8 Iconic K-pop Subunits You Should Check Out

A new K-pop inside joke is born! Entertainment news anchor Dianne Medina left K-Pop fans dumbfounded after mispronouncing “subunit” on a local morning newscast. The viral Twitter clip contains her report on the upcoming debut of TWICE’s first official subunit with Momo, Sana, and Mina this coming July 2023.

But, what exactly is a K-Pop subunit?

A subunit (proununced səbˌyo͞onət) refers to a smaller unit of selected idols from existing groups to form a new smaller group. These projects serve as a chance for them to explore other genres that might be different from their group’s initial branding.

Now, as we all wait for the debut of our beloved Japanese trio, here are 8 K-pop subunits you can listen to:

BSS (SEVENTEEN)

BSS, or BooSeokSoon, is Seventeen’s special subunit composed of members Seungkwan, DK, and Hoshi. Aside from fun performances and strong vocals, their charming personalities will also get you hooked. Their latest single, ‘Fighting’ featuring rapper Lee Youngji, is a much needed boost on a dreadful Monday!

NCT Dream

Stanning groups with 23 members like NCT might be a little overwhelming for new fans. That’s why SM Entertainment introduced a unit system to cater for every fan’s interest. If you are into youthful music with hard-hitting rap verses, then NCT Dream might be the best pick for you. Hurry! It’s not too late to start immersing yourself with their music because Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Haechan, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung are coming back to Manila for a concert on April 29 to 30.

Day6 (Even of Day)

In August 2020, JYP Entertainment announced the debut of Even of Day (EoD) with members Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon. Dubbed as “South Korea’s representative rock band”, Day6 never fails to bring out something new to the table. The unique combination of drums, keyboard, and bass allowed them to produce a new and distinct Day6 sound which stands out from the rest. Their 2021 hit single “Right Through Me” might just become the newest addition to your heartbreak anthems playlist.

WJSN CHOCOME & THE BLACK

WJSN, also known as Cosmic Girls, are game changers when it comes to crafting the perfect subunits in the industry. Starship Entertainment was smart enough to group each member according to their strengths. WJSN CHOCOME, composed of Yeoreum, Soobin, Luda and Dayoung, brought back the iconic bubblegum sound infused with retro synth-pop through their song, “Hmph!” (Let me remind you this song sticks in your mind for days! Watch out!)

Meanwhile, WJSN THE BLACK presented a darker, mature, and charismatic performance with their debut track, “Easy”. This lineup consists of SeolA, Bona, Exy, and Eunseo.

MOONBIN&SANHA

ASTRO’s main dancer Moonbin and maknae Sanha are on their way to become the most powerful duo in the K-Pop scene. Their recent comeback single “Madness” will make you go crazy about these two! Catch their alluring performances at the upcoming Fan Con Tour: Diffusion in Manila on March 25.

Apink CHOBOM

Apink is unstoppable. Even on their 12th year in the industry, the girls still served a fresh look with CHOBOM’s debut! Their playful and quirky debut song, “Copycat”, talks about how lovers start to resemble each other as they fall in love.

Fun fact: Apink had a lot of subunits back then, but this is the first time they had an official album release and promotions!

GOT the beat

Finally, how can we forget one of the most remarkable debuts of 2022? BoA, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet’s Seulgi and Wendy, aespa’s Karina and Winter teamed up to form K-Pop’s all-female avengers team. Their latest single “Stamp On It” topped 18 countries on iTunes Album Chart – proving their power to dominate the industry.

Did we miss any of your faves? Let us know in the comments!

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