the love 'I DO ME' received," Haum said. "With 'BTG,' we want to show a different, cooler side of ourselves."

"This song really highlights our rap and performance skills, and I hope people find it fresh," Sui added.

KiiiKiii's debut comes with strong support from IVE, according to KiiiKiii members.

"We filmed a challenge video with the members of IVE, and they gave us so much encouragement. It meant the world to us," the members said.

Jiyu shared a more personal connection.

"I trained with the same vocal coach as IVE's Liz, so we saw each other often. She always cheered me on, and when I debuted, she congratulated me. It was really heartwarming," she said.

KiiiKiii's debut also drew comparisons to another newly launched girl group, Hearts2Hearts from SM Entertainment. With both groups debuting around the same time, their parallel rise has already sparked buzz over which will emerge as the bigger winner.

However, KiiiKiii's members maintained that they are more focused on camaraderie than competition.

"Rather than thinking of it as a rivalry, we feel honored to promote alongside them," Leesol said. "We hope to inspire and uplift each other as industry colleagues."