Kim Jaejoong’s agency iNKODE Entertainment is officially moving into full-scale idol production with the launch of two new boy groups, KEYVITUP and VAY ONN—both formed from the company’s 11 pre-debut trainees. According to iNKODE, KEYVITUP is targeting an April debut, while VAY ONN is aiming for June, setting up a two-step rookie rollout for the first half of 2026.
This “two-team” strategy is already drawing attention because it’s not just a single debut—it’s a planned double launchwith separate identities, which iNKODE says will be differentiated by distinct concepts and musical directions.
KEYVITUP: 5 members, April debut target
KEYVITUP will debut as a five-member group. The lineup is:
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Taehwan
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Hyunmin
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Sena
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Jaein
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Rukia
With an April debut goal, KEYVITUP will likely be the first team to define iNKODE’s “rookie sound” and set the tone for what the company wants its artist brand to feel like in 2026.
VAY ONN: 6 members, June debut target
VAY ONN will debut as a six-member group. The lineup is:
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Masato
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Sen
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Sun Jiayang
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Peng Jinyu
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Teru
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Mano
The group is scheduled for a June debut, making them the “second wave” of iNKODE’s 2026 launch plan—and potentially positioned to contrast KEYVITUP strongly in genre, styling, or performance focus.
The INTHE X project: how iNKODE introduced the trainees
The two groups come out of iNKODE’s debut project “INTHE X,” which revealed all 11 trainees and built early visibility before the official group split. Reports note the trainees have already been active with fans through meet-and-greets and a January tour project referenced as the “Fortune” tour, which helped establish a pre-debut fanbase ahead of the 2026 debuts.
This kind of pre-debut runway matters—especially for a newer label—because it creates recognizable faces and early fandom habits (following accounts, watching content drops, attending events) before the official “debut day” even happens.
Why iNKODE is debuting two groups instead of one
iNKODE’s statement that the teams have “completely different concepts and sounds” makes the two-group approach feel intentional rather than “splitting trainees just because.”
From a business and branding perspective, there are a few advantages:
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Two market entries in one year: If April’s debut hits, June can build on momentum; if April is slow, June is a second shot quickly.
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Broader audience reach: Different concepts can target different fan tastes (performance-heavy vs. vocal-driven, bright vs. dark, etc.)—without forcing one group to do everything.
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Global appeal baked in: The lineup includes trainees with international backgrounds, which aligns with iNKODE’s stated plan to appeal to fans worldwide.
What’s still unknown (and what to watch next)
As of the announcements, key debut details have not been fully confirmed publicly—things like official debut dates, fandom names, album titles, and final concept descriptions may be revealed closer to each launch. What you canwatch for next are the typical “pre-debut ramp” signals:
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a formal debut schedule poster (timeline teaser)
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concept photos that clarify each team’s identity
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performance clips / dance practice content
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members’ roles (leader, main vocal, etc.) as they become official
Given the tight April/June target window, expect the most concrete rollout steps to appear soon—especially for KEYVITUP as the first debut team.
The bigger picture: Kim Jaejoong’s next chapter as a producer
Kim Jaejoong’s career has already spanned idol, soloist, and entertainment veteran. With KEYVITUP and VAY ONN, iNKODE is putting a spotlight on his role on the other side of the stage: building teams, setting creative direction, and launching long-term artist brands.
If iNKODE successfully differentiates the groups (as promised) while maintaining quality control across two debuts, 2026 could become a defining year for the label’s identity—and for how seriously the industry treats iNKODE as a new-generation production house rather than a “celebrity-founded agency.”
