CORTIS is a five-member boy group under BigHit Music, HYBE's original label, and the company's first new group in six years following BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER. Since debuting in August 2025, the group has built one of the most closely watched rookie trajectories in recent K-pop, driven less by survival-show buzz and more by a self-producing "creator crew" identity — the five members co-write, choreograph, and help direct their own music videos. Here's a full introduction to who they are, how they debuted, and why the momentum hasn't slowed a year in.
Who's in CORTIS
CORTIS consists of James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. James is the group's oldest member and its only member without a same-age peer in the lineup; Juhoon and Martin are the same age, as are Seonghyeon and Keonho. Several members had creative credits before debut — James choreographed for BE:LIFT Lab's ILLIT prior to joining CORTIS, and multiple members are credited as co-writers or co-producers on the group's own releases, an unusually hands-on setup for a rookie act.
| Member | Notable Role |
|---|---|
| James | Oldest member; choreography and creative direction |
| Juhoon | Vocals, performance |
| Martin | Production, songwriting |
| Seonghyeon | Vocals, performance |
| Keonho | Youngest member (maknae) |
Debut Timeline: A Staggered, Deliberate Rollout
HYBE first announced in April 2025 that BigHit Music would debut a new boy group in the third quarter of the year, its first since TXT in 2019. The five-member lineup was revealed on July 14, and the group's name followed on August 7. Rather than a single debut date, the rollout was staggered: a pre-debut single, "Go!," arrived August 11, followed by the official debut single "What You Want" on August 18, with the full EP "Color Outside the Lines" completing the rollout on September 8, 2025.
Why the Debut Broke Records
"Color Outside the Lines" opened at number 15 on the Billboard 200, reportedly the second-highest chart debut for a K-pop act at the time, on the strength of roughly 250,000 first-day sales. The EP has continued to perform well past its initial release window, surpassing 600 million Spotify streams within nine months — an unusually long tail for a debut project in a genre where attention typically shifts fast to the next comeback.
The Follow-Up: "Greengreen" Cements the Momentum
CORTIS's second EP, "Greengreen," extended rather than reset the group's trajectory. As of July 2026, the album had spent seven consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 — the longest run for a single album by a K-pop boy group that debuted within the past five years — while its lead track, "Redred," held a spot on Billboard's global song charts for nine weeks. The group also won Rookie of the Year and Best Performance at the 10th Asia Artist Awards, a run of coverage detailed in The Korea Herald's rookie group retrospective.
What's Next
CORTIS launched its first world tour in July 2026, alongside a run of major international festival slots including Lollapalooza Chicago, the Rock in Japan Festival, and a performance tied to the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. In the US, the group releases through Republic Records, giving it distribution alongside major English-language pop acts rather than relying solely on K-pop-specific channels.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Agency | BigHit Music (HYBE) |
| Members | James, Juhoon, Martin, Seonghyeon, Keonho |
| Debut Date | August 18, 2025 ("What You Want") |
| Debut EP | Color Outside the Lines (Sept 8, 2025) |
| Latest EP | Greengreen |
| US Label | Republic Records |
FAQ
Q: Is CORTIS a survival-show group?
A: No. Unlike many recent K-pop rookies, CORTIS was formed internally by BigHit Music rather than through a televised competition format, and was introduced with an emphasis on the members' creative contributions rather than an audition narrative.
Q: What does "creator crew" mean for CORTIS?
A: It refers to the members' direct involvement in songwriting, production, choreography, and music video direction, a level of creative control that's uncommon for a rookie act this early in its run.
Q: How does CORTIS relate to BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER?
A: CORTIS is BigHit Music's third group overall, following BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and its debut marked the label's first new group launch in six years.
Q: Where can I see CORTIS perform?
A: The group's first world tour began in July 2026, alongside international festival appearances; specific tour dates are best confirmed through the group's official channels as they're announced.