Seoul, KR · K-pop

i-dle

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Self-producing K-pop hitmakers (formerly (G)I-DLE) — swaggering concept queens who write their own statements and back them with hooks.

i-dle debuted in 2018 under Cube Entertainment as (G)I-dle, shortening the name to i-dle in 2025. Originally a sextet, the group became a quintet after member Soojin's departure in 2021, leaving a line-up drawn from South Korea, Thailand, China and Taiwan. Leader Soyeon writes and produces much of the group's material, unusual for a K-pop act.

Their singles have moved through a wide range of concepts, from the moombahton-leaning "Latata" to "Tomboy", "Nxde" and "Queencard", generally pairing blunt, self-assertive lyrics with sharp pop hooks.

"Tomboy", from the 2022 album I Never Die, gave the group its first number one on the Circle Digital Chart, and follow-up single "Nxde" also topped the chart, making them the only act to score two perfect all-kills that year. "Nxde" also made them the first act from an independent label to reach the US Billboard Pop Airplay chart with a non-English song.

"Queencard", from the 2023 EP I Feel, gave the group a third consecutive number-one single in South Korea and became their first release to sell a million copies domestically, reaching two million worldwide that year. In 2024 the album 2 and EP I Sway each passed a million sales in Korea, producing the top-ten singles "Super Lady" and "Klaxon" and the number-one "Fate", ahead of the group's 2025 rebrand and the million-selling EP We Are.

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K-pop