Stray Kids (Korean: 스트레이 키즈; often abbreviated as SKZ) are a South Korean boy group formed by JYP Entertainment through the 2017–2018 reality survival show of the same name, Stray Kids. During the program, they were initially referred to as the Boys Project Team, but unlike most K-pop groups, their final name and concept were chosen not by their company, but by the members themselves.

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The name “Stray Kids”—coined collectively by the team—represents their determination to break away from convention, to “stray” from expectations, and to carve their own path. It embodies the belief that their music can reach and comfort other “stray kids” around the world—people searching for belonging, identity, and purpose.

Their main slogan, “Stray Kids everywhere all around the world,” echoes that mission: it speaks to those who feel lost or alone, inviting them to find their way alongside Stray Kids instead of wandering in isolation.

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Stray Kids debuted officially on March 25, 2018, with eight multi-talented members: Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, Han, Felix, Seungmin, and I.N.

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The group is known for its self-producing identity, with members actively participating in every stage of music creation—from composition and lyric writing to choreography and performance. At the center of this creative process is their in-house production unit, 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han), the driving force behind the majority of Stray Kids’ discography.

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Although the group operates without fixed positions—a rarity in K-pop—each member excels in multiple fields, seamlessly transitioning between roles such as vocalist, rapper, dancer, and producer. Their subunits, including DanceRacha (Lee Know, Hyunjin, Felix) and VocalRacha (Seungmin, I.N), contribute heavily to choreography, arrangement, and vocal direction, reinforcing their collaborative, self-sustaining artistry.