Kim Jaejoong Is Debuting Two Boy Groups Under iNKODE

Kim Jaejoong is done being a legend on someone else's roster. The former TVXQ and JYJ member just confirmed that his label, iNKODE Entertainment, will debut not one but two boy groups in the first half of 2026: five-member group KEYVITUP in April and six-member group VAY ONN in June.

The announcement dropped at midnight KST on February 25 across iNKODE's official social channels, revealing the group names, member lineups, and target debut windows. It's a bold opening move for a label that only launched its first act, girl group SAY MY NAME, in October 2024.

Two Groups, Two Identities

KEYVITUP will consist of five members: Taehwan, Hyunmin, Sena, Jaein, and Rukia. VAY ONN rounds out at six: Masato, Sen, Sun Jiayang, Peng Jinyu, Teru, and Mano. The multinational rosters are immediately striking. VAY ONN in particular features Japanese members (Masato, Teru, Mano) and Chinese members (Sun Jiayang, Peng Jinyu), signaling that iNKODE is building with global markets in mind from day one.

"The two groups have completely different concepts and musical directions," iNKODE stated in the announcement. "We plan to maximize the identity and charm of each group to present them to global fans."

That positioning is deliberate. Running two groups with distinct identities under the same roof lets iNKODE cover more ground without cannibalizing its own audience. It's a playbook borrowed from the industry's biggest players, but executed at startup speed.

The Idol-to-Mogul Pipeline

Kim Jaejoong isn't the first K-pop star to transition from performer to label head. PSY built P Nation. Zico founded KOZ Entertainment (now a HYBE subsidiary). BoA became a creative director at SM Entertainment. But Jaejoong's path carries a weight that most of his peers can't match.

He debuted with TVXQ in 2003 under SM Entertainment, part of a group that became one of the most commercially dominant acts in Asian pop history. Then came the split. In 2009, Jaejoong and two other members filed a lawsuit against SM over contract terms, eventually forming JYJ. The legal battle redefined how the Korean entertainment industry handled artist contracts. It was messy, public, and consequential. For years, it effectively blacklisted Jaejoong from Korean broadcast networks.

Now, at 40, he's on the other side of the desk. Jaejoong co-founded iNKODE Entertainment in May 2023 alongside former Cube Entertainment vice president Noh Hyuntae. He holds the title of Chief Strategy Officer and has been directly involved in trainee development, from recruitment to debut preparation.

Built Before They Debuted

What makes this launch unusual is the groundwork. iNKODE didn't just drop two group names and call it a day. The 11 trainees were first introduced to the public through the "IN THE X" debut project last November. Since then, they've run a structured pre-debut engagement campaign: a mini fan meeting in December, the "FORTUNE TOUR" fan event series in January, and a fan meeting titled "EPILOGUE: END=BEGINNING" on February 21.

The result is a fandom that already exists before either group has released a single track. That's not accidental. It mirrors the survival show model that groups like Wanna One and I.O.I pioneered, except iNKODE is doing it in-house without a broadcast partner. Jaejoong himself appeared as general master on the "Boyz II Planet" survival show and recruited trainees from the program.

What's at Stake

Two back-to-back debuts in three months is an aggressive timeline for any label, let alone one that's less than three years old. iNKODE is betting that the pre-debut momentum, Jaejoong's personal brand, and the distinct identities of KEYVITUP and VAY ONN are enough to carve space in an increasingly crowded market.

The K-pop industry debuted over 100 new groups in 2025 alone. Most disappeared within months. The ones that survived had something beyond good music: a story, a community, a reason to care. iNKODE's play is that Jaejoong's legacy provides that narrative anchor, while the groups themselves bring fresh energy and global appeal.

KEYVITUP is targeting an April 2026 debut. VAY ONN follows in June. If both land, iNKODE will have three active groups in under two years. For a label built by a first-generation idol who once had to sue his way out of his own contract, that's not just ambitious. It's a statement.