VERIVERY's Kangmin Goes Solo: The New Era of K-Pop Individual Expression

When VERIVERY'sKangmin chose to announce his solo debut directly to fans rather than wait for an official company statement, he revealed something significant about how K-Pop is evolving. March 23rd will mark his official solo debut—a milestone that says as much about the industry's changing dynamics as it does about his individual journey.

Breaking News Through Bubble, Not Press Releases

On February 16th, STAR NEWS reported that Kangmin would release a new album next month, but the real story came through the fan community platform Bubble. There, Kangmin personally confirmed the news, bypassing traditional media channels to speak directly to his audience.

This approach reflects a broader shift in how K-Pop artists communicate. While Jellyfish Entertainment has yet to release an official statement, the artist-to-fan pipeline has become the primary source of truth. It's intimate, immediate, and increasingly common.

VERIVERY debuted in 2019 as a seven-member boy group, with Kangmin serving as main vocalist and lead dancer. Now, five years into their career, individual exploration feels like a natural evolution rather than a departure.

The Solo Strategy: Risk or Reward?

The timing is telling. K-Pop's biggest success stories—from BTS's individual ventures to BLACKPINK members' solo projects—have proven that group and individual activities can coexist and even amplify each other.

For artists, solo work offers creative freedom and personal branding opportunities. For agencies, it's revenue diversification and content multiplication. Jellyfish Entertainment has experience here, having successfully managed solo careers for VIXX members Leo and Ken.

But there's a delicate balance. Too much individual focus can fragment a group's identity, while too little can stifle artistic growth. The question isn't whether to go solo—it's when and how.

Fan Expectations in the Multi-Track Era

What's fascinating is how fan culture has adapted. Where solo activities once triggered fears of group disbandment, they now generate excitement for deeper artist exploration. Global fandoms, in particular, embrace this complexity—they want to see their favorite artists grow, experiment, and surprise them.

This shift reflects K-Pop's maturation from a genre focused on synchronized perfection to one that celebrates individual artistry within collective frameworks. Fans aren't just consuming music; they're following creative journeys.

The answer might reshape how we think about artistic authenticity in the digital age.