Xikers

Xikers (Korean: 싸이커스; RR: Ssaikeoseu; stylized in all lowercase) is a South Korean boy band formed by KQ Entertainment. The group consists of ten members: Minjae, Junmin, Sumin, Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Junghoon, Seeun, Yujun, Hunter, and Yechan. They debuted on March 30, 2023, with the extended play (EP) House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing.

Xikers
Xikers at Incheon Airport in 2023 L-R: Jinsik, Hyunwoo, Hunter, Minjae, Yujun, Junmin, Yechan, Sumin, Junghoon, and Seeun
Background information
Also known as	KQ Fellaz 2 (2022–2023)
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop dance pop
Years active	2023–present
Labels	KQ
Members	Minjae Junmin Sumin Jinsik Hyunwoo Junghoon Seeun Yujun Hunter Yechan
Website	kqent.com/producer/2300

Name

Xikers derive their name from a combination of the letter "x", symbolizing coordinates, and the word "hiker", meaning traveler. Altogether, the group name's refers to "boys who travel through time and space in search of coordinates".^[1][2]

History

Formation and pre-debut activities

In late 2018, Yechan competed under his full name on MBC's reality competition survival show Under Nineteen.^[3] However, he was eliminated and placed at rank 15 in the final episode.^[4]

In August 2022, KQ Entertainment published interviews of ten trainees on their YouTube channel: Minjae and Junmin on August 15, Sumin and Jinsik on August 16, Hyunwoo and Junghoon on August 17, Seeun and Hunter on August 18, Yujun and Yechan on August 19. The group was known as KQ Fellaz 2 prior to debuting.^[5] On August 20, KQ Entertainment released a YouTube video featuring all ten members together for the first time performing choreography to "Iffy" by Chris Brown. On August 23, the group premiered their pre-debut web series Ready to One, which follows the members as they train in Los Angeles, California.^[6]

In September 2022, for the finale of Ready to One, KQ Fellaz 2 released the music video for "Geek", a song composed and produced by Minjae. The video paid homage to the self-composed song "From" by labelmates Ateez and was uploaded to KQ Entertainment's YouTube channel on September 17.^[7] KQ Fellaz 2's first reality show, The Player: KPOP Quest, premiered on the same day.^[8]

2023: Group name reveal, debut and House of Tricky series

On February 24, 2023, KQ Entertainment unveiled KQ Fellaz 2's group name as Xikers and opened the group's official social media accounts.^[9]

In March 2023, Xikers announced that they would debut on March 30.^[10] On March 15, it was announced that the group would hold a showcase the day before their debut at the SBS Prism Tower Auditorium and that it would also be broadcast live on KQ Entertainment's YouTube channel.^[11] On March 30, Xikers released their debut extended play, House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing and its double lead singles "Tricky House" and "Rockstar".^[12] The album peaked at number four on the weekly Circle Album Chart and sold 97,857 copies.^[13] In its first week, the album sold over 100,000 copies, the fifth-highest first week sales figure for a debut album in South Korea on the Hanteo Chart in 2023.^[14]

On May 4, 2023, it was announced that member Junghoon had ruptured his cruciate ligament in his knee, requiring surgery, after which he would be on hiatus.^[15]

In July 2023, Xikers announced their first comeback on August 2.^[16] On July 10, Xikers revealed the title of their second extended play on their official social media accounts.^[17] On August 2, Xikers released their second extended play, House of Tricky: How to Play and its double lead singles "Do or Die" and "Home Boy".^[18]

2024–present: Continuation of House of Tricky series and Japanese debut

In February 2024, KQ announced that Xikers would release a new album sometime in March.^[19] On February 12, Xikers revealed the title of their third extended play to be House of Tricky: Trial and Error and the release date which is on March 8.^[20]

In July 2024, Xikers announced the release of their first Japanese single "Tsuki (Lunatic)" on August 7, ahead of their official Japanese debut.^[21]

In August 2024, Xikers announced that they are set to release their fourth EP, House of Tricky: Watch Out on September 6, featuring the title track "Witch".^[22]

On December 20, 2024, KQ Entertainment announced that member Junghoon would be returning to group activities at the beginning of January 2025 following his extended hiatus.^[23]

The group released their fifth EP House of Tricky: Spur on April 4, 2025, featuring the title track "Breathe". This release also involved member Junghoon, who was on a two-year hiatus due to injuries and was not involved in the group's previous releases after their debut EP.^[24]

Members

• Minjae (민재) – leader^[25]
• Junmin (준민)
• Sumin (수민)
• Jinsik (진식)
• Hyunwoo (현우)
• Junghoon (정훈)
• Seeun (세은)
• Yujun (유준)
• Hunter (헌터)
• Yechan (예찬)

Discography

Extended plays

List of extended plays, showing selected details, selected chart positions, sales figures and certification

