Stray Kids debuted on March 25, 2018. JYP Entertainment formed this group, and they released their first mini-album “I am NOT” with the song “District 9.”
Here’s what’s cool: they actually wrote and produced their own music right from the start. Most new groups don’t get to do that. Their songs talk about rebelling against society and figuring out who you really are.
Let me walk you through their whole story, from the survival show to their first big performance.
What Is Stray Kids Official Debut Date?
Stray Kids officially debuted on March 25, 2018. That day, they did a showcase called “UNVEIL” at this place in Seoul called Jangchung Gymnasium. They performed songs from their first mini-album live in front of everyone. The album “I am NOT” dropped the next day, on March 26. So that’s when they stopped being trainees and became actual K-pop artists.
Stray Kids Debut: UNVEIL
About 3,000 people showed up to watch the “UNVEIL” showcase, and the place was literally packed with fans and reporters. Stray Kids performed their new songs and showed everyone what they could do.
Their mini-album “I am NOT” went live online at midnight on March 26. It had eight songs, and get this, most of them were made by 3RACHA, which is their own production team inside the group.
“District 9” was their main debut song. It’s about this imaginary place where young people are fighting back against being controlled. The song mixes hip-hop beats with really strong rap parts and a chorus that sticks in your head.
The message was clear: rebel and speak up when society tries to silence you.
People in the music world were pretty impressed because this brand-new group was already making its own music. You just didn’t see that much back then with rookies.
Pre-Debut Journey Leading To March 2018
Stray Kids were on a survival show and put out some songs before they officially debuted. Smart move, right? By the time March 2018 rolled around, people already knew who they were and what their music sounded like.
Stray Kids Survival Show (October-December 2017)
So there was this survival show on Mnet called “Stray Kids” that ran from October to December 2017, with ten episodes total.
Nine guys were competing: Bang Chan, Woojin, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N. Park Jin-young from JYP put them through all these different challenges.
But here’s the crazy part, Felix and Lee Know actually got eliminated during the show. Everyone thought they were out. But then they got brought back at the end! So all nine members made it to debut (feeling proud online).
“Hellevator” and Mixtape Era of Stray Kids
They dropped “Hellevator” on October 19, 2017, while the show was still on TV. It was this dark, intense track that showed people what their style would be like.
Then, in January 2018, they released “Mixtape”, which was kind of like a preview of what was coming. Some of those songs got redone later for their official albums.
These releases did exactly what they needed to get people talking and excited. By debut time, everyone already had a feel for their vibe.
Stray Kids Members and Leadership
Right now, Stray Kids has eight members. Each guy brings something different to the table. They make their own music, and their performances are really high-energy. Leading all of this is Bang Chan.
Woojin left back in October 2019, so now there are eight members. Let me tell you about each one.
1. Bang Chan – The Leader
Bang Chan is the leader of Stray Kids. And he is involved in producing most of their music.
He’s from Sydney, Australia. He trained at JYP for seven years before his debut. He personally picked every member.
He’s part of 3RACHA, their production team. He also does “Chan’s Room” every week, where he talks with fans online.
His leadership is relaxed. He wants everyone’s ideas, not just his own.
2. Lee Know
Lee Know is the main dancer. His real name is Lee Min-ho.
Fun Fact: before JYP, he was a backup dancer for BTS! His dancing is super precise. He helps in creating their choreography.
He’s also really funny. On variety shows, he makes people laugh with his dry humor.
3. Changbin
Changbin is the main rapper. He’s in 3RACHA too.
He writes their hardest rap parts. When he performs, it’s intense. He has fast flow and powerful delivery.
Off stage, he’s playful and goofy. On stage, he looks tough with muscles and fierce looks. But he’s actually a big softie.
4. Hyunjin
Hyunjin is the main dancer and lead rapper.
Many people notice his looks first. But he’s gotten really good at rapping. He writes songs now.
His dancing is expressive and dramatic. You can’t look away. He’s also into art. He paints and draws. Sometimes he shares his art with fans.
