KO1KEYZ Debuts in Korea and Japan with Self-Titled Single, Sells Out Seoul Fan Meeting

Twelve-member boy group KO1KEYZ officially debuted in Korea and Japan on October 7 with its debut single, “KO1KEYZ.” Launching its career with music capturing the excitement of first love, the group will meet Korean fans at its first standalone fan meeting in the country this November in Seoul. All four shows scheduled across two days have sold out.

KO1KEYZ was formed through the audition show “PRODUCE 101 JAPAN SHINSEKAI.” Its 12 members are Daiki, Issa, Keito, Kosuke, Ryoga, Ryuji, Sinhaeng, Siyoung, Towa, Yoshiki, Yuki and Yura. According to Edaily and @star1, Siyoung and Sinhaeng are from Korea, while the other ten members are from Japan. Together, they are taking their first steps as a group in both countries.

The group’s name combines the idea of 12 boys born from fans’ love—“koi” in Japanese—with the call to “come and open the door to a new world.” It also reflects their ambition to become a “KEY” that guides fans and opens hearts around the world. By using their group name for both their first single and its title track, they are introducing themselves through “KO1KEYZ.”

The title track pairs a sound reminiscent of the 1990s with the excitement and racing heartbeat of encountering first love. Its refreshing yet wistful mood and lyrics centered on the theme of a “KEY” tell the story of an ordinary life becoming special after meeting someone. The single includes both Korean and Japanese versions of the track.

The other songs convey the group’s new beginning, love and feelings toward fans. “恋GAME” uses gaming terminology to express an optimistic belief that any stage can be conquered together. “Key of Story” marks a fresh start with a determination to move toward the future. The audition show’s theme song, “SHINSEKAI,” also appears in a Korean version newly recorded by KO1KEYZ. “Celebrate,” which honors precious moments shared with fans, is a special track available exclusively on the Korean physical album.

Music released ahead of the official debut has also drawn attention. According to Sports Kyunghyang, KO1KEYZ pre-released the title track digitally in Japan on August 17, and its music video on the group’s official YouTube channel had surpassed 7 million views at the time of reporting. The outlet also reported that the song reached No. 1 on YouTube’s trending music chart and No. 2 on Billboard Japan’s Hot Shot Songs chart.

Following their fan meetings in Japan, the group is heading to Korea. Every show of their first standalone fan meeting, held at Tokyo’s Toyota Arena on August 21–23 and Kobe World Memorial Hall on September 9–10, sold out. Their first standalone fan meeting in Korea will take place on November 7–8 at Blue Square’s Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul. With all four Seoul shows also sold out, the 12 members are preparing to meet Korean fans in person following their simultaneous debut in Korea and Japan.