KiiiKiii Shines on JTBC: How This New Idol Group Captivated Fans with Their Unique Talents

Daniel Kim 2026.03.15 Views

KiiiKiii / Photo = Starship Entertainment

[Sports Today reporter Jeong Ye-won] The girl group KiiiKiii (Jiyu, Isol, Sui, Ha-eum, Kiya) reinforced their presence as variety-show personalities.

KiiiKiii appeared on JTBC’s Knowing Bros on the 14th, delivering plenty of laughs with sharp comedic timing.

On the show’s \”Arrived from an Off-Map Location\” segment, the group entered as transfer students and signaled their variety chops from the outset. The members introduced themselves and answered every question smoothly, while Kiya drew attention by teasing Kim Hee-chul for not knowing the lyrics to their new single \”404 (New Era).\” For the team battle, they enlisted Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun and Min Kyung-hoon.

They performed choreography spanning their debut single \”I DO ME\” through the hit \”404 (New Era),\” showcasing peak Gen Z appeal. The members explained the origin of the name KiiiKiii and highlighted each member’s charms, laying out clear reasons to become fans. Asked whether they felt pressure from being labeled IVE’s \”little sisters,\” they said they were grateful rather than burdened, showing a mature outlook.

The group also revealed distinct pre-debut backgrounds that piqued interest. Jiyu, a Busan Foreign Language High School alum, said she played Go for more than seven years and finished runner-up in a Mayor’s Cup tournament. Isol surprised viewers by admitting she once dreamed of becoming a doctor before pursuing idol life. Kiya, who has explored various performing arts, recalled singing traditional folk songs as a child and delivered a powerful live folk performance, while Ha-eum underscored her performance prowess with a dance medley.

KiiiKiii cited their low, rich vocals as the group’s strength. Isol explained that she and Kiya anchor the group with weighty tones, while Sui and Jiyu provide appealing high notes and falsetto, and Ha-eum lifts the mood with her distinctive voice. Kiya also performed \”Bloodsucker,\” the song she prepared for her high school audition, showcasing the allure of her deep, resonant \”cave\” voice.

In the first round of the idol showdown, Isol and Jiyu represented KiiiKiii in a ventriloquism battle, delivering tricky lines without moving their lips and surprising the cast. In the subsequent talent round, Sui did impressions of the cartoon characters Jjanggu and Maenggu, while Jiyu astonished everyone with a trick that involved opening her mouth extremely wide.

Kiya dominated both the hand-size contest and the low-voice challenge with commanding presence, standing out in every round. In the final rhythm-game showdown, Isol ran away with the victory, displaying exceptional rhythm and vocal control.

After a humor-packed appearance on Knowing Bros, Sui grinned and said, \”Mom! I was on Knowing Bros,\” while Jiyu closed with a witty line: \”I was so nervous today my heart nearly popped out. Thank you for taking such good care of us. If we become superstars, please call us back.\”

KiiiKiii plans to continue engaging with fans through a variety of activities and content.