Stray Kids facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Stray Kids
|
|
|---|---|
.png)
Stray Kids in May 2024
From left to right: Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Bang Chan, Lee Know, Seungmin, I.N, and Felix |
|
| Background information | |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Labels |
|
| Members |
|
| Past members | |
Stray Kids (often called SKZ) is a popular South Korean boy band formed by JYP Entertainment. The group has eight talented members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. A former member, Woojin, left the group in 2019.
What makes Stray Kids special is that they create most of their own music. The main team behind their songs is called 3Racha, and it includes Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han. Other members also often help write songs. Bang Chan, the leader, personally chose each member for the group. This was before their 2017 TV show, which is a unique way for a K-pop group to form.
Stray Kids released their first music, an extended play (EP) called Mixtape, in January 2018. They officially debuted on March 25 with the EP I Am Not. Since then, they have released many successful albums. Their first studio album, Go Live (2020), was certified platinum in Korea. They also debuted in Japan with the album SKZ2020.
The group has achieved amazing success, especially in the United States. Seven of their releases, including Oddinary (2022), Maxident (2022), 5-Star (2023), Rock-Star (2023), Ate (2024), Hop (2024), and Karma (2025), all reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. This made them the first group to achieve this with their first seven charted albums. By November 2025, Stray Kids had sold over 31 million albums in total. In 2023, Time magazine recognized them as "Next Generation Leaders."
Contents
What's in a Name?
The members of Stray Kids came up with their own name and designed their logo. The name "Stray Kids" first meant a lost child chasing dreams. It later grew to mean finding a special path together, away from the usual.
Stray Kids' Journey
How Stray Kids Began: 2017-2018
In August 2017, JYP Entertainment announced a new TV show. This show would help create a new boy group. The show was called Stray Kids. Before the show started, the group released their first music video, "Hellevator."
What was special was that leader Bang Chan chose each member himself. This is different from how most K-pop groups are formed. Two members, Lee Know and Felix, were briefly eliminated during the show. But they returned to form the final nine-member group.
Stray Kids released their first EP, Mixtape, on January 8, 2018. The members helped write and compose the songs. This EP included "Hellevator" and other songs from their TV show. It quickly became popular, reaching number two on the Gaon Album Chart in Korea.
The group officially debuted on March 25, 2018, with their concert "Stray Kids Unveil (Op. 01: I Am Not)." The next day, they released the EP I Am Not and its main song "District 9." They continued to release more EPs that year, including I Am Who and I Am You. These EPs completed their "I Am" series. Stray Kids also had their first overseas performance at KCON Japan in April 2018.
New Music and Tours: 2019
In early 2019, Stray Kids started their "Unveil Tour 'I Am...'" across Asia. They also toured South Korea. To celebrate their first anniversary, they released their fourth EP, Clé 1: Miroh, on March 5. The song "Miroh" earned them their first win on a music show.
Later that year, they released a special album, Clé 2: Yellow Wood, with the song "Side Effects." They also started their first world tour. On October 9, they released the song "Double Knot."
On October 28, 2019, a member named Kim Woojin left the group. Stray Kids continued as an eight-member group. They released the music video for "Astronaut" on November 13. Their fifth EP, Clé: Levanter, came out on December 9. They also performed for 8,000 fans in Tokyo.
Japanese Debut and Global Hits: 2020
In January 2020, Stray Kids released English versions of "Double Knot" and "Levanter." They also debuted in Japan with the album SKZ2020 through Epic Records Japan. This album featured Japanese versions of their popular songs.
On June 3, Stray Kids released their first Japanese single, "Top." This song was used for the anime Tower of God. "Top" reached number one on Japan's Oricon Singles Chart. This was a big achievement for a foreign male artist.
On June 17, Stray Kids released their first full studio album, Go Live, with the hit song "God's Menu." This album became their best-seller at the time. It was certified platinum in Korea. The lead single "Back Door" was even named one of the 10 Best Songs of 2020 by Time magazine. In November, they released their first Japanese EP, All In. They also held their first online concert, "Unlock: Go Live In Life."
Winning Kingdom and Noeasy Success: 2021
In 2021, Stray Kids joined a TV competition show called Kingdom: Legendary War. They released a song called "Wolfgang" for the final round. Stray Kids won the competition on June 3, which earned them their own reality show.
They also collaborated with Swedish producer Alesso and Chinese DJ Corsak on "Going Dumb" for PUBG Mobile. This song appeared on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart.
