PLAVE Leads Virtual Idol Boom as Nearly One in Four New K-Pop Acts Are Virtual

Virtual idols are rapidly becoming a significant part of South Korea’s K-pop industry, with PLAVE emerging as one of the biggest driving forces behind the trend. A recent industry survey has revealed that 13 out of 55 idol-type acts that debuted in South Korea between January and October 2026 were virtual artists, accounting for approximately 23.6% of all new acts. The findings, announced on November 11, were based on a joint survey conducted by pop music critic Lim Hee Yun…