Girl group KiiiKiii kicks off 2026 with bolder Gen Z energy

▲ Girl group KiiiKiii poses for a photo during a media showcase for its second EP, "Delulu Pack," in Seoul on Jan. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Girl group KiiiKiii performs "404 (New Era)," the lead track of its second EP, "Delulu Pack," during a media showcase held in Seoul on Jan. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)

▲ Girl group KiiiKiii performs "404 (New Era)," the lead track of its second EP, "Delulu Pack," during a media showcase held in Seoul on Jan. 26, 2026. (Yonhap)

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Girl group KiiiKiii kicks off 2026 with bolder Gen Z energy

By Shim Sun-ah

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Yonhap) -- Rising girl group KiiiKiii is diving deeper into its signature "KiiiKiii-style Gen Z energy" with the release of its second EP, "Delulu Pack," on Monday.

The release marks the group's first album in ten months, following the debut EP "Uncut Gem," and comes just two months after its latest digital single "To Me From Me (Prod. Tablo)."

Across its six tracks, "Delulu Pack" encapsulates the quintet's New Year wish: a bold resolution to live freely and authentically on its own terms.

The title riffs on the online slang "delulu," short for "delusional," often used playfully to describe lighthearted wishful thinking.

"It's an Internet meme term," member Jiyu said during a media showcase for the album in Seoul. "We wanted to take that humor and turn it into our own fun kind of daydreaming."

The album's main track, "404 (New Era)," draws inspiration from the familiar internet error code "404 Not Found." KiiiKiii flips it into a metaphor for "freedom beyond boundaries," pairing pulsing UK house and garage beats with powerful rap verses and airy vocals.

"It's a confident song that suits us," explained Leesol. "It means we don't just chase pre-set answers but create our own."

KiiiKiii -- composed of Jiyu, Leesol, Sui, Haum and Kya -- made its debut in March 2025 as the first girl group from Starship Entertainment in four years, since Ive. The rookie group quickly gained attention for its unapologetically "Gen Z" aesthetic.

Leaning further into that identity, the choreography for "404 (New Era)" includes a moment where members mime taking selfies, a nod to the digital-native confidence that defines its image.

"We wanted to express parts of ourselves people could relate to," Sui said. "From the Y2K-inspired album packaging to including slime in the physical album set, we really wanted to capture that nostalgic yet playful vibe."

Though KiiiKiii has been dubbed a "Gen Z icon," Leesol said the group's ambitions stretch further. "We're grateful for that title, but our goal is to create music that connects across generations."

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