CORTIS, BigHit’s first rookie group in six years since TOMORROW X TOGETHER (TXT), debuted on Aug. 18 with their album COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, which ranked no. 15 on the Billboard 200.
CORTIS consists of five members: James, Martin, Juhoon, Geonho, and Seonghyeon. Fans have especially welcomed James, ex-trainee of BigHit’s predebut group TRAINEE A, whose return to the spotlight has brought excitement and anticipation to long-time supporters. Fans were also very shocked about the handsome visuals of the members, especially Geonho, who many fans claim is the next Cha Eun-woo.
CORTIS’s debut ranking marks the second-highest debut for a K-pop group’s first album. The only higher record belongs to SM Entertainment’s SuperM, who debuted at No. 1 in 2019 with their self-titled album. The group’s album also performed well on other Billboard charts, ranking No. 3 on Top Album Sales, No. 3 on Top Current Album Sales, and No. 2 on World Albums. In addition, their intro track “GO!” entered the Billboard Global 200 at No. 180, signaling strong international recognition from the start.
CORTIS has immediately gained attention from fans worldwide. Their debut sparked trending hashtags across social media platforms, with all of their song challenges trending.
“At first, I did not know they were a K-pop group, but once I saw one of their videos, I was amazed by their performance and song,” Seungmin Jeong (12), avid fan of CORTIS, said. I think what really makes CORTIS stand out is not only the visual and great fashion sense of the members, but also how each member is able to contribute to the song. They are all very talented. James choreographs by himself, Martin writes lyrics, and other members also contribute in various ways as well. I am very much looking forward to their future comebacks.”
K-netizens agree that CORTIS’s rapid rise highlights both BigHit’s global influence and the group’s distinct appeal. With strong fan support, record-breaking chart results, and international recognition only weeks after debut, CORTIS is already being hailed as one of the most promising new groups in K-pop. Many expect their popularity to continue growing as they release more music and showcase their talents on larger stages.
“My sister loves CORTIS,” Aidan Han (12), Korean media enthusiast, said. “I know she is a fan of a lot of K-pop idols but I wasn’t interested in them. However, when she showed me CORTIS, I was really interested because their fashion is really cool and I really like their songs as well.”
