Korean pop music, known as K-pop for short, has grown into a massive international phenomenon. The number of fantastically talented K-pop bands taking the world by storm seems to be neverending. One of the newest and most buzzworthy of these bands, one that’s seen plenty of success in just a few short years since its founding, is Monsta X. Never heard of them? You will. They’re poised to become household names any day now.

Don’t Let Their Good Looks Fool You

Like just about every other K-pop boy band out there, Monsta X is filled with some of the cutest pretty boys you’ll find outside of an NSYNC or Backstreet Boys music video. The cutesy spelling of the band name fits perfectly with these perfectly coiffed, makeup-wearing boys for sure. But the members of Monsta X are so much more than a pretty face: they’re tough cookies through and through.

That’s because the group was formed during a grueling elimination-style competition show that makes American Idol look like a spelling bee. Only the strong survive, and the six members of Monsta X were the cream of the crop when it came to singing, dancing, performing, and popularity.

K-Pop is Serious Business

The K-Pop phenomenon is known for its flashy stage shows, performers with flamboyant personalities and impressive performance skills, and musicality that combines aspects of not just pop but also R&B, hip-hop, trap, and EDM, all of which comes together in an incredible spectacle. Watching a K-Pop music video doesn’t get you anywhere near the feeling of sitting in an audience of tens of thousands when one of these bands take the stage.