
This New K-Pop Group Has Virtual Members
By Jasmine Ting
Oct 31, 2020K-pop is moving into the future with SM Entertainment's new girl group, æspa. The group is made up of quartet Karina, Giselle, Winter and NingNing, but will also include four more members: their virtual counterparts.
The girl group's name is actually a combination of the words "avatar," "experience" and "aspect." So the futuristic part of the group is at the core of its formation. Per the South China Morning Post, SM Entertainment's founder Lee Soo-man said at the World Cultural Industry Forum in Seoul that they're ushering in "the beginning of the future of entertainment."
"The group is what I've dreamed of, as it projects a future world centered on celebrities and avatars, transcending boundaries between the real and virtual worlds," Lee added. "A whole new group with an original and inventive concept will be born."
Related | Say Welcome Back to SEVENTEEN
The first virtual member to make her debut is æ-Karina, who was introduced through an IGTV video with the real life Karina, where they talk about the story of how they met, learned more about each other and their training together as K-pop idols. And while the avatars are considered the members' other selves, IRL Karina says in the video that she feels more like a friend or little sister.
And æspa is just the beginning. Lee said that the new group is the launch of an entire SM Culture Universe (SMCU), which would feature both real-world members and digital avatars. The avatars won't be confined in the virtual space, either, and we should expect some sort of hybrid virtual and real-life interactive experiences.
The members of æspa are debuting in November, and will be SM's first new all-girl group to launch since Red Velvet debuted in 2014.
Photo via Instagram
From Your Site Articles
- Beginner's Guide to K-Pop: Become an Expert While You're ... ›
- From PSY to BTS: The Decade K-Pop Went Viral - PAPER ›
- Why Some K-Pop Fans Obsessively "Clear the Searches" - PAPER ›
- Aespa's Giselle Apologizes for Mouthing the N-Word ›
- PAPER Announces aespa Digital Fashion Series ›
Related Articles Around the Web
MORE ON PAPER
Film/TV
Coolest Person in the Room: Hannah Einbinder
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Jerrod Roberts / Makeup by Mia Jones Siegel
Story by Joan Summers / Photography by Diego Villagra Motta / Styling by Angelina Cantú / Hair by Jerrod Roberts / Makeup by Mia Jones Siegel
15 April
Music
Kesha, the Barefoot Baddie From Tennessee
Story by Hilton Dresden / Interview by Bob The Drag Queen / Photography by Brett Loudermilk / Art direction by Zain Curtis / Styling by Marta Del Rio / Makeup by Leo Chaparro / Hair by Eduardo Ponce / Nails by Britney Tokyo / Production design by Krystall Schott & Michael Avina
Story by Hilton Dresden / Interview by Bob The Drag Queen / Photography by Brett Loudermilk / Art direction by Zain Curtis / Styling by Marta Del Rio / Makeup by Leo Chaparro / Hair by Eduardo Ponce / Nails by Britney Tokyo / Production design by Krystall Schott & Michael Avina
03 April
Entertainment
Dylan Mulvaney Finds Her Light
Story by Harron Walker / Interview by Lily Drew / Photography by Davis Bates / Styling by Erik Ziemba / Makeup by Laurel Charleston / Hair by Angelina Panelli
Story by Harron Walker / Interview by Lily Drew / Photography by Davis Bates / Styling by Erik Ziemba / Makeup by Laurel Charleston / Hair by Angelina Panelli
07 April
Music
Lil Nas X Is Revving Up
Story by Tobias Hess / Photography by Oscar Ouk / Styling by Lisa Jarvis / On-set styling by Xavier Means / Makeup by Grace Pae / Hair by Coree Moreno / Set design by Caylah Leas /
Story by Tobias Hess / Photography by Oscar Ouk / Styling by Lisa Jarvis / On-set styling by Xavier Means / Makeup by Grace Pae / Hair by Coree Moreno / Set design by Caylah Leas /
01 April
Music
Daniel Seavey Runs It Back
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Elinor Kry / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Grooming by Ryann Carter
Story by Erica Campbell / Photography by Elinor Kry / Styling by Marissa Pelly / Grooming by Ryann Carter
28 March