CORTIS is a new boy group under BigHit Music. The members are Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. They will debut on August 18, 2025. A pre-release music video will drop on August 11 at midnight KST. Fans are curious because all members joined in making their first album. This is not common for rookies.
Their debut album is called COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES. It has five tracks. The title song is What You Want. Other songs are GO!, FaSHioN, JoyRide, and Lullaby. At least three members worked on each track. The music blends different styles. The title song mixes boom bap beats with 1960s psychedelic rock guitar riffs.
GO! is the intro track. It mixes hip-hop and pop. All members are credited. FaSHioN is produced by Martin, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, and Keonho. JoyRide is written and composed by all members. Lullaby is produced by Martin, with James and Seonghyeon adding lyrics. For a rookie group, this level of creative input is rare. It shows they want to control their music from the start.
The album will release on September 8 at 6 PM KST. Before that, fans can watch GO! music video on August 11. A GO! performance film will come out on August 12. On August 18, the title track What You Want will be released with the debut. This staggered schedule is building steady attention.
A Different Debut Approach
CORTIS is not relying only on typical promotions. On August 10, they will hold a 24-hour premiere on the HYBE Labels YouTube channel. New content will drop every hour. It will include debut hints, behind-the-scenes videos, and real-time fan questions. This kind of live fan interaction before debut is unusual for BigHit rookies.
The group’s TikTok launch on August 7 also made an impact. Their first short-form video reached one million views in 24 hours. By the next day, it had two million views and 300,000 likes. What made it stand out is that it didn’t show their faces. It only showed the members working in a studio, filming each other, and enjoying the process. This felt more genuine than polished teaser videos.
Fans noticed a “logo sound” made by leader Martin. It plays in some videos and adds a signature identity to their brand. The TikTok comment section had messages in Korean, English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Indonesian, and Thai. This shows that interest in CORTIS is already global, even before their first stage.
The group name “CORTIS” comes from “COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES.” It means breaking free from set rules and thinking differently. This matches their rookie image as teenagers making their own music, choreography, and videos. They are BigHit Music’s first new boy group in six years, following BTS in 2013 and TXT in 2019.
The debut plan seems carefully built to keep curiosity alive. The 24-hour premiere, the gradual song release, and the hidden TikTok teasers all create small waves of buzz. It is a slower, more intimate strategy than dropping everything at once. This could help them grow a steady base instead of chasing a sudden viral hit.
Cortis Members
James is the oldest member. He speaks multiple languages and can also produce music. He has worked with TXT and ILLIT before debuting with CORTIS. His favorite food is chocolate milk. He once said he would take Juhoon to a remote island because Juhoon stays calm in stressful situations. James produced all five songs on the album.
Juhoon was born in Seoul. He started as a child model and later joined BigHit as a trainee in 2024. Juhoon loves basketball and ramyeon. He often asks members what they want to eat every day. Juhoon has also produced all five songs on CORTIS debut album COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES.
Martin is the leader. He was born in Canada and is the tallest member. He has produced for big groups like TXT, LE SSERAFIM, and ENHYPEN. Martin eats quickly and is known for being loud. His favorite song from the album is “What You Want.”
Seonghyeon comes from Daejeon. He has been training for five years. His hobbies include skateboarding, basketball, and cycling. He dislikes mint chocolate. He also contributed as a producer on every track.
Keonho is the youngest. He was a top swimmer before joining music. Keonho likes winter, salted caramel ice cream, and French fries. He finds the older members strange but in a fun way. Like the rest, he worked on producing the debut album.
All Members Into Spotlight
Their first official stage on August 18 will be the real test. Rookie groups often face pressure to prove themselves quickly. Being BigHit’s first boy group since TXT adds more expectations. Fans will compare them to past BigHit debuts. Industry watchers will also be looking for signs of whether CORTIS can carry their own creative vision while still fitting into the competitive K-pop scene.
For now, CORTIS debut album COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES is shaping up to be a mix of youthful energy and self-produced ambition. The question is whether that ambition will translate into songs that listeners replay months later. The group’s early success on TikTok shows they can spark interest without traditional methods. The next step is proving they can hold that attention when the debut hype fades.
If the music matches the story they are building, they could carve out a strong space early. If not, they may need to adjust their approach. Either way, this debut is worth watching—not just for the music, but for how CORTIS tries to rewrite the standard rookie playbook.
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Kavita Mishra is a dynamic writer and passionate Korean entertainment enthusiast, combining her love for K-pop and K-drama with a flair for storytelling. With a keen eye for the latest trends, Kavita crafts articles that capture the pulse of K-pop idols, chart-topping hits, and the most buzz-worthy dramas taking over screens worldwide.
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