JYP’s Exdinary Heroes and Nexgi have drawn attention as rising rookies. Exdinary Heroes, a boy band that debuted in December 2021, perform guitars and drums themselves, much like their labelmate Day6. Nexgi, produced by JYP Japan, had been touted as the next Nizi before their December 2023 debut, and their October 27 comeback boosted fans’ search interest.

With ENMIX’s strong performance on a regular album, JYP appears to be building momentum in both male and female rookie lines. AnneTeam, HYBE Japan’s locally developed boy group, debuted in December 2022 and has been forming a Korean fanbase quickly, with search volumes rising.

SM, in 2023, debuted Rise, SM’s next-generation male group. Their debut track Get a Guitar has drawn reactions not only domestically but also in Japan and Southeast Asia, establishing Rise as SM’s next-generation male group.

Behind this trend is a broader generation-shift: top K-pop male idols are entering military service or taking breaks, and a new generation is rising to fill the gap. The market for male groups remains fan-dominated, so when one act pauses, fans naturally move to another group or a new act emerges.

Among the major labels, AnneTeam (HYBE), Exdinary Heroes and Nexgi (JYP), Rise (SM), and Treasure (YG) are monitored for search interest. AnneTeam currently shows the highest search volumes, while Rise is gearing up for a comeback; Exdinary Heroes and Nexgi have also shown rising search interest.

EpicAI named Zero Base One, Rise, NCT Wish, Cortis, and SM’s 2026 debut groups as the most growth-potential rookie acts. Zero Base One is under CJ ENM; Rise and NCT Wish, along with future SM debuts, fall under SM; Cortis is with HYBE. AnneTeam, Nexgi, and Exdinary Heroes were not included in that list. The article ends with a forward-looking note on which group might become the next BTS.

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