As the K-pop industry enters a new phase of evolution, two rookie boy groups— CORTIS and LNGSHOT —are emerging as symbols of change. Rather than following long-established idol formulas built on perfection, uniformity, and tightly controlled systems, these newcomers are challenging tradition through creative freedom, artistic individuality, and a more organic connection with audiences.
CORTIS debuted in September 2025 with the EP Color Outside the Lines under Big Hit Music, home to global acts like BTS and TXT. Four months later, LNGSHOT officially entered the scene with their EP Shot Callers, becoming the first boy group launched by More Vision, the agency founded by rapper Jay Park. Despite their close debut timelines, both groups share a defining trait: a deliberate break from conventional K-pop norms.
CORTIS: Freedom and authenticity as a guiding principle
The name CORTIS is derived from the phrase “color outside the lines,” a concept that doubles as the group’s artistic manifesto. From the outset, CORTIS has positioned itself as a “young creator crew,” with members actively involved in music production, choreography, and visual direction—an approach still relatively rare among newly debuted idol groups.
With just one debut album, CORTIS has already made a notable impact. Color Outside the Lines reached No. 6 on the Billboard World Albums Chart as of January 31, 2026, and earned the group multiple “Rookie of the Year” awards at the 2025 Mnet Asian Music Awards and the 2026 Golden Disc Awards. The response suggests that audiences are increasingly receptive to idols who present a strong sense of authorship and originality.
LNGSHOT: Music as a declaration of identity
Sharing a similar spirit of independence, LNGSHOT has chosen to define itself through musical identity rather than trend-driven concepts. Their debut mini-album Shot Callers blends hip-hop, R&B, and pop, reflecting the members’ diverse influences. At their debut showcase on January 13, 2026, the group revealed that they directly participated in producing five out of the six tracks, handling songwriting, composition, and arrangement.
Jay Park explained the group’s direction by stating, “LNGSHOT is built on authenticity, not familiar commercial formulas.” This philosophy places artistic sincerity at the core of the group’s image, aligning with a growing audience desire for transparency and individuality.
Beyond music, both CORTIS and LNGSHOT stand out in how they present themselves to fans. Instead of highly scripted and polished content, their YouTube channels emphasize candid, everyday moments. This more natural approach has helped cultivate loyal fan communities, particularly among younger listeners who value relatability.
The term “Cortis-core” has even emerged within fandom spaces to describe CORTIS’s distinctive style, while LNGSHOT surpassed 4.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify just weeks after debut—an impressive feat for a rookie group.
A signal of a new K-pop era
Music critic Lim Hee-yun notes that the rise of groups like CORTIS and LNGSHOT reflects a clear shift in K-pop audience preferences: “Younger listeners value creativity, authenticity, and individuality. If this trend continues, we’ll see more idol groups breaking away from traditional molds.”
With their willingness to be different, CORTIS and LNGSHOT may represent the beginning of a new K-pop era—one where personal expression stands on equal footing with technical perfection, and where being genuine becomes the industry’s most powerful asset.
Sources: Netizenbuzz