JYP Entertainment just unleashed its latest rookie group, KickFlip, a.k.a. the “younger brothers” of Stray Kids. If that name screams skateboarding, you’re on the right track—these boys are rolling in with a high-energy, board-sport concept, setting the stage for their official debut on January 20 with the mini-album “Flip It, Kick It!.” Their pre-release single, “Umm Great,” is already out, and trust us, it’s a bop.
KickFlip arrives as JYP’s first Korean boy group since Stray Kids took the K-pop world by storm back in 2018. They also happen to be the long-anticipated winners of the survival show “Loud.”
Curious about who’s who? Here’s the lowdown on the seven-member lineup:
- Kyehoon (Sept. 16, 2004)
KYEHOON of KickFlip
– Stage Name: Kyehoon (계훈)
– Birth Name: Lee Kyehoon (이계훈)
– Birthday: 2004.09.16
– Nationality: 🇰🇷
– a JYP trainee for 9 years
– composing, rapping, dancing
– Bang Chan of SKZ owes him a king crab on his debut #KickFlip #킥플립 #계훈 @kickflip_jype pic.twitter.com/6okC6NHyZj— 주 (@keijumoto) January 5, 2025
The oldest member at 20, Kyehoon trained at JYP for nearly a decade alongside Stray Kids and ITZY.
- Amaru (Oct. 21, 2005)
AMARU of KickFlip
– Stage Name: Amaru (아마루)
– Birth Name: Mitsuyuki Amaru (ミツユキアマル)
– Birthday: 2005.10.21
– Nationality: 🇯🇵
– singing, rapping, composing, lyricism
– former YG trainee#KickFlip #킥플립 #아마루 @kickflip_jype pic.twitter.com/HWJzDaw8iQ— 주 (@keijumoto) January 5, 2025
Originally a YG trainee, this 19-year-old Japanese talent moved to JYP in 2020 and snagged a spot through LOUD.
- Donghwa (Mar. 11, 2006)
DONGHWA of KickFlip
– Stage Name: Donghwa (동화)
– Birth Name: Lee Donghwa (이동화)
– Birthday: 2006.03.11
– Nationality: 🇰🇷
– he is interested in vintage fashion and skateboarding
– songwriting, writing lyrics, and freestyle dancing#KickFlip #킥플립 #동화 @kickflip_jype pic.twitter.com/D7SczSqZiF— 주 (@keijumoto) January 5, 2025
At 18, Donghwa didn’t appear on LOUD but still made the cut, proving his star power runs deep.
- Juwang (May 2, 2006)
JUWANG of KickFlip
– Stage Name: Juwang (주왕)
– Birth Name: Jang Juwang (장주왕)
– Birthday: 2006.05.02
– Nationality: 🇰🇷
– few of his specialties are athletics, cooking, doing fitness
– studied at the Soul Tree Practical Music Academy.#KickFlip #킥플립 #주왕 @kickflip_jype pic.twitter.com/TYuIaYrmbo— 주 (@keijumoto) January 5, 2025
Another 18-year-old who bypassed LOUD, Juwang, has tumbling skills and seems to be interested in athletics.
- Minje (May 12, 2006)
MINJE of KickFlip
– Stage Name: Minje (민제)
– Birth Name: Choi Minje (최민제)
– Birthday: 2006.05.12
– Nationality: 🇰🇷
– he can speak English
– Minje is a former student at WithBill Dance Studio
– a JYP trainee since August 2021#KickFlip #킥플립 #민제 @kickflip_jype pic.twitter.com/eHIwwRLk6r— 주 (@keijumoto) January 5, 2025
A 2021 JYP recruit, 18-year-old Minje is fluent in English and has been a dance student.
- Keiju (Oct. 4, 2006)
KEIJU of KickFlip
– Stage Name: Keiju (케이주)
– Birth Name: Okamoto Keiju (岡本圭樹)
– Birthday: 2006.10.04
– Nationality: 🇯🇵
– he was born in Tokyo, Japan
– specialties are dancing, cooking, speaking Korean
– he is a cat person#KickFlip #킥플립 #케이주 @kickflip_jype pic.twitter.com/MLZI9xys8x— 주 (@keijumoto) January 5, 2025
This Japanese standout, also 18, impressed on LOUD and once performed iKON’s “Beautiful” on Stage K.
- Donghyeon (Mar. 13, 2007)
At 17, he’s the squad’s maknae—and a LOUD winner with serious songwriting skills.
Ready to see them in action? Check out the “Umm Great” music video and get hyped for their official debut later this month:
