‘Nugu’ is derived from the Korean word ‘누구’, which literally translates ‘who’. This term is commonly used among K-pop fans to refer to smaller, lesser-known groups. While it’s sometimes used with negative connotations by Korean fans, among international fans it has evolved into a more neutral term. On our page, we avoid using it in a derogatory manner and aim to highlight these groups positively.

We evaluate various factors like album sales, chart performance, streams, music video views, social media presence and interactions to determine which artists align with our ‘nugu’ criteria. However, we do not adhere to a specific standard as those numbers are not linear for any group and the numbers can vary depending on different factors, such as when a group debuted. We aim for objectivity, but it’s important to keep in mind this matter is somewhat subjective. What one person defines as ‘nugu’ might differ from another’s perspective. Therefore, you might find groups on our account that you would classify differently. We like to take our followers’ feedback into account as well, so if you don’t agree with a group we post, or want to see a group that you believe is nugu on our account, let us know!

Send us your requests through our DMs, E-Mail or the contact form on our website. We take requests for artists, songs, guides, interviews and translations (ENG-KOR/ KOR-ENG).

Good news, we are currently recruiting! If you are interested in joining us, please fill out this form or contact us through DM or e-mail. Send us a short introduction, tell us which nugu groups you stan, the reason you’d like to be an admin, why you’d be a great fit for our team, and what you can bring to the team.

We currently have no definite plans to branch out to other social media platforms yet, but it’s a goal we have set for ourselves in the future.

Our account primarily focuses on promoting K-pop artists due to high demand, but we also share other genres of Korean music, as well as C-pop J-pop, Q-pop, T-pop, and more. We’re open to featuring any Asian artists, so feel free to send us requests for genres or specific artists you’d like to see us promote!

Nugu Archive does not support or encourage the use of AI, and we aim to avoid posting AI-generated content as much as possible, usually trying to work around it when we can. However, AI has become increasingly common in the K-pop industry, especially among smaller groups and companies with lower budgets, so avoiding it entirely is, unfortunately, not always possible. As a result, you may occasionally come across AI-generated content, such as album covers, on our account. Please note that this does not reflect our views on AI, but rather our commitment to keep our followers updated with the latest info and releases.

As of 2026, we do not promote trainees, artists, or groups with members born in or after 2010, as we recognize the harm and dangers of debuting idols at such a young age and do not wish to support or endorse it. Content involving minors born before 2010 will undergo careful review, and anything deemed inappropriate for their age will not be shared.