5. Han
Han! That’s Han Ji-sung, who is also the main rapper and the third guy in 3RACHA. He’s involved in writing and producing basically everything they put out.
He can rap really aggressively one second and then turn around and sing melodically the next, awesome right!. His lyrics get pretty personal sometimes, which adds a lot of depth to their songs.
6. Felix
Felix has this crazy, deep voice (which is literally die for). When you first hear it, you’re like “wait, THAT’S coming from him?” He’s from Sydney too, so he and Bang Chan speak English together.
His voice is so unique, it really stands out in their tracks. Other than the music, he loves to bake. Fans actually call him “sunshine” because he’s just got this super warm, friendly personality.
7. Seungmin
Seungmin is the main vocalist.
During live shows, he always sounds good and stable. He’s been working on his voice since joining JYP. It shows.
He handles high notes and emotional parts. At concerts, he’s the reliable one who delivers clean vocals every single time.
8. I.N
I.N (Yang Jeong-in) is the youngest member. He’s grown so much since his debut. You can see that his singing has gotten way better.
Even though he’s the maknae, he’s confident on stage now with his bright energy. Fans love watching him grow.
They’ve had eight members since October 2019. It’s working great.
Stray Kids Debut Album and Achievements Era
When “I am NOT” came out, I felt like it was more than just their first album. It basically told everyone what Stray Kids was all about, making their own music and being real.
“I am NOT” dropped on March 26, 2018.
The eight songs from the “I am NOT” are: “District 9,” “NOT!,” “YAYAYA,” “Spread My Wings,” “Grrr,” “School Life,” “Mixtape#1,” and “Mixtape#2.”
3RACHA wrote and produced almost everything.
The whole album said, “Don’t label us, we’ll figure ourselves out.” For rookies to control their music like this? Pretty unusual and impressive.
The album did really well right out of the gate. It hit number four on Korea’s Gaon Album Chart and sold over 54,000 copies in just the first month. It also made it to number two on Billboard’s World Albums chart.
They won a bunch of rookie awards that year, like the Rookie Award at the Golden Disc Awards and Best New Male Artist at MAMA.
In August 2018, they announced their fan club name would be STAY. Their debut year basically proved they weren’t just another rookie group trying to make it; they were here to stay.
From Debut to Now – Stray Kids Key Milestones
It’s been seven years since they debuted. They went from a survival show to selling out stadiums all over the world.
Let me show you the major moments in their career.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Survival show & “Hellevator” |
| 2018 | Official debut (March 25) |
| 2019 | First world tour announcement |
| 2020 | “God’s Menu” breakthrough |
| 2021-2023 | Global expansion & Billboard success |
| 2024-2025 | Stadium tours & continued dominance |
Their achievements are really looked up to. What makes them special is that they’ve stayed true to making their own music while also becoming hugely successful. And that’s not an easy thing in this industry.
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Conclusion: Stray Kids Debuted On March 25, 2018
So yeah, on March 25, 2018, everything officially started with Stray Kids’ “UNVEIL” showcase and “I am NOT” mini-album.
Seven years later, they’re topping charts and filling stadiums around the world. They’re still making their own music. That’s what they’ve been about since day one.
For the group and their fans (STAY), March 25 will always be special. It’s the day Stray Kids officially became Stray Kids.
FAQs
Stray Kids officially debuted on March 25, 2018, with their “UNVEIL” showcase in Seoul.
Stray Kids’ debut song is “District 9.” It’s from their mini-album “I am NOT.” The song has a dystopian rebellion concept, and 3RACHA produced it themselves.
Stray Kids are not disbanding. All eight members signed new contracts with JYP back in 2023, so they’re definitely staying together.
Bang Chan is the leader. He picked all the members before their debut and leads their music production. He’s originally from Sydney, Australia, and trained at JYP for seven years before they debuted.
Woojin left on October 27, 2019. JYP said it was for personal reasons. Since then, the group has kept going with eight members.
