Bringing different cultures, languages and stories together on the same stage, KIIRAS is one of the standout groups of a new, increasingly global generation of K-pop.
Formed as LeanBranding’s first global girl group, KIIRAS brings together six members from Malaysia, Japan and South Korea. The group has also drawn attention with its leader, Ling Ling, who became the first Malaysian member to debut in a K-pop girl group.
KIIRAS officially made their debut on May 29, 2025, with “KILL MA BO$$,” marking the beginning of their journey in the K-pop scene. Reflecting their diverse cultural backgrounds through their music and identity, the members have quickly stood out with their individual colors while continuing to establish themselves as one of the new faces of global K-pop.
In this Sweety High exclusive interview, we get to know KIIRAS on a deeper level, talking about the group’s formation story, how their multicultural identity influences their music, the bond between the members and their goals for the future. Read the full interview below.
Sweety High: Hello, KIIRAS! It’s such a pleasure to have you here with Sweety High. To start things off, how would you introduce KIIRAS in your own words to someone who is discovering the group for the very first time?
Ling Ling: Hello! We’re KIIRAS! We’re a multinational girl group with members from Malaysia, Japan and Korea.
Each of our six members has her own unique personality and charm, and together, we create the special energy that defines KIIRAS.
The name KIIRAS represents our ambition to become global “RASCALs” who bring the energy of the East to the global stage.
Through our unique music and performances, we hope to bring something fresh and exciting to the global K-pop scene!
(Photo credit: Leanbranding Entertainment)
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SH: During your debut era, you chose a distinctive musical style that brought together Americana, country and R&B influences. What was the biggest reason behind choosing this musical direction? Were you ever worried about how people would respond to it?
Kurumi: From the moment we first heard our debut song, “KILL MA BO$$,” we loved it.
We wanted to show a style of K-pop that mixed unexpected genres rather than going with a more conventional sound, so we were really excited to share it with everyone. We worked very hard because we wanted our very first album to make a strong statement and clearly show KIIRAS’s unique identity.
SH: R&B artist and producer SAAY also played an important role in your debut. You worked with her on both the music production and vocal training. What was it like working with SAAY, and what is the most important thing you learned from her?
Harin: She helped us tremendously with developing our vocal skills from the time we were trainees, but she was also much more than that to us.
Based on her own experiences, she became a mentor who taught us about the mindset and attitude we should have as artists and encouraged us to dream even bigger. One of the most important things she taught us was to treat every performance as if it could be our last—to give it everything we have and truly enjoy being on stage.
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SH: Did SAAY ever give you a particular piece of advice that you still remember and keep in mind during your performances or vocal work?
Kylie: She always reminded us to stay humble and respectful, and she also told us to genuinely have fun whenever we’re on stage.
I think that advice has helped all of us enjoy every performance, from our very first debut stage until now. We’re always very grateful to her for everything she has taught us.
SH: One of KIIRAS’s most distinctive qualities is that the members come from different cultural backgrounds. With members from Korea, Japan and Malaysia, how do you think this diversity contributes to your music and the bond you share as a group?
Doyeon: Because we all come from different cultural backgrounds, we naturally get to learn about one another’s cultures.
When we work on music or prepare for performances, each member brings her own unique perspective and color, which we think allows KIIRAS to show an even more diverse and global charm.
SH: Ling Ling, you are the first Malaysian female idol to debut in a K-pop girl group, which is such a significant and meaningful achievement! How did you feel when you first learned about this milestone? And knowing that you also represent Malaysian fans, do you feel a sense of responsibility?
Ling Ling: I felt incredibly honored and happy that, through my debut, I could introduce Malaysia to even more people who love K-pop.
It also made me want to become a positive example for others who share the same dream as me. Because of that, I naturally developed an even stronger desire to do my best, along with a greater sense of responsibility.
(Photo credit: Leanbranding Entertainment)
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SH: Some of the KIIRAS members debuted at a very young age. What has it been like to grow up while also becoming professional artists at the same time? How do you support one another throughout this journey?
Roah: We feel like we’re growing together through everything we experience as KIIRAS. Whenever things get difficult, we lean on one another and help each other with the areas where we may be lacking.
That gives us a lot of strength. One of the best things is being able to watch each other grow up close and cheer each other on along the way.
SH: KIIRAS’s music and activities are reaching more and more people outside of Korea. Being able to connect with people who don’t even speak the same language through your music is truly special. What has it been like meeting fans from different parts of the world? Is there a particular country or city where you would especially love to perform?
Roah: It feels incredibly special and meaningful that we can connect with people through music even when we don’t speak the same language. We were so happy when we got to meet our fans in places like Malaysia and Indonesia, so next, we’d love to hold our own show in Japan, Kurumi’s home country, and become even closer with our Japanese KIBBLY!
We’re also really excited because we’ll be performing in Europe for the first time at Germany’s Reeperbahn Festival this year. In the future, we hope to visit even more countries across Europe and also meet our fans in South America!
SH: Beyond everything you have done so far, is there something you would like KIIRAS to try in the future that your fans might not expect from you?
Kurumi: Recently, we’ve been working on sharing more song covers with our fans, and we’re also preparing dance videos. Someday, we’d also love for each member to have a solo song that perfectly matches her own individual image and style!
(Photo credit: Leanbranding Entertainment)
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SH: If you had the opportunity to collaborate with any artist in the world, who would you choose as KIIRAS and why?
Harin: We’d love to collaborate with Christopher! We listen to his music a lot, and we actually had the chance to meet him once at a music show.
We were really impressed by how incredible he was live and how comfortable and confident he looked on stage. We felt there was so much we could learn from him, so we’d love to perform together someday!
SH: Thank you so much again for joining us at Sweety High today! Finally, could you share a fun TMI with the Sweety High readers that you haven’t shared before?
Kylie: Here’s a little TMI we can share this time with Sweety High… KIIRAS is planning to make a comeback with a new album in the second half of this year! It’ll feature a concept we’ve never tried before, so please look forward to it!
For even more from the world of K-pop, click HERE to read our interview with MONSTA X on their latest EP, THE PHASE.
