Stray Kids is a 4th generation South Korean boy band. It was formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017 reality survival show titled Stray Kids. The group initially consisted of 9 members. In 2019, Woojin left the group making it 8 membered.
The group has gained a significant international following and is popular not only in South Korea but also in various parts of the world. Some of their notable songs include “My Pace,” “God’s Menu,” “Back Door,” “MIROH,” and “Side Effects”. Stray Kids’ diverse talents, ranging from singing, rapping, and dancing, have allowed each member to shine in their respective roles within the group. The synergy between these members creates a captivating and powerful presence on stage.
The group is composed of eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. Originally a nine-piece group, member Woojin left due to undisclosed personal reasons in October 2019.
1. Bang Chan
Bang Chan was born on 3 October 1997 in Seoul, South Korea. He is the eldest of the group. He is the vocalist, rapper, dancer, producer and the leader of Stray Kids. His full name is Bang Christopher Chan. He was a trainee at JYP for 7 years. He is a part of the sub-unit called 3RACHA.
2. Lee Know
Lee Know was born on October 25, 1998 in Gimpo, South Korea. His full name is Lee Minho. He is the main dancer, vocalist and sub-rapper for Stray Kids. Before debuting he was a backup dancer for BTS.
3. Changbin
Changbin was born on August 11,1999 in Yongin, South Korea. His full name is Seo Changbin. Changbin is the main rapper and producer of the group. He is a part of the unit called 3RACHA. He was a trainee at JYP for 2 years.
4. Hyunjin
Hyunjin was born on March 20, 2000 in Seoul, South Korea. He is a main dancer, rapper and visual of Stray Kids. His full name is Hwang Hyunjin. He was a trainee at JYP for 2 years.
5. Han
Han was born on September 14, 2000 in Incheon, South Korea. He is a lead rapper, producer and vocalist for Stray Kids. His full name is Han Jisung. He was a trainee at JYP for 3 years. He is a part of the unit called 3RACHA along with Bang Chan and Changbin.
6. Felix
Felix was born on is lead rapper for Stray Kids. His full name is Lee Yongbok or Lee Felix. He was a trainee at JYP for 1 year. He is known for his extremely deep voice and is the most popular member.
7. Seungmin
Seungmin was born on September 22, 2000 in Seoul, South Korea. He is the main vocalist of the group Stray Kids. His full name is Kim Seungmin. He was a trainee at JYP for 1 year.
8. I.N.
I.N. was born on February 8, 2001 in Busan, South Korea. He is the maknae of Stray Kids. His full name is Yang Jeongin. He is the vocalist of the group. I.N. was a trainee at JYP for 2 years.the group
SUB-GROUP
3 RACHA: Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han are the members of 3 Racha. The trio take part in the in-house song-writing and production . All three compose lyrics and music for the group and are credited as the first three songwriters on most releases.
DEBUT
The group debuted originally as a nine membered group on March 25, 2018. The group was introduced through a reality survival show of the same name, “Stray Kids,” which aired in 2017. This show gave the members an opportunity to showcase their talents and determination as they competed to secure a spot in the final lineup.
CAREER
First EP
Stray Kids released their pre-debut extended play “Mixtape” in January 2018. However, they officially debuted on 25 March,2018 with the EP “I Am Not”. It was followed by other two I Am series EPs: “I Am Who” and “I Am You”. The three mini albums, the I Am series, were all released in less than a year and are all part of the same narrative cycle revolving around the theme of identity and self-discovery.
These three EPs make up Stray Kids’ first trilogy, dubbed the I am… series. They were met with widespread success in 2018, with each EP outselling the last. Stray Kids picked up eight rookie awards in the 2018 award season.
Second Trilogy
The first instalment of their second trilogy Clé was released on March 25, 2019 which was their first anniversary. Its’ title track “MIROH” amazed a lot of public attention. It earned the group their first music show win on MCountdown’s April 4 broadcast.
The second installment’s title track, the “Side Effects” also gathered a lot of public attention. In October 2019, former member Woojin left the group, due to personal reasons. The final instalment of the series, Clé : LEVANTER found Stray Kids starting to redefine their image as they dealt with the struggles of adapting to their new group line up.
First Studio Album
Stray Kids first studio album “Go Live” was released in 2020. The title track “God’s Menu” was released in June 2020. The song gathered them a lot of success as the album topped the Gaon Chart. A massive 200,000 sales in the first week and title track “Back Door” garnering two music show wins was recorded.
The album became their first platinum-certified album by Korea Music Content Association. Stray Kids also made their Japanese debut in 2020 with the compilation album SKZ2020 through Epic Records Japan.
STRAY KIDS AT KINGDOM:
It was announced at the 2020 Mnet Asian Music Awards, that Stray Kids would be participating in the Mnet survival show Kingdom: Legendary War. On May 28, 2021, the group released a song for the final round of the competition titled “WOLFGANG “. This marked the group’s first appearance on the main Gaon Digital Chart at number 138. They won the program on June 3, earning them their own reality show and a Kingdom Week special show for their comeback.
Digital Single "OH"
Stray Kids released the digital single, “OH” after the survival show, Kingdom. The song topped the Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales. It became Stray Kids first number one song on the chart.