On June 26, Stray Kids surprised fans by releasing "Mixtape: Oh." This song quickly reached number one on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart. Their second studio album, Noeasy, came out on August 23, 2021. It was a huge success, selling over 1.1 million copies and becoming their first million-selling album. The main song "Thunderous" earned six wins on Korean music shows. Its music video reached 100 million views very quickly.
Stray Kids released a special holiday album, Christmas EveL, on November 29. It topped the Gaon Album Chart and was certified double platinum.
Billboard 200 Number Ones: 2022
In February 2022, Stray Kids signed with Republic Records to help with promotions in the United States. They released their sixth EP, Oddinary, on March 18. This EP made history by reaching number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. This made them only the third Korean act to achieve this. The main song "Maniac" also charted in the UK.
Stray Kids then started their "Maniac World Tour" in April. They performed in Asia, Australia, and North America. In June, they released their second Japanese EP, Circus. They also released a surprise single, "Mixtape: Time Out", to celebrate their fandom's anniversary.
Their seventh EP, Maxident, came out on October 7, 2022. It became their second album to hit number one on the US Billboard 200. Maxident was also the first album by Stray Kids and JYP Entertainment to sell over three million copies. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) named Stray Kids the seventh best-selling artist globally in 2022.
More Chart-Topping Albums: 2023
Stray Kids released their first Japanese studio album, The Sound, on February 22, 2023. It debuted at number one on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart. On June 2, 2023, they released their third Korean studio album, 5-Star, with the lead single "S-Class." This album became their third consecutive number-one album in the US. It sold over five million copies in Korea. "S-Class" also won the Best K-Pop Video award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.
The group headlined the Lollapalooza music festival in Paris, France, in July. They also started their 5-Star Dome Tour in Korea and Japan. Their third Japanese EP, Social Path / Super Bowl (Japanese Ver.), was released on September 6. It became their second number-one in Japan.
In November 2023, Stray Kids released their eighth Korean EP, Rock-Star, with the song "Lalalala." This EP also reached number one in the US. "Lalalala" became their first song to enter the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. IFPI recognized Stray Kids as the third best-selling artist globally in 2023.
Continued Global Success: 2024
In January 2024, Stray Kids performed at a charity event in Paris, France. They also collaborated with Coca-Cola for a special "K-Wave" edition of Coke Zero Sugar.
Stray Kids held fan meetings in Seoul, Osaka, and Saitama. They released the song "Why?" for a Japanese TV drama. In May 2024, Stray Kids made history as the first K-pop group with all members attending the Met Gala. They were guests of designer Tommy Hilfiger. They also released the song "Lose My Breath" with American singer-songwriter Charlie Puth.
On July 18, 2024, JYP Entertainment announced that the members of Stray Kids had renewed their contracts. The next day, they released their ninth Korean EP, Ate, with the lead single "Chk Chk Boom." This EP became their fifth album to reach number one on the US Billboard 200. "Chk Chk Boom" also achieved their highest rankings on the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. The group headlined major music festivals like I-Days in Milan, BST Hyde Park in London, and Lollapalooza in Chicago. They also began their "Dominate World Tour."
In October 2024, Stray Kids performed at the American Music Awards. They released their second Japanese studio album, Giant, on November 13. On December 13, they released their mixtape Hop, which introduced their new 'SKZhop' genre. This mixtape became their sixth album to top the US Billboard 200. Stray Kids also contributed songs to the films Deadpool & Wolverine and the TV series Arcane. IFPI named Stray Kids the fifth best-selling artist in 2024.
Exciting Releases and Tours: 2025
In February 2025, Stray Kids held their fifth fan meeting, SKZ 5'Clock, in Seoul. They released the single album Mixtape: Dominate on March 21. This included the Korean version of "Giant" and new sub-unit songs. They also released the Japanese EP Hollow on June 18, which topped the Oricon Albums Chart.
Stray Kids' fourth Korean studio album, Karma, was released on August 22, 2025. The lead single was "Ceremony." This album made history as their seventh consecutive number-one album on the US Billboard 200. It also became the best-selling album of 2025 in South Korea in its first week. To finish their "Dominate World Tour," Stray Kids held encore concerts in Incheon in October. They announced their second mixtape, Do It, for release on November 21. The group also featured on the song "In the Dark" from DJ Snake's album Nomad. From December 2025 to April 2026, Stray Kids will hold an exhibition in Japan to celebrate their fifth Japanese debut anniversary.
