PLAVE, the record-breaking K-pop virtual idol group, has unveiled their highly anticipated second single album, ‘PLBBUU.’ The release garnered significant attention, especially after it was revealed that the album features a collaboration with popular Sanrio characters, including My Melody and Cinnamoroll. The teasers for ‘PLBBUU’ also heightened excitement, with the album’s concept centered on conveying the group’s affectionate energy as a heartfelt gift to their dedicated fanbase, PLLI.
The album features the title track ‘BBUU!’ alongside ‘숨바꼭질 (Hide and Seek),’ which was previously released as a digital single, and the closing track, ‘봉숭아 (Bongsoong-a).’ The title track, ‘BBUU!,’ is an easy-listening blend of R&B rhythms and playful lyrics. Its catchy chorus, which repeats numbers in a childlike, rhythmic pattern, creates an addictive hook reminiscent of PLAVE’s previous hit, ‘Why?’ The title ‘BBUU!’ is an onomatopoeic Korean word (뿌우) that mimics the sound of a light kiss or puckered lips. This sound also plays a central role in both the song’s progression and choreography, serving as a visual and auditory motif that enhances the track’s playful energy.
The second track, ‘숨바꼭질 (Hide and Seek),’ is the Korean version of PLAVE’s Japanese debut single, originally released on September 15. Featuring a rich band sound that highlights the group’s unique musical identity, this version retains the emotional depth of the original while introducing new Korean lyrics that add a fresh layer of sentiment, reflecting the distinct nuances of the language.
The album concludes with ‘봉숭아 (Bongsoong-a),’ a pop track with an R&B tempo. The title refers to ‘balsam’ in English, a flower traditionally associated with summer in South Korea. There’s a belief that if you color your nails with balsam and keep them that way until the first snowfall, your love will come true. The track’s delicate lyrics and vocals evoke the image of balsam-colored fingertips against a snowy backdrop, rekindling nostalgic emotions and providing a glimpse into PLAVE’s evolved musical perspective.
You can watch the MV here:
Demonstrating their growth as self-producing idols, all five members of PLAVE contributed to the composition and lyric writing for all three tracks, reaffirming their creative involvement and artistry in this highly anticipated release.
“Thank you always for waiting for us, and we worked very hard to complete this album with the best quality possible, as much as you have waited for it. Please enjoy and give much love to our new album, PLBBUU, and we hope it makes you happy. Love you, BBUU!”
– PLAVE
The virtual group is known for making history on multiple music charts, including Billboard’s Global 200 and Global Excluding US charts with their third mini-album ‘Caligo Pt. 1.’ In August, PLAVE embarked on their first Asia Tour, ‘2025 PLAVE Asia Tour [DASH: Quantum Leap],’ in Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Tokyo. On August 17, which was originally their last performance date in Seoul, PLAVE surprised fans with an announcement of encore concerts on November 21 and 22 at Gocheok Sky Dome. With this encore concert, PLAVE will become the first virtual idol group to perform in and sell out two of South Korea’s top five stadiums (KSPO DOME and Gocheok Sky Dome).
About
PLAVE is a revolutionary virtual idol group redefining the K-pop and music industry landscape with members YEJUN, NOAH, BAMBY, EUNHO, and HAMIN. Introduced by VLAST, PLAVE combines cutting-edge technology, immersive storytelling, and self-produced artistry to push the boundaries of what’s possible in music and entertainment. By blending genuine artistry with groundbreaking innovation, PLAVE is pioneering the future of K-pop. Their webtoon-inspired character designs make them instantly recognizable, but beyond their virtual personas, PLAVE is a fully self-producing group, with each member actively contributing to their artistry. YEJUN, NOAH, and EUNHO handle all lyrics, composition, and production, while BAMBY and HAMIN are responsible for choreography and performance direction.
PLAVE debuted with their single ‘ASTERUM’ in March 2023 and quickly achieved many milestones once thought impossible for virtual idols. They became the first virtual idol group to top multiple major music charts and win first place on multiple music shows such as Show Champion on MBC M and MBC every1, as well as on Show! Music Core, setting new benchmarks and cementing their status in K-pop and music history.
‘Caligo Pt. 1’ released in February 2025 reached over 11 million accumulated streams within a day of release on South Korea’s streaming platform Melon and received two major achievements on the platform for entering the Billions Club, which is given to artists who have recorded more than a billion streams accumulatively since their debut, as well as being the best millions streaming album within 24 hours. Six days after the album’s release, PLAVE’s cumulative streaming number surpassed two billion, and that number continues to grow each day. The title track ‘Dash’ from ‘Caligo Pt. 1’ granted the group’s first entry to Billboard’s Global 200 chart, and four tracks from the album were on Billboard’s Global Excluding US chart. All of these outstanding achievements only continue to prove the group’s worldwide influence and overall potential.
Artist Socials:
Website | X | X (Japan) | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok
Photo Credits: VLAST
Connect with us on Instagram | X | YouTube for more content, interviews, & news.
