K-pop boy group Stray Kids poses during a press conference at a Seoul hotel to mark the release of its fourth full-length album, “Karma,” on Aug. 22, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 22 (Korea Bizwire) — K-pop sensation Stray Kids dropped its fourth full-length album, “Karma,” on Friday, a project it says reflects on the achievements it has made through years of hard work.
Speaking at a press conference in Seoul, rapper Changbin said, “We wanted to create an album that interprets ‘karma’ in a positive way — as the results of the hard work we’ve put in together with our fans, Stay.”
He added, “Looking back on our early years, we often questioned whether the music we were making was the right path. But thanks to the trust of our members and Stay, we gained confidence and kept working hard. That’s how we overcame hardships, and now we’re living a dreamlike moment.”
The album consists of 11 tracks, including the lead single “Ceremony,” which was produced by the group’s in-house production team, 3Racha.
The music video for the track incorporates a sports concept, which singer Seungmin said represents the members “doing our best in our own positions and moving toward the same goal.”
“It can resemble baseball, or even a relay race. At the same time, it also feels like a high jump, where we have to clear an obstacle in our way,” he explained.
The LP follows the group’s massive “dominATE” world tour, where it had 54 shows across 34 cities and became the first K-pop act to perform at 13 major stadiums worldwide.
Recalling the tour, dancer Hyunjin expressed his gratitude for the group’s fan base.
“It was our first time performing at a stadium, so we practiced with a lot of nervousness,” he said. “But once we got on the big stage, I thought, ‘I need to be so grateful to Stay who are watching and supporting us with so much love from faraway places and ‘I need to work even harder on my performance’.”
The eight-member group, who debuted in March 2018, renewed its contracts with JYP Entertainment last year.
Rapper Han reflected on their bond, stating that despite many ups and downs, the members have always been there to support each other. He compared the group’s growth to a tree with deep roots.
“If we started as a mere branch, I believe we have now become a strong tree with deep roots,” he said. “We have matured that much. We want to continue to be a great presence for each other and stay healthy and together for a long, long time.”
Han then lightened the mood by making a large heart gesture toward his bandmates, exclaiming, “I have a confession to make. I truly love you all,” which drew laughter from reporters.
When asked about the group’s goal with the new album, team leader Bang Chan said, “While we would be grateful and honored if this album achieves great results, our main goal is to introduce our musicality and unique colors to the world.”
(Yonhap)
