Virtual idols increasingly permeate music scene

Virtual idols, once considered a niche subculture, are increasingly making their mark in mainstream K-pop. With the success of virtual groups like Plave, major agencies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe have begun to explore the virtual artist market. There are two main types of virtual K-pop groups: those with real people behind virtual characters and those created entirely through artificial intelligence. Plave, consisting of five virtual idols with real-life counterparts, debuted on March 12,