As the K-pop industry enters a new phase of evolution, two rookie boy groups… SHORTS AND LNGSHOT – are emerging as symbols of change. Rather than following long-established idolized formulas based on perfection, uniformity, and tightly controlled systems, these newcomers are challenging tradition through creative freedom, artistic individuality, and a more organic connection with audiences.
SHORTS debuted in September 2025 with the EP Color outside the lines under Big Hit Music, home to global artists like BTS and TXT. Four months later, LNGSHOT officially entered the scene with their EP Shot callersbecoming the first male group launched by More Vision, the agency founded by rapper Jay Park. Despite their close debut times, both groups share a distinctive trait: a deliberate break from conventional K-pop norms.
SHORTS: Freedom and authenticity as a guiding principle
The name SHORTS comes from the phrase “color outside the lines,” a concept that also serves as the group’s artistic manifesto. From the beginning, SHORTS positioned itself as a “young troupe of creators”, with members actively involved in music production, choreography and visual direction, an approach still relatively rare among newly debuted idol groups.
With only one debut album, SHORTS has already had a significant impact. Color outside the lines peaked at number six on the Billboard World Albums Chart on January 31, 2026, and won multiple group “Rookie of the Year” awards as of 2025 Mnet Asian Music Awards and 2026 Gold Record 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 the production of five of the six tracks, handling the writing, composition and arrangement.
Jay Park explained the group’s direction by stating: “LNGSHOT is about authenticity, not familiar business formulas.” This philosophy places artistic sincerity at the center of the group’s image, in line with the public’s growing desire for transparency and individuality.
Beyond music, both SHORTS 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 communities of loyal fans, particularly among younger listeners who value relatability.
The term “Cortis-core” has even emerged in fandom spaces to describe SHORTSit is the distinctive style, while LNGSHOT they surpassed 4.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify just weeks after debuting – an impressive feat for a rookie group.
A sign of a new K-pop era
Music critic Lim Hee-yun notes that the rise of similar groups SHORTS AND LNGSHOT reflects a clear shift in K-pop audience preferences: “Younger listeners value creativity, authenticity and individuality. If this trend continues, we will see more idol groups break away from traditional molds.”
With their desire to be different, SHORTS AND LNGSHOT it could represent the beginning of a new K-pop era, where personal expression is on the same level as technical perfection and where authenticity becomes the most powerful asset in the industry.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
