Boy band Kingdom renames itself as The KingDom

Boy band Kingdom, newly named as The KingDom [GF ENTERTAINMENT]

Boy band Kingdom will start a new chapter of its career with a new name, The KingDom, and a new album this month.

The boy band will change its name to The KingDom "to take a leap to another chapter," according to the band's agency GF Entertainment.

"We are going to start a new storyline as the seven-part chapter has come to an end," the agency told the Korea JoongAng Daily.

"We have changed the name to fit the new concept. There has also been a lot of discussion around the name 'Kingdom' because there are so many similar names in dramas, films, music and other genres. It's a new beginning for a new chapter."

The band will use the new name to promote its upcoming album that will be released on April 30. The band finished its seven-part album series "History Of Kingdom" with the EP "History Of Kingdom: Part VII. Jahan" released on Oct. 18, 2023.

Kingdom has been incorporating a fictional universe into its albums since its debut in 2021, each under the series "History Of Kingdom." Albums featured each of the band's seven members as kings of different kingdoms in different timelines, helping each other become true kings.

Kingdom and its agency GF Entertainment faced criticism when the agency released the cover for the previous album on Sept. 21, which showed a close resemblance to the Quran, the religious text of Islam. The album was given a makeover after backlash and the agency apologized.

Kingdom debuted in 2021 and has seven members: Dann, Arthur, Mujin, Louis, Ivan, Hwon and Jahan. It held its first tour in the Americas last year.

To find out more about The KingDom, visit Celeb Confirmed

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]