Second Studio Album
Stray Kids’ second studio album NOEASY was released in 2021. It became their first million-selling album as well as JYP Entertainment’s first million selling album. The title track, “Thunderous” was composed by the sub-group, 3RACHA. “Thunderous” earned them over six Korean music show wins.
Sixth Mini-Album
Stray Kids released their sixth mini album, ODDINARY in 2022. It was supported by the title track “MANIAC”. The EP became an instant success on the domestic and international charts after its initial release. It also reached the top spot on the Billboard 200 chart. The latter made them the third Korean act in history to top the chart, after BTS and SuperM.
Fourth Mixtape
The group’s fourth Mixtape Project single, “Time Out” was dropped on August 1 as a heartfelt gift to their fans, STAYs.
Seventh Mini-Album
Stray Kids’ seventh mini album, MAXIDENT was released on 7 October, 2022. The title track of the album “CASE 143” and three sub-unit songs, all premiered during their Unveil 11 concert. The album conveys the themes of love, relationships with others and oneself and true feelings.
It also sold over 2 million copies on Hanteo in less than a week . The album topped the Billboard chart, making Stray Kids the only artist to debut two albums at number one on the list in 2022.
Third Studio Album
Their third studio album was “5-Star” released in 2023. The album marked their first three appearances to top the US Billboard 200. It also entered the UK Albums Chart. Stray Kids broke the record for the most pre-ordered album in K-pop history, recording a total of 4.93 million sales for this album.
MUSICAL STYLE
Stray Kids is known for their diverse and innovative music. They often participate in the writing, composition, and production of their songs, which has garnered them respect in the industry.
Their lyrics often revolve around themes of self-identity, youth, and empowerment. Their song “My Pace” is an anthem for embracing individuality. “Side Effects” delves into the struggles of youth and self-doubt, emphasizing the importance of self-acceptance. These messages resonate with a global audience, especially among young people navigating their own paths.
FANDOM
Stray Kids’ music and performances have resonated not only in South Korea but across the world. Their international fanbase, known as “STAY“, is fervent and diverse, and they have managed to create a powerful connection with their listeners. Stray Kids has embarked on world tours and participated in various global events, further solidifying their status as a global K-Pop sensation.
WORLD TOURS
First World Tour
Stray Kids’ first world tour, titled World Tour “District 9: Unlock” was held from November 23 to 24 at Olympic Hall, Songpa-gu, Seoul. The United States leg was announced on December 4, and Asia and Europe legs on January 14, comprising 24 shows, but the two later were cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Second World Tour
Maniac World Tour was the second concert tour by Stray Kids. The tour was in support of their 2022 EPs: Oddinary, Circus and Maxident and 2023 album The Sound. Stray Kids played 42 shows across Asia, North America, and Australia. The tour began at Jamsil Arena in Seoul on April 29, 2022, and concluded at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on April 2, 2023.
Third World Tour
Stray Kids are currently on their third World tour, 5-star Dome Tour. The tour was started on August 16 at PayPay Dome, Fukuoka, Japan, and set to conclude on October 29 at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo.
AWARDS
Stray Kids have won numerous awards. Currently, Stray Kids have won a total of 36 awards. Below is the list of major awards won by Stray Kids:
ASIA ARTIST AWARDS
2018: Popularity Award
2019: Groove Award
2020: Best Music Video Award
2021: Performance of the Year (Daesang)
2022: Album of the Year (Daesang)
THE FACT MUSIC AWARDS
2021: Artist of the Year (Bonsang)
2022: Artist of the Year (Bonsang)
GOLDEN DISC AWARDS
2022: Best Album (Bonsang)
2023: Best Album (Bonsang)
MTV Europe Music Awards
2020: Best Korean Act
MTV Video Music Awards
2023: Best K-pop “S-Class”
2023: Best Group Video – International “Case 143”
Nickelodeon Mexico Kids’ Choice Awards
2023: Favourite K-Pop Group
Soompi Awards
2019: Rookie of the Year
SEOUL MUSIC AWARDS
2019: Rookie of the Year
2021: Main Award
2023: Main Award
Soribada Best K-Music Awards
2018: New Hallyu Rookie Award
2019: Rising Hot Star Award
Genie Music Awards
2018: Male Rookie Award
MAMA Awards
2018: Best New Male Artist
2021: Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10
2022: Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10
2022: Yogibo Chill Artist
2022: Most Popular Group
ENDORSEMENTS
On September 19, Stray Kids began endorsing Lotte Duty Free. On October 16, Stray Kids became new models for the Korean sportswear brand Pro-Specs.
Stray Kids became Shopee Indonesia’s brand ambassador for the 11.11 Big Sale and 12.12 Birthday Sale. They were chosen to become new models for Clio Cosmetics.
In June 2021, Stray Kids was chosen to become an endorser of the Japanese clothing brand Wego. They were also the ambassadors for the Korea Pavilion of Expo 2020 Dubai.
In 2023, SLBS, a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone accessories brand, selected Stray Kids to be the brand’s exclusive models.
Stray Kids were selected to be Asian ambassador of Tommy Hilfiger for 2023 Fall campaign. Hyunjin was chosen as global ambassador for Versace and Felix for Louis Vuitton as house ambassador.
