For the past few years, Korea’s music industry has been swept by a renewed wave of bands. What once felt like a passing trend has instead taken root, with bands now firmly embedded in the country’s mainstream pop landscape. One development that few anticipated, however, is the rise of JYP Entertainment. Long recognized as one of K-pop’s defining hitmakers, the company has emerged as a formidable presence in the band scene. With the sustained success of DAY6 and the debut of Xdinary Heroes — its first new band in roughly six years — JYP has rapidly established itself as a major player in South Korea’s modern band movement. JYP’s DAY6 drives band boom, Xdinary Heroes accelerates growth At the center of Korea’s recent band boom stands DAY6, which marked its 10th anniversary last year. Since debuting in 2015, the band has steadily built a following through meticulously crafted music and relentless touring. But it was in 2024 that DAY6 reached a new peak. Older tracks such as “You Were Beautiful” and “Time of Our Life” experienced a chart resurgence, while “Welcome to