Title	Details	Peak chart positions					Sales	Certifications
		KOR [26]	JPN [27]	JPN Hot [28]	US [29]	US World [30]
House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing	Released: March 30, 2023 Labels: KQ Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming	4	6	15	75	4	KOR: 155,928[13] JPN: 3,259[31]
House of Tricky: How to Play	Released: August 2, 2023 Labels: KQ Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Skater" "Home Boy" "Do or Die" "Koong" "Run" "Sunny Side"	4	14	13	—	9	KOR: 250,000[32] JPN: 8,058[33]	KMCA: Platinum[34]
House of Tricky: Trial and Error	Released: March 8, 2024 Labels: KQ Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Trial and Error (Whereabouts)" "We Don't Stop" "Red Sun" "Supercalifragilistic" "Every Flavor Jelly" (온갖 맛이 나는 젤리) "Break a Leg"	2	12	9	73	1	KOR: 230,240[35] JPN: 4,998[36]
House of Tricky: Watch Out	Released: September 6, 2024 Labels: KQ Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Watch Out" "Witch" (위치) "Back Off" "Bittersweet" "Sand Castle" "Hang Around"	6	12	16	—	6	KOR: 190,155[37] JPN: 6,323[38]
House of Tricky: Spur	Released: April 4, 2025 Labels: KQ Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "You Hide We Seek" "Breathe" "Highway" "Roller Coaster" "Rock Your Body"	2	TBA		—	3	KOR: 177,938[39]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that region

Singles

Korean singles

List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		KOR Down. [40]
"Tricky House" (도깨비집)	2023	113	House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing
"Rockstar"		158
"Do or Die"		121	House of Tricky: How to Play
"Home Boy"		138
"We Don't Stop"	2024	92	House of Tricky: Trial and Error
"Witch" (위치)		151	House of Tricky: Watch Out
"Breathe"	2025	TBA	House of Tricky: Spur

Japanese singles

List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, sales and album name

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Sales	Album
		JPN [41]	JPN Hot [42]
"Tsuki (Lunatic)"	2024	8	48	JPN: 20,037[43]	Non-album single

Other charted songs

List of other charted songs, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		KOR Down. [40]
"The Tricky's Secret"	2023	192	House of Tricky: Doorbell Ringing
"Doorbell Ringing"		185
"Dynamic" (淸亮(청량))		188
"Xikey"		184
"Oh My Gosh"		187
"Skater"		142	House of Tricky: How to Play
"Koong"		148
"Run"		146
"Sunny Side"		145
"Trial and Error (Whereabouts)"	2024	134	House of Tricky: Trial and Error
"Red Sun"		126
"Supercalifragilistic"		131
"Every Flavor Jelly" (온갖 맛이 나는 젤리)		133
"Break a Leg"		130
"Watch Out"		197	House of Tricky: Watch Out
"Back Off"		191
"Bittersweet"		193
"Sand Castle"		195
"Hang Around"		194

Videography

Music videos

Title	Year	Director(s)	Notes	Ref.
"Geek"	2022	Un­known	Pre-debut music videos	[44]
"Canvas" (Sung by Minjae, Sumin, Yechan)				[45]
"Tricky House"	2023	Seong Wonmo (Digipedi)	Debut music videos	[46]
"Rockstar"		Seong Wonmo (Digipedi), Yasuhiro Arafune (EPOCH)		[47]
"Koong"		Kwon Yongsoo (Studio Saccharin)	Performance Video	[48]
"Do or Die"		Yeom Woo-jin	—	[49]
"Homeboy"		Jo Won-jun (Studio Wacko)		[50]
"Sunny Side"		xikers	Special Video for road𝓨	[51]
"Run"		Lee Sagan (Zanybros)	Special Video in xikers WORLD TOUR [TRICKY HOUSE : FIRST ENCOUNTER]	[52]
"We Don't Stop"	2024	Kwon Yongsoo (Studio Saccharin)	—	[53]
"Red Sun"			Performance Video	[54]
"Tsuki (Lunatic)"		Guzza (KUDO)	Debut 1st Japan Single	[55]
"Witch"		Kwon Yongsoo (Studio Saccharin)	—	[56]
"Bittersweet"		Lee Minju, Lee Hayoung (MOSWANTD)	Performance Video	[57]

Filmography

Television show

Year	Title	Ref.
2022	The Player: KPop Quest	[8]
2023	Let's Go Xikers	[58]

Web show

Year	Title	Notes	Ref.
2022	Ready to One	Pre-debut training in Los Angeles	[6]
2023	Tricky House		[59]

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Category	Nominee / Work	Result	Ref.
Asian Pop Music Awards[note 1]	2023	Best New Artist (Overseas)	House of Tricky: How to Play	Nominated	[61]
Golden Disc Awards	2023	Rookie of the Year	Xikers	Nominated	[62]
Hanteo Music Awards	2023	Rookie of the Year – Male		Nominated	[63]
iHeartRadio Music Awards	2024	Best New K-pop Artist		Nominated	[64]
K-Global Heart Dream Awards	2023	K-Global Super Rookie Award		Won	[65]
MAMA Awards	2023	Album of the Year	House of Tricky: How to Play	Longlisted	[66]
		Artist of the Year	Xikers	Longlisted
		Best New Male Artist		Nominated
		Worldwide Fans' Choice Top 10		Nominated
Seoul Music Awards	2024	Rookie of the Year		Nominated	[67]
Universal Superstar Awards	2024	Universal Hot Focus		Won	[68][69]

Notes

1. Hosted by the Hong Kong Asia Pacific International Group and Sunway Records, the Asian Pop Music Awards bases its winners on the "Asian Pop Music Chart" which opened in September 2019.^[60]