By Kailey Garcia
The latest group to emerge from BigHit’s powerhouse lineup, boy group CORTIS, has been gaining a lot of attention. It has been six years since BigHit, HYBE’s flagship subsidiary, debuted a boy group, and both K-pop fans and casual listeners have welcomed CORTIS with open arms. Even BTS’s Jungkook joined in on the excitement, posting a TikTok dancing to their track “FaSHioN,” a moment that highlighted the group’s growing influence and support. But their popularity stems from more than just hype, they are proving themselves to be a remarkably talented group. CORTIS’s message and fearless approach to music have brought a breath of fresh air to the K-pop scene.
The group consists of five members: James (20), Martin (17), Juhoon (17), Seonghyeon (16), and Keonho (16). CORTIS quickly gained traction when their track “GO” went viral on TikTok, ahead of the release of their much-anticipated debut mini album, COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, which was released on September 8, 2025. Their artistic album explores themes of self-expression by breaking creative constraints and expanding beyond the genre of K-pop. The tracklist reflects this commitment, as tracks like “FaSHioN” lean into hip-hop influences with experimental production, while others, like “JoyRide,” highlight the group’s mellow, minimalist approach, capturing moments of youthful reflection.
Surprisingly for a group so young, all members of CORTIS have experience contributing to their craft in several categories. Martin and James have already contributed to several major releases through their parent company, HYBE, over the years. These projects earned them credits in songwriting, composition, and production. Furthermore, through their member James, the group has credits in choreography. Their most notable works include shaping the choreography and production of ILLIT’s “Magnetic,” “Cherish My Love,” and “Tic Tack,” as well as co-writing and producing TXT’s “Deja Vu” and “Miracle.” Most impressive of all, all five members have writing credits across every track on their debut mini album.
It’s clear that the members of CORTIS have had good creative instincts from an early age. Beyond contributing to their first releases as a team, the group also took full creative control during the making of the “What You Want” self-directed music video project. They directed, filmed, and edited the video themselves, taking their cameras from the music label’s office to the streets of Seoul to bring their vision to life. Their company later released an official video for “What You Want,” but the group continued to explore their creative direction with their recent “Lullaby” music video. Their second video project further demonstrates their chaotic and contagious energy. It is this very quality, their fearless embrace of youth, that has drawn so many fans to CORTIS, as evidenced by the outpouring of praise from viewers on their videos.
Since their debut, the group has connected with fans through multiple channels. They already held their first live showcase in Seoul, which was also streamed globally through the fandom platform, Weverse. During the showcase, the members shared behind-the-scenes clips from the making of their debut project and expressed their hopes for fans to stay tuned for what’s next. Not only that, but beyond live performances, CORTIS has also continued to connect with fans through unfiltered content on Weverse and YouTube, where their candid approach reinforces their message of being raw, authentic, and vulnerable artists – a refreshing contrast to the carefully curated images often seen in K-pop. Despite their young age, CORTIS has already earned the nickname of the “young creator crew” in the industry, a title that honors their continuous hands-on approach to music, performance, and creative direction. The members have shown a genuine willingness to open up to their fans about their goals and struggles, which has endeared them to many. With only a few releases under their belt, CORTIS is quickly proving that their artistry extends far beyond a viral moment. As CORTIS promotes both in the West and Korea, fans around the world have a lot to look forward to.