How xikers Are Standing Out in Fifth-Generation K-pop

In the ever-evolving world of K-pop, many new groups come and go as the competitive landscape becomes a road full of challenges. And with the so-called 5th generation of K-pop in full-swing, the number of Korean acts vying for a share of the market has grown significantly. Standing out is therefore essential for survival and long-term success.

Enter: xikers.

The K-pop group first appeared as pre-debut trainees of KQ Entertainment under the name “KQ Fellaz 2,” following the path of their seniors, ATEEZ, who were the first KQ Fellaz. KQ Fellaz 2 became the focus of 2022’s Ready to One reality show, a series that showcased the boys undergoing training and workshops, following their journey and growth to enable them to successfully debut.

Their hard work paid off, and the group officially debuted as xikers in March of 2023 with their album HOUSE OF TRICKY : Doorbell Ringing.

From the get-go, it was obvious that what xikers brings to the table helps them stand out among their contemporaries. Unlike many other fifth-generation groups that tend to follow trends, xikers’ music and art lean toward high-octane performances and strong rapping, without being afraid to experiment with genres. Intensity and energy are the name of the game for these young men.

In addition, their name and core concept are solid and fleshed out, bringing lore into their artistry and anchoring it to their identity.

“xikers” is derived from a combination of “hikers” and “x,” which represents coordinates, indicating that the boys are travelers going through time and space to find the coordinates. Their fandom name, road𝓨, is also a reflection of this concept, with the fandom being the y-coordinates that present the road that xikers will journey through.

In just a span of three years, xikers has made a mark and has been quite prolific, releasing six albums and becoming a prominent presence in the industry. They have performed on some big stages, including KCON LA in 2023, KCON Hong Kong in 2024, and AAA’s ACON in Kaohsiung in 2025.

Now, xikers has just released their seventh mini-album, ROUTE ZERO : The ORA. The group has been preparing for this comeback for a few weeks now, with track previews and behind-the-scenes clips being released on their YouTube Channel, before dropping the EP.

Esquire Philippines sat down with xikers to talk about their journey and what’s next for the group.

HUNTER: We went on tour as guests with ATEEZ when we were still KQ Fellaz 2, and we also went to the US to practice dancing together. So I think just gaining more experience and building memories together really helped upgrade our teamwork and chemistry, allowing us to understand each other more and communicate better.

SEEUN: Three years ago, we were still high school students, and now we’re adults. Back then, we felt so young, but I think we’ve grown a lot as artists since. I’d like to think we’ve become more professional, especially in the way we’ve matured in making music and performing on stage.

SUMIN: ACON was a really big stage, so we definitely felt a bit nervous. It had also been a while since we performed in such a large venue in front of so many people, so I went into it with the mindset that we really had to do well and show everyone who we are as artists.

MINJAE: This is our first EP in this new chapter, and we wanted to explore new sounds and genres that we hadn’t tried before in our previous releases. The album includes five great tracks, with the title track “OKay,” featuring a really strong, catchy hook and a powerful, mega-crew performance. This EP is a defining moment for us and will really bring even more people to get to know xikers this year.

YECHAN: For me, working on my rap parts. Some took longer while others came together pretty quickly. But the most memorable moment was right after finishing the recordings and listening back for the first time. It sounded really good, and it felt like all the effort paid off, which made it a really great memory.

SEEUN: We got to prepare the performance together with dancers this time, which we hadn’t done in a while. Having so many people on stage at once made the performance feel much bigger and more powerful, and I really like that aspect of it.

JINSIK: Earlier in my career, I think I was mostly focused on delivering the set performance as it was. But over time, while watching other senior artists on stage, I learned a lot about how to add more ease and presence to the performance. I’ve gained so much from watching them in terms of performance, including the use of gestures and that commanding presence, but also learned from interactions with road𝓨s in carrying myself in a way that feels more relaxed on stage.

SEEUN: We learn a lot from each other, too. You don’t often get the chance in life to live and work so closely with so many people, but since we’re always together as members, I think we naturally pick up on each other’s strengths. Through that, I’ve also learned a lot about how to get along with others and work well as a team.

HYUNWOO: Rather than focusing on exactly where we are on this journey, or where we’ll be next, I think it’s more important how we move forward. The journey itself is something we want to be able to look back on. Even if we’re not always sure where we are, I believe that when we look back someday, everything will come together and unfold like a story, just like our lives.

JUNGHOON: The Philippines is a country I really love. And the fruits! I love fruits from the Philippines, especially bananas, so I eat them often. And to our road𝓨s, thank you so much for always supporting us even from afar! We’ll continue to bring you great music. Thank you.

JUNMIN: We’ll go wherever our road𝓨s are! So please wait just a little. We’ll come to see our fans in the Philippines with an even cooler version of ourselves.

——-

And as the young men of xikers continue to carve a unique and amazing niche in the annals of K-pop, we have no doubt that they are up to the task of continuously evolving into even cooler versions of themselves on the road ahead.

xikers are MINJAE (leader), JUNMIN, SUMIN, JINSIK, HYUNWOO, JUNGHOON, SEEUN, YUJUN, HUNTER, and YECHAN.

ROUTE ZERO : The ORA is out now.

Photos courtesy of KQ Entertainment.

ALSO READ

SB19's Wakas at Simula Marks a Career Milestone for the Kings of P-Pop

What Happened at the Min Gyu Fanmeet

ATEEZ in Manila: Chaotic Good