(Photo courtesy of MODHAUS)

 

[Hanteo News = Reporter KIM YEONWOO] From Kim YooYeon and Kim NaKyoung, the younger sister of singer BIBI, to former Busters member Kim ChaeYeon, the 24-member girl group tripleS has returned as a full group, bringing together members with diverse backgrounds and personalities. Having expanded its musical range through both unit and full-group activities, tripleS released ‘Andless’, the title track of its single ‘LOVE&POP’ pt.2, on October 16. With 24 members offering seemingly endless possibilities, how is tripleS balancing the power of its collective identity with the challenge of showcasing each member's individuality?
 


Unit and Full-Group Activities: Different Charms, One Identity

tripleS operates under a unique system that allows different combinations of members to form new units, each exploring distinct musical styles and concepts. Songs such as Acid Angel from Asia's ‘Generation’, LOVElution's ‘Girls' Capitalism’, and EVOLution's ‘Invincible’ have demonstrated how a single group can embrace a wide variety of musical identities.

When performing as a full group, tripleS brings the energy of all 24 members together. In particular, its 2024 release ‘Girls Never Die’ became widely recognized for its recurring "la la la" refrain and lyrics encouraging listeners to "try again" and "give it another shot". Its message of refusing to give up in the face of adversity resonated with and comforted those navigating their own struggles. The song also earned tripleS its first music show win, marking an important milestone in the group's growth.

This year's ‘LOVE&POP’ project represents another effort to explore the possibilities of the full group. The previously released pt.1 recorded initial chodong sales of 567,612 copies according to Hanteo Chart, setting a new personal record for the group at the time. The title track of pt.2, ‘Andless’, released on October 16, serves as a bridge between pt.1 ‘LOVE’ and pt.3 ‘POP’. Combining the words "AND" and "endless", the title conveys the idea of moments that continue without end and limitless possibilities.

Musically, the track is characterized by its powerful electronic pop sound. Lindgren, who participated in writing, composing, and arranging ‘Takedown’ from the soundtrack of the Netflix film ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, also contributed to the song. The release is significant in how tripleS, having explored different musical identities through its units, continues the project by bringing together the dynamic energy of all 24 members. However, while pt.1 achieved impressive sales, the commercial performance of ‘Andless’ following its release warrants separate evaluation.
 


Giving All 24 Members a Chance to Shine

Having 24 members is both tripleS's defining strength and one of its greatest challenges. A larger lineup creates opportunities for diverse combinations and concepts, but distributing enough lines and stage time to every member within a single song is no easy task. It also takes time for the general public to become familiar with each member's name and individual charm.

These challenges are reflected in the members' own comments. In a New Year's interview reported by Xportsnews journalist Jo Hyejin on February 17, 2026, Kim NaKyoung responded to concerns that each member has limited time to showcase her appeal on stage by saying, "It's up to each of us." In a follow-up interview published the same day, she elaborated on how she works to establish her individual presence during performances.

"Since there are 24 of us, I might only have one part, and I have fewer opportunities to show what I can do. That means I have to put in several times the effort just to catch someone's attention even once," Kim NaKyoung explained.

She noted that even with limited lines, she carefully studies the lyrics and how to express them in order to stand out. Her comments highlight how establishing an individual identity within a large group is an important challenge for the members themselves.

Differences in individual exposure are also evident in music show fancams. Data compiled by KPOP DISCOVER shows relatively more individual fancam videos featuring members such as Kim YooYeon, Kim NaKyoung, and Gong YuBin, while some other members have fewer videos available. Although the number of fancams alone cannot determine a member's popularity, it raises questions about how equally opportunities are provided for audiences to discover and get to know individual members.

Unit activities offer one way to address this challenge. With fewer members in each lineup, individual vocal tones, performance styles, and personalities can stand out more clearly. tripleS's fan-participation system, which has enabled a variety of member combinations, is also an attempt to turn the group's large size into a source of creative diversity.

 


Beyond the Numbers: Making Every Member's Name Count

tripleS's competitive edge lies in the scale of its 24-member performances and the distinct musical identities created by its different units. The ability to bring together the energy of all 24 members for one song and showcase an entirely different combination for another sets the group apart from its peers.

However, having a large number of members does not automatically mean that each member's appeal will reach the public. The challenge lies in maintaining the collective energy of the full group while ensuring that individual names and personalities leave a lasting impression. How effectively tripleS's system of alternating between unit and full-group activities addresses this challenge will be a key point to watch moving forward.

The music that becomes possible because 24 members come together, and the individual qualities that risk being overlooked precisely because there are so many members. As tripleS continues searching for its own balance between these two sides, attention is turning to what new possibilities the group will reveal through ‘Andless’.


 yeonwoo38@hanteo.com