2026: Year of the Red Horse Inspires Rising K-Pop Stars

The year 2026, known as the Year of the Red Horse, has dawned, symbolizing the fiery spirit and unstoppable momentum of the red horse. In the music industry, several rising stars embody this energy. We spoke with idol stars born in 2002, the Year of the Horse, about their goals and resolutions for the new year.

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Xdinary Heroes' O.de, Jun Han, and Jooyeon: "Bringing Our Melody to the World"

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Xdinary Heroes kicked off 2026 with their fans, holding an official fan meeting on January 3-4 at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium in Seoul. Last month, they successfully completed their first solo concert in Japan. They also performed at the '2026 First Music Station' festival in Ilsan, Goyang, on January 31 and February 1, headlining the second day.

O.de expressed, "Starting 2026 with our fan meeting alongside Villains (our fandom) makes me really excited for the year. I hope everyone finds happiness, and I wish for Xdinary Heroes' music and performances to reach more people. As it's the Year of the Horse, we'll strive to make a great leap forward, so please support us. Happy New Year!"

Jun Han added, "Beginning 2026 with our fans makes me feel like everything will go well. Last year, we grew as a band through various performances, including our solo concert, opening for MUSE's concert, and Lollapalooza Chicago. It's all thanks to the support from Villains. This year, we'll work hard to deliver powerful energy through Xdinary Heroes' unique music and performances."

Jooyeon shared, "The Year of the Horse feels extra special in 2026. Since we started the year with Villains, I want to spread Xdinary Heroes' melody worldwide. I hope everyone finds happiness this year, and it would be great if Xdinary Heroes could be part of that happiness."

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Dragon Pony's Pyeon Seong-hyeon, Kwon Se-hyeok, and Go Kang-hoon: "Steadily at Our Own Pace"

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Dragon Pony is set to charge forward in the Year of the Red Horse. They will release their third EP 'RUN RUN RUN' on February 10, marking their comeback after eight months since their digital single 'Earth Boy' in July last year. Dragon Pony has been weaving autobiographical narratives through their previous EPs 'POP UP' and 'Not Out,' as well as 'Earth Boy,' capturing the growth trajectory of imperfect youth. Anticipation is high for the new stories they will unfold with 'RUN RUN RUN.'

Pyeon Seong-hyeon stated, "I want to express my gratitude to everyone supporting Dragon Pony as we enter the new year. I hope to continue sharing sincere music with you all. Happy New Year!"

Kwon Se-hyeok expressed, "In the Year of the Red Horse, I hope we can advance steadily at our own pace rather than rushing forward. Wishing you a happy and healthy new year."

Go Kang-hoon added, "We're working hard on the album set to release in March. We plan to showcase new music and various activities, so please look forward to seeing a new side of Dragon Pony."

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RIIZE's Wonbin: "Proving What RIIZE Is All About"

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RIIZE is set to continue their global journey in the new year. They will release their second Japanese single 'All of You' on January 18, featuring the title track of the same name and the song 'Flashlight.'

The title track 'All of You' is an intense confession song in RIIZE's style, while 'Flashlight' is a pop song with warm synthesizers and dreamy guitar sounds, conveying a message of moving towards a broader world with love for their fans as the driving force. RIIZE will hold a special edition of their first world tour at Tokyo Dome from February 21-23.

Wonbin shared, "As it's the Year of the Red Horse, and I'm born in the Year of the Horse, I want to embrace the passionate and dynamic energy both as a team and individually. I hope this year proves what RIIZE is all about, and I'm looking forward to our finale performance in Seoul. I believe it will be a meaningful year for both me and RIIZE."

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NCT WISH's Sion: "First Tour, First Full Album... Look Forward to It"

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NCT WISH is celebrating their second anniversary since debut. On their anniversary, January 21, they will hold two fan meetings at 2:30 PM and 8 PM at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium in Seoul, with all tickets sold out during the fan club pre-sale.

Currently on tour, NCT WISH performed at the Mega Star Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on January 6, and will conclude their tour with an encore performance at KSPO Dome in April after visiting 18 locations.

Sion stated, "As 2026 is the 'Year of the Red Horse,' we'll continue to charge forward with our members in the new year. We're meeting more fans on our first tour and are working hard on our first full album. Please look forward to it. Wishing you a happy new year, and remember that health is most important, so may you have a healthy and happy year."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr