The Rise of KO1KEYZ: A New Era in Japanese-Korean Entertainment

KO1KEYZ: The Newly Formed Sensation

On June 6, 2026, the eagerly awaited finale of "PRODUCE 101 JAPAN 新世界" was streamed exclusively on the Lemino platform, operated by NTT Docomo. This fourth season of the popular survival audition series unveiled the twelve finalists who will debut simultaneously in both Japan and South Korea as the newly minted group, KO1KEYZ (pronounced as 'Koi Keyz'). This season has attracted unprecedented attention, marking itself as one of the largest-scale entertainment events in Japan.

The special finale began with an electrifying atmosphere inside the venue, featuring trainers, eliminated trainees, and notable figures from past seasons, including the successful group INI from season two. Ren Kawashiri, known for his work on the ballad "Run Again," composed for this season, graced the stage alongside eager fans. The spotlight shone bright as representatives Dean Fujioka and Choi Soo-young announced, "It’s Showtime!" to kick off the event.

As the finalists took to the stage, they performed the theme song "新世界 (Shinseki)" before diving into their final appeal performances. The 22 trainees were divided into two groups, showcasing four different songs, including the high-energy numbers "Go Go" and "BORN TO BE," as they poured their hearts into every move, hoping to sway the votes of the audience.

While waiting for the results, the atmosphere was filled with anticipation, broken only by the heartfelt debut of