SEAYMYNAME Claims First Music Show No. 1 451 Days After Debut, WITH H1-KEY and IDENTITY Also Performing Strong

SEAYMYNAME earned the honor of winning first place on a music show 451 days after their debut, demonstrating the growth potential of new K-pop groups. On January 9, they reached the top spot on KBS 2TV’s “Music Bank” with their new song “UFO (ATTENTION!)”, capturing a moment filled with tears and joy.

The members said, “This is our first time achieving No. 1 since debut—it’s a moment when our dreams come true.” They added, “All of this was possible thanks to our fanbase Romi, and we are grateful to producer Kim Jae-jung, CEO Noh Hyun-tae, and everyone at INCODE Entertainment.”

SEAYMYNAME’s achievements are even more notable. Their third mini-album “& Our Vibe”, released on December 29, sold 160,000 copies in its first week—more than double the sales volume of their previous album. The title track “UFO (ATTENTION!)” of this five-song release shifts from their previous style to an early 2000s American pop and punk rock aesthetic. By leveraging their multinational lineup, they deliver dazzling performances and gradually establish their unique group identity.

SEAYMYNAME is produced by Kim Jae-jung, with Hitomi (formerly of AKB48 and IZ*ONE) serving as the Leader. Composed of members from South Korea, China, Japan, and Thailand, the group has steadily built a loyal fanbase without relying on heavy promotion from large entertainment companies.

Another new group from a smaller agency has also stood out. H1-KEY, celebrating its fourth anniversary, released the digital single “The World Is Not Like a Movie” on January 5. Produced by SIU, the same producer behind their previous track “It Was Summer”, this new song features a retro melody and conveys a message of warm comfort. Their song “It Was Summer” was included in lists of this year’s top 25 K-pop songs by British outlet NME and American publication Hollywood Reporter last year, earning recognition from international critics.

IDENTITY yesweare took first place on the WEEKLY fanbase chart of “K-Pop Radar” for the second week of January (January 1–7). The music video for their new album’s title track “Pretty Boy Swagger” has accumulated 14.83 million views, and they gained 80,000 Instagram followers and 4,700 Twitter followers during the same period, showing rapid expansion of their fanbase.

These developments are seen as potential alternatives to the K-pop crisis theory recently highlighted by foreign media outlets such as The Guardian in the UK and The New York Times in the US. While there are concerns that large agencies’ shift toward overseas tours and fan-focused production may undermine K-pop’s distinct identity, groups from smaller agencies are offering new possibilities through the revival of third-generation girl group sensibilities and heartfelt melodies.