Who are STAYC (스테이씨), the K-Pop act currently trending up the YouTube charts with ‘Bubble’?

Frequent readers of PeopleWorld know that we quite often take a look at what’s doing well midweek in the streaming charts of Spotify, iTunes and even YouTube. Imagine our delight when not only did we see BTS members V and Jungkook dominating the worldwide charts on iTunes and Spotify respectively, but another group we weren’t too familiar with at the top of the music video chart on YouTube.

“Bubble” by K-Pop group STAYC was only released yesterday, but according to Kworb it has since become the most viewed music video on the video sharing platform, and according to YouTube themselves, the fifth most trending video today - so far.

The song is the first single from the group’s latest “mini album” titled “Teenfresh,” which dropped on streaming services yesterday and is the follow up to their single “Teddy Bear,” which was released at the start of the year. The success of “Teddy Bear” saw the group go Platinum in their home country of South Korea.

The group haven’t had the success that other groups, such as BTS, BLACKPINK and more recently NewJeans have had in the west, but that’s not to say people have not taken notice of the group. “Run2U,” taken from their 2022 EP “Young-Luv.com,” entered the Billboard World Singles chart at number nine that same year.

Maybe “Bubble” will help give them a bit more footing in the Western music charts, with a lot of focus on K-Pop by not only music fans but fashion houses alike; we wouldn’t be surprise if one of the members ends up becoming an ambassador for a fashion house by the end of the year. 

But until then, PeopleWorld takes a look at who STAYC are, and their discography for you to pour over heading into your weekend. 

Who are STAYC (스테이씨)

STAYC, an acronym for "Star to a Young Culture," is a South Korean girl group formed by High Up Entertainment. The group consists of six members: Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and J. They marked their debut on November 12, 2020, with their first single album titled "Star to a Young Culture."

The group's name, STAYC, encapsulates their ambition to have a significant impact on pop culture by catering to a young audience's preferences and trends. This name reflects their aspiration to become a shining star within contemporary youth culture.

Before their official debut, some members of STAYC had notable pre-debut backgrounds. Sieun, for instance, was recognized as the daughter of veteran singer Park Nam-jung and had roles in well-received dramas like "The Good Wife," "Queen for Seven Days," and "The Crowned Clown." She was honoured with the Youth Acting Award at the 2018 SBS Drama Awards for her performance in "Still 17." Seeun was also recognized for her acting roles in various shows like "The Guardians" and "Circle."

Initially known as "High Up Girls," a moniker derived from their entertainment company's name, STAYC was featured in the YouTube Originals docuseries "K-Pop Evolution" before their debut. The show offered insights into their training process leading up to their official entry into the music scene.

In 2020, STAYC made their much-anticipated debut with the single album "Star to a Young Culture." The album's lead single, "So Bad," was produced by Black Eyed Pilseung, known for his contributions to notable hits in the K-pop industry. The group's distinctive vocal colours were highlighted in this debut, and their fresh sound earned them attention. Their debut music video for "So Bad" garnered over 2.6 million views within its first 24 hours.

Following their debut success, STAYC continued to release new music and expand their presence in the industry. They released subsequent albums such as "Staydom," "Stereotype," "Young-Luv.com," "We Need Love," "Teddy Bear," and "Teenfresh," each showcasing their evolving musical style and capturing fans' hearts. Let’s hope “Bubble” catches the West’s attention.

STAYC Discography

• Star To A Young Culture (EP, 2021)
• Staydom (single, 2021)
• Stereotype (EP, 2021)
• Young-Luv.com (EP, 2022)
• We Need Love (single, 2022)
• Teddy Bear (single, 2023)
• Teenfresh (EP, 2023)