The Art of Stray Kids
Musical Style and Sound
Stray Kids' music is a mix of hip-hop, dubstep, heavy metal, electroclash, and dance-pop. Their sound is often described as "dark and experimental." After their album Go Live, people started calling their music "mala taste music." This name comes from a hot and spicy seasoning, showing their strong and unique sound.
At first, some people thought their music was too "noisy." But Stray Kids embraced this idea with their album Noeasy, turning it into their own strength. They want their music to be recognized as a new genre, a "Stray Kids" genre. They constantly try new musical ideas.
Stray Kids is known for combining different genres. Their debut song "District 9" blends hip-hop, rock, and EDM. "Side Effects" explored an EDM-pop style inspired by psytrance. "God's Menu" introduced their "mala taste" sound. In "Thunderous", they mixed traditional Korean instruments with modern synths. "Maniac" is a powerful trap song with Middle Eastern influences. "Case 143" is a pop song with intense rap. "S-Class" combines hip-hop, old school, and pop elements. "Lalalala" features rock-leaning phonk music with a strong rap tone.
Songwriting and Lyrical Themes
.png)
Stray Kids is a "self-producing" group. This means the members are deeply involved in writing and composing their songs. The main production team, 3Racha, includes Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han. All members contribute to the music-making process. They also have projects like SKZ-Record and SKZ-Player where they create their own songs and dances.
Early Stray Kids songs often explored themes of finding one's identity. In "District 9," they sang about feeling confused but determined. "My Pace" reminded listeners that everyone has their own journey. "I Am You" expressed gratitude to their fans. "Miroh" showed their strength and desire to overcome challenges. "Side Effects" was about facing difficulties but not giving up. "Levanter" suggested that the answers they sought were within themselves.
After finding their identity, Stray Kids' lyrical themes changed. "God's Menu" used cooking metaphors to describe their unique sound. In "Thunderous", they embraced being "noisy." "Maniac" encouraged listeners to accept their unique qualities. "S-Class" invited fans to shine brightly. "Lalalala" celebrated their journey, finding joy through music.
Their B-sides often focus on self-reflection. Songs like "Mirror" and "3rd Eye" discussed finding one's true self. "Awaken" emphasized breaking free from limitations. Stray Kids also explore new themes, like romantic love in "Case 143" from Maxident.
Stray Kids is also known for clever wordplay in their song titles and lyrics. For example, Go Live sounds like "hardship" in Korean. The title of Noeasy sounds like "noisy," which they embraced. "Lalalala" (락) also means "pleasure" in Korean, linking to the idea of finding joy.
Amazing Performances and Concepts
Stray Kids is famous for their incredible stage performances. They have won many top awards for their shows. They are even called "K-Performance Leaders." Industry experts often praise their creative and powerful performances.
The group is also known as "Concept Matjib," meaning they have great concepts for each release. These concepts are shown in their choreography, music videos, and outfits. For example, "God's Menu" choreography includes cooking actions. "Back Door" features door-knocking moves. In "Thunderous," they used traditional Korean folklore and instruments. For "Maniac," their concept was inspired by Frankenstein's monster.
Stray Kids uses special effects and props to make their performances even better. At the 35th Golden Disc Awards, they performed "God's Menu" with a huge fan. During Kingdom: Legendary War, they impressed everyone with creative visual effects and acrobatic dances. Their performance of "God's Menu" mixed with Blackpink's "Ddu-Du Ddu-Du" and a Deadpool theme was highly praised. Even actor Ryan Reynolds loved it! This led to Stray Kids contributing to the soundtrack for Deadpool & Wolverine.
Other Activities
Brand Endorsements
Stray Kids has partnered with many brands. Before their debut, they modeled for Jambangee Jeans and Ivy Club. They also worked with Minute Maid Sparkling and CGV.
In 2019, they became ambassadors for the Talk Talk Korea Contest. They were also appointed honorary ambassadors by the Korean Ministry of Culture. They endorsed Lotte Duty Free and the sportswear brand Pro-Specs. In 2020, they became brand ambassadors for Shopee Indonesia.
In 2021, Stray Kids became models for Clio Cosmetics. They endorsed the Japanese clothing brand Wego and were ambassadors for the Korea Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai. They also modeled for Nacific cosmetics. The sub-unit Danceracha (Lee Know, Hyunjin, and Felix) appeared in campaigns for Italian brand Etro.
