JYP Entertainment announced Friday that Stray Kids will release their fourth full-length album KARMA on August 22, marking the K-pop boy group's first full album in over two years.
The upcoming album is scheduled to release at 1 p.m. KST, which translates to midnight Eastern Time for U.S. fans.
The announcement came alongside the release of a futuristic trailer that transported viewers to the year 2081, introducing the concept of "2081 KARMA SPORTS." The cinematic trailer features all eight members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N., as past champions from years 2074 to 2080, competing for another championship title. The sports competition theme draws parallels to major global events like the Olympics and the World Cup, but reimagined in Stray Kids' distinctive style.
The release of KARMA represents a significant milestone for Stray Kids, as it will be their first full-length album since ★★★★★ (5-STAR) released in June 2023. The timing aligns with the conclusion of the group's massive "dominATE" world tour, which spans 34 cities globally and concludes on July 30 in Rome.
Physical album versions of KARMA will be available in multiple formats, including COMPACT, KARMA, ACCORDION, CEREMONY, HOORAY, and SKZOO versions. Additionally, vinyl formats will be offered in three variants: Crystal Clear (Target exclusive), Graphite (Stray Kids Shop exclusive), and Clear Sapphire. Pre-orders are already open through various retailers.
The announcement has generated significant buzz on social media, with the trailer video trending on YouTube in 78 regions worldwide, including Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan. The video topped YouTube's music video trending charts globally within hours of release.
This comeback follows Stray Kids' record-breaking achievement of becoming the first group in Billboard 200 history to debut six consecutive albums at number one. Their previous releases - ODDINARY, MAXIDENT, 5-STAR, Rock-Star, ATE, and HOP, all claimed the top spot, solidifying their position as global chart dominators.
Leading up to the album release, fans can expect additional content, including a week-long celebration called "2025 STAYweeK" to commemorate the seventh anniversary of their official fan club STAY. The promotional schedule will include various images, videos, and music video teasers to be released throughout August.
KARMA promises to deliver Stray Kids' signature high-impact sound while exploring themes of fate, competition, and consequence. The group's in-house production team, 3RACHA, consisting of Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, continues to spearhead the creative direction, maintaining their reputation as a self-producing group.
