Meet PLAVE: The virtual K-Pop group taking tech and talent to new heights
With chart-topping hits, television appearances, and sold-out concerts, they mirror the trajectory of traditional K-pop idols except they exist in two dimensions.
Members Yejun, Noah, Eunho, Bamby, and Hamin are brought to life through advanced motion-capture technology, giving fans a fully immersive experience without ever revealing the real people behind the digital curtain.
Speaking with Reuters under the condition of anonymity, the group shared their aspirations of global recognition akin to BTS.
'We don't often get to meet our fans so when we meet them at a concert we get very excited,' said pink-haired member Bamby. 'They cheer for us together... We make an all-out effort when we perform.'
PLAVE's unique approach sets them apart from other virtual acts. Unlike AI-generated performers, their movements and vocals are human-controlled in real time.
Vlast, the company behind the group, revealed that during concerts, the in-house motion-capture studio links directly to the concert venue, allowing PLAVE members to see and react to live fan feedback.
'This setup includes a feedback system that allows the members to see fan reactions from the concert venue as they perform,' Vlast CEO Lee Sung-gu explained.
Their latest album, Caligo Pt.1, made waves earlier this year by selling over one million copies in a single week and topping South Korean music charts.
The band has amassed over 470 million YouTube views since their 2023 debut and even landed on the Billboard Global 200 chart.
Despite the growing presence of artificial intelligence in entertainment, Vlast is doubling down on motion-capture.
'It's our unique strength,' said CEO Lee. The mystery behind the real-life performers only adds to the allure for fans like Chang Ya Han, a 30-year-old from Taiwan.
'The love they give us, the way they drive us to become better, or how I wake up every day wanting to see them, that feeling is the same,' she shared during a crowded fan event in Seoul.
As a "virtual entertainment" startup, Vlast has secured investments from major K-pop powerhouses like HYBE and YG Plus.
In an industry increasingly embracing metaverse and AI-driven experiences, PLAVE is a frontrunner in redefining what it means to be an idol. Music critic Kim Do Heon points to accessibility as a key part of their appeal.
'It's expensive to go to an idol group's concert and you need to use a paid messaging app to interact with them these days,' he said. 'But the accessibility of cyber singers makes it much easier to like them.'
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