K-pop character IPs go on tour: MIGHTEEZ, ZOA, TEAM01, DaeSsong, and REMINI step up as 'another member'

K-pop character IPs aren't just merch anymore. ATEEZ, G-DRAGON, TAEYANG, DAESUNG, and RESCENE are timing official characters to album drops and concert runs. The industry calls them "another member."

MIGHTEEZ goes rockstar in Hongdae

ATEEZ's MIGHTEEZ launched a "rockstar debut" alongside the group's 14th mini-album and title track BAD. IPX is running the third MIGHTEEZ pop-up store, MIGHTEEZ Rock The Stage, at Seoul K-pop Square Hongdae from September 18 through September 27. The characters wear sunglasses and hold guitars and keyboards throughout the space.

From drones to debut singles

G-DRAGON built ZO&FRIENDS with IPX. The centerpiece is ZOA (조아), a character modeled after a pet cat. During concerts, ZOA dolls flew on drones above the stage and rode piggyback during production, turning the character into a live-show draw.

TAEYANG released TEAM01 (팀영원) to align with his solo regular 4th album. He joined the project from the planning stage to connect the character directly to his solo work. DAESUNG's DaeSsong arrived ahead of BIGBANG's 20th anniversary concert in Goyang, giving fans extra content while they waited.

RESCENE's REMINI, two years in the making

RESCENE's REMINI (레미니) is the most member-driven yet. Each character—cat, hamster, seal, elephant, squirrel—maps to a specific member's personality and habits. The members shaped it from the planning stage. Planning started when RESCENE debuted in early 2024. REMINI made its public debut in a Pretty Girl version, matching the styling and concept of RESCENE's remake single.

An industry official said it plainly: "Not only rookie artists but also K-pop artists who have been active for a long time are positioning characters as 'another member' to accompany major activities." The same official noted that "as characters move in sync with album concepts and concert stages, the breadth of content that fans can experience is also expanding."