In 2022, they became muses for Mahagrid clothing and ambassadors for the Philippine brand Bench. They also worked with Lotte Duty Free again. In 2023, they partnered with SLBS for mobile accessories and Ultra Milk in Indonesia. In 2024, Bioré UV chose them for their 2025 spring campaign. In 2025, the group became global ambassadors for Pepero. Their SKZoo characters collaborated with Tamagotchi and A Bathing Ape's Baby Milo.
Fashion World
Stray Kids was chosen as the Asian ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger for their campaigns in 2023 and 2024. In May 2024, they made their Met Gala debut as a group, wearing custom Tommy Hilfiger suits. They were the first K-pop group to attend the event together.
Individual members also work with top fashion brands. Hyunjin became a global ambassador for Versace in 2023 and an ambassador for Cartier in 2024. Felix became a house ambassador for Louis Vuitton in 2023. In 2025, Bang Chan partnered with Fendi, I.N with Bottega Veneta and Damiani, Seungmin with Burberry, and Lee Know with Gucci.
Giving Back: Philanthropy
Stray Kids is known as "Donation Idol" for their charity work. They participate in JYP Entertainment's "Every Dream Matters!" (EDM) campaign. This campaign helps children with serious illnesses. In 2021 and 2023, Bang Chan hosted EDM Day events, sharing the results of their charity projects. In February 2023, they helped grant wishes for children with incurable diseases. In December 2023, they mentored young Korean aspiring singers and dancers.
On April 1, 2025, Stray Kids donated 800 million won to help people affected by large wildfires in Korea. The money supported emergency relief and firefighters.
Stray Kids' Global Impact
Stray Kids was featured in Time magazine's 2023 Next Generation Leaders list. Rolling Stone UK called them one of the biggest bands in the world. IFPI ranked them as the seventh best-selling artist globally in 2022 and the third best-selling in 2023.
Stray Kids made history as the first K-Pop group to receive over five million album pre-orders for 5-Star. Their albums 5-Star and Rock-Star were among the top-selling albums worldwide in 2023. They also set a record on the Billboard 200 chart. They were the first act to have seven consecutive number-one albums with Oddinary, Maxident, 5-Star, Rock-Star, Ate, Hop, and Karma. By November 2025, Stray Kids had sold over 31 million albums.
Stray Kids is recognized for their amazing music and performances. They have headlined major international music festivals like Lollapalooza (in Paris and Chicago), BST Hyde Park, and I-Days. They were the first K-Pop boy band to achieve this. In August 2024, Stray Kids became the first K-pop artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone UK. They were also featured in Forbes Asia's 2025 30 Under 30 list for Entertainment and Sports.
Stray Kids' unique style has inspired many other artists, including Ghost9, Trendz, Dxmon, Nexz, All(H)Ours, WHIB, Commander Man, and KickFlip.
Awards and Achievements
Stray Kids has won many awards throughout their career. On April 19, 2019, they won their first music program award for "Miroh" on Show Champion. They have received numerous trophies in South Korea and internationally. These include eleven Asia Artist Awards, nine The Fact Music Awards, seven Golden Disc Awards, seven MAMA Awards, and many more.
They have won six daesang (grand prize) awards. These include three consecutive Asia Artist Awards (2021–2023) and two consecutive Best Performance awards at the Hanteo Music Awards (2022–2023). Stray Kids was also honored with the Prime Minister's Commendation in 2023. This was in recognition of their excellence and public service. According to Oricon, Stray Kids was the fifth best-selling artist in Japan from 2022 to 2024.
Meet the Members
On October 28, 2019, Woojin left Stray Kids. From February to July 2021, Hyunjin took a break from group activities but returned later. Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han are part of the 3Racha team. They are often involved in writing and composing songs for the group.
|
Current members
|
Former members |
Member Timeline
Music Releases
|
|
TV Shows and Films
Television Series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Stray Kids | Contestant | ||
| 2019 | Finding SKZ | Cast member | ||
| 2020 | Finding SKZ God Edition | Cast member | ||
| 2021 | Kingdom: Legendary War | Contestant | Hyunjin did not participate starting from episode 2 | |
| Kingdom Week <No+> | Cast member | |||
| 2022 | Finding SKZ Get Edition | Cast member | ||
| 2023 | Stray Kids Tokyo Mission Tour | Cast member |
Short Films
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | SKZflix | Themselves |
Concert Tours
- District 9: Unlock World Tour (2019–2020)
- Maniac World Tour (2022–2023)
- 5-Star Dome Tour (2023)
- Dominate World Tour (2024–2025)
See also
In Spanish: Stray Kids para niños
