Meet Plave, the Very Real Virtual K-pop Boy Group

Plave, the chart-topping K-pop group, is similar to many other boy groups. They have intricate choreography, offer their dedicated fans a near-constant love online and an endless parade of stylish looks. But Plave has one major difference from other boy groups — they’re two-dimensional. Hailing from Korean virtual entertainment company Vlast, Plave — comprising members Yejun, Noah, Bamby, Eunho and Hamin — has become a success story in what’s possible for a virtual group. The group utilizes real-time motion capture technology to display the five members, all real performers using a stage name, as cartoon-style avatars. Hynwoo Lee, Vlast’s CTO, explains that five years ago, the team made a venture company first, realizing that the real-time technology would likely get attention in the marketplace. “We weren’t the first company to leverage motion capture technology. Obviously, you might know that movie industry and game companies have been using motion capture a lot,” says Lee. Vlast, by their own admission, was the first to utilize it for real-time motion capture live streaming, however. Live streams are ingrained in the fabric of the K-pop industry, that’s nothing new. Plave live streams often find them interacting with fans and chatting away. As with any technology, glitches are possible. Being first, as Lee explains, means they’re also the first to experience and troubleshoot these challenges. But fans have taken to clipping the moments and posting them online, which has only helped the group gain more virality. Speaking with the members of Plave, displayed on a Zoom with The Hollywood Reporter by their avatar, is much like speaking with any other K-pop idol group. They’re excited to talk about their latest EP Hyperdrive, which debuted at No. 31 on the Billboard 200, their highest to date, and their upcoming U.S. concerts, landing tonight (Nov. 14) in Pasadena. The album, an EDM-based dance pop is a new genre for the group, and it’s one they’re excited to show off. One of the many ways Plave bucks the norm in K-pop is in their formation. Unlike most groups in K-pop, formed through a years-long trainee process and handpicked by executives to make a final lineup, Plave was formed organically. “We’re actually friends,” says blue-haired Yejun. After meeting, they decided to give the group a try. The members of Plave all have a hand in creating their music and choreography. Yejun, Noah and Eunho create songs for the group, while Bamby and Hamin create choreography. There’s no artificial intelligence involved in any of the group’s output, whether that be creatively or visually. “The look and feel of our members, their movements and the original looks that we show to our fans — those images are not generated by AI at all,” says Lee. K-pop group Plave Vlast The group has long worked to prove themselves, perhaps having to work just a little harder given the knee-jerk reactions a virtual group might evoke. “Last year, we had our Asia tour, and after that I think we actually proved ourselves as a group,” says group member Noah. “Being an artist is both a blessing and a curse,” Eunho says. “We are so grateful to be able to share our music with people, but at the same time, we always want to do better and show them something new.” But the pressure to be better than before is what has kept the group going. It’s also helped them move into a global space they hadn’t before. In Asia, Plave is now a stadium act, recently performing two nights at Seoul’s Incheon Munhak Main Stadium. The concerts utilize large LED screens, immersing fans in the world of the group in ways 3D groups might not even be able to. “[The tour] this year is reaching a more global and wide audience,” says the pink-haired Bamby. “It’s actually a very precious opportunity to meet fans all over the world that weren’t able to reach us.” Hamin agrees. “The L.A. concert will be our last destination to wrap up our world tour,” he says. “I hope this actually resonates with our global audience.” The company is coy about the logistics behind a concert day, but it’s safe to assume they continue to utilize that real-time motion capture. No matter how that will happen, the group is excited for more personal interactions with their fans. “We’ve been continuously closely communicating with our fans since our debut, says Noah. He adds, “We’ve actually accumulated a lot of stories and experiences with them. We’re really close with them, going beyond family members.”