Clockwise from top left: Teaser images for girl group KiiKii, rock band Dragon Pony, SM Entertainment's British boy group dearALICE and girl group Hearts2Hearts. Photo from Kakao EntertainmentKakao Entertainment, the entertainment arm of South Korean tech giant Kakao, is seeking to strengthen its foothold in the K-pop industry with a lineup of new acts from its affiliate labels.

Kakao oversees several K-pop labels that manage popular acts, including Edam Entertainment (home to IU), Starship Entertainment (Monsta X and IVE) and Antenna Music (Super Junior's Kyuhyun). The company also maintains close ties with SM Entertainment, one of the leading players in the industry.

In a press release, Kakao said it plans to "cement its position as a key player in the global K-pop scene" by enhancing its multi-label system and "developing globally influential intellectual properties via collaborations with various partners."

"To achieve this, [Kakao] will not only continue to discover new singers and showcase them on the global stage but also diversify the musical activities of its existing artists to strengthen their international fandom," the company said.

Among the rookie acts that Kakao is promoting is Hearts2Hearts, the highly anticipated girl group from SM that is scheduled to debut on February 24 with the single "The Chase."

Composed of eight members, Hearts2Hearts arrives nearly five years after SM's last girl group, aespa, known for hits like "Next Level" and "Supernova."

Meanwhile, Starship is also set to launch a new girl group, KiiKii, following the success of its chart-topping group IVE.

"All eyes are on the fresh act that is expected to become a new 'wannabe icon' for the young generation worldwide," Kakao said of KiiiKiii, which has recently been releasing teaser photos and videos on social media.

Kakao will also help in promoting dearALICE, a five-member British boy band formed in partnership with SM.

The quintet is set to debut on February 21 with the electro-pop dance track "Ariana," which they performed on the South Korean music show "M Countdown" in January.

Meanwhile, Dragon Pony, a rock band launched under Antenna in September 2024, is looking to expand its presence overseas.

The four-member act has performed at major festivals across Korea and took the stage at Thailand's Big Mountain Music Festival in December. The band is also set to perform at Emerge Fest 2025 in Taiwan on February 22.