KINO Announces 3rd Solo EP 'Lost and Found' Dropping April 1

PENTAGON member KINO announces his 3rd solo mini-album 'Lost and Found,' releasing April 1 via his independent label NAKED - arriving at the peak of his ongoing FREE KINO world tour.

Pak

March 11, 2026

#K-Pop#K-Pop Comeback#Solo Artist#KINO#PENTAGON#Lost and Found#NAKED#FREE KINO

KINO (강형구) has impeccable timing. Right in the middle of a 15-city world tour spanning three continents, the PENTAGON member and independent artist just announced his 3rd solo mini-album, Lost and Found, dropping April 1, 2026 at 6 PM KST.

The announcement landed March 9 via NAKED, the independent label KINO founded and runs as CEO after departing CUBE Entertainment in October 2023. No third-party label, no co-signers. Just KINO, operating entirely on his own terms.

A Pivot from the Dark

KINO Lost and Found EP official teaser art with yellow spray-paint lettering. Image: NAKED — Official teaser art for *Lost and Found*. Image: NAKED

The thematic shift is intentional. His second EP, Everybody's Guilty, But No One's to Blame, released last October, leaned hard into darkness and anxiety. It was a raw, uncomfortable record that felt like confession. Lost and Found is the morning after. KINO describes the new project as a work about freedom and love rediscovered by returning to his true self.

Two solo EPs deep, and he is already building a discography with a clear internal logic: artist as subject, growth as theme.

FREE KINO Is the Setup

KINO promotional photo for FREE KINO 2026 World Tour. Image: NAKED — KINO on his FREE KINO 2026 World Tour. Image: NAKED

The album does not exist in a vacuum. KINO kicked off his FREE KINO World Tour 2026 in Seoul on January 24 at Myeonghwa Live Hall, then moved through Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, London, and Warsaw before February was out. Demand was strong enough that Manila, Los Angeles, and Atlanta were added as additional dates, bringing the tour to 15 cities total.

In an interview with allkpop conducted ahead of the Asia and Americas legs, KINO broke down the philosophy behind the tour name: "FREE KINO carries two meanings simultaneously. The first represents the cry of supporters who shout, 'Free KINO! Let him be free!' A call that champions his liberation. The second signifies KINO himself, who has finally attained true freedom at the end of that cry."

Remaining tour stops: Tokyo (March 7), Manila (March 22), Singapore (March 26), Taipei (March 28), then New York (April 19), Atlanta (April 21), and Los Angeles at The Moroccan Lounge (April 24). The album drops right in the middle of the North American run.

Ten Years of PENTAGON, and Counting

The solo momentum has not erased the group context. In February 2026, KINO reunited with his PENTAGON bandmates, Jinho, Hui, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, and Wooseok, for the 33rd Hanteo Music Awards, marking the group's 10th anniversary with their first shared stage in nearly three years. The reunion drew significant attention from fans who had followed the group through various contract endings and solo pursuits since 2023.

KINO's trajectory is one of the more compelling independent artist stories in K-pop right now. He left a major label, built his own infrastructure, booked a world tour, and is now delivering a third solo record while still active in one of K-pop's most enduring 3rd-generation groups. Lost and Found arrives April 1.

Fans Also Ask

When does KINO's Lost and Found EP release?

KINO's third solo mini-album Lost and Found releases on April 1, 2026 at 6 PM KST via his independent label NAKED. The announcement was made on March 9, 2026 through NAKED's official social media channels, accompanied by a promotional scheduler outlining teasers leading up to launch.

What is KINO's Lost and Found EP about?

Lost and Found explores freedom and love that KINO rediscovered by returning to his true self. It follows his second EP, Everybody's Guilty, But No One's to Blame (October 2025), which explored dark and anxious inner emotions. The new album marks a thematic pivot toward liberation and authenticity.

Is KINO still a member of PENTAGON?

Yes. KINO did not renew his contract with Cube Entertainment in October 2023 and founded his own label NAKED, but PENTAGON did not disband. In February 2026, KINO reunited with all PENTAGON members, including Jinho, Hui, Hongseok, Shinwon, Yeo One, and Wooseok, for the group's 10th anniversary stage at the 33rd Hanteo Music Awards.

What cities are on KINO's FREE KINO 2026 world tour?

The FREE KINO World Tour covers 15 cities: Seoul, Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, London, Warsaw, Tokyo, Manila, Singapore, Taipei, New York, Atlanta, and Los Angeles, among others. The Americas leg runs in April 2026, with the Los Angeles show on April 24 at The Moroccan Lounge.

What is KINO's label NAKED?

NAKED is KINO's independent label, which he founded and runs as CEO after departing Cube Entertainment in October 2023. All of his solo releases since then, including his second and third solo mini-albums, have been released under NAKED. The label handles all production and distribution independently.