K-Pop Idols Team Up with Literature...EXO, KIKI, and IVE Include Novels and Essays in Albums

Collaborations between K-pop idol groups and Korean literary writers are gaining momentum. Leading groups such as EXO, KIKI, and IVE are incorporating novels and essays into their albums to explore the fusion of music and narrative.

EXO included short story “EX-VISION” by author Lee Hee-ju in its eighth album “REVERXE” on January 19. The opening line of the story, “Let’s love,” is a slogan created by Suho when EXO debuted in 2012, and it features elements symbolizing EXO’s universe such as “Tree of Life,” “Total Lunar Eclipse,” and “Red Aura.” Lee Hee-ju is a veteran writer with 10 years of experience, having published novels like “Fantasy Tunnel” (2016) and “Young Men” (2021), as well as an anthology titled “Crimi(L)ove” (2025). This is the first time SM has included an author’s novel as part of an album.

The head of SM’s SMCU development unit explained the rationale for the collaboration, saying, “It’s important to add narrative depth to an artist’s existing universe and settings, then consistently expand that narrative through the album concept and various content. We thought it would be great to summarize EXO’s accumulated narrative in the form of a short story.”

KIKI has been collaborating with author Lee Eul-ah since its debut album in March of last year. Lee Eul-ah began publishing email-based essays under the name “Daily Lee Eul-ah” in 2018 and is the author of novels such as “The Era of Patriarchs” (2022). She contributed as a lyricist to KIKI’s debut album “Uncut Gem” and digital single “DANCING ALONE,” and on January 26, during KIKI’s comeback with its second EP “Delulu Pack,” she released short story “Running in a Dress” on the group’s website.

Starship Entertainment is also expanding such collaborations. In 2022, novelist Jeong Se-ryang provided narration for the promotion video of IVE’s third single album “After Like,” while LE SSERAFIM included a prologue by author Kim Cho-yop in its mini-album “ANTIFRAGILE” released in 2022.

Author Lee Hee-ju stated, “SM suggested, ‘Since EXO is making a comeback after a long hiatus, it would be great if you wrote a novel based on their universe.’” Partners in this industry believe such collaborations endow idols with distinct character traits and enhance fan engagement.