Xg Producer Simon Jakops Discusses Group's Future After 'The Core'

The Japan-based pop group Xg is pioneering the global K-pop model with its all-Japanese, English-language releases.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 7:07pm

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Simon Jakops, the CEO of Xgalx and lead producer for the seven-member pop group Xg, discusses the group's unique formula and what's next after the release of their album 'The Core'. Xg was formed as part of a joint venture between Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex and Jakops, with members trained and based in Japan but promoting through the K-pop system in Korea and performing entirely in English - an unheard-of approach at the time.

Why it matters

Xg represents a pioneering model for global pop groups, blending Japanese talent, K-pop promotion tactics, and English-language performances to reach an international audience. As global pop music continues to rise in popularity, Xg's success could pave the way for more groups to adopt this multi-national, multilingual approach.

The details

Jakops, whose real name is Simon Junho Park, was born in Seattle to a Japanese mother and Korean father. He spent his formative years in Korea before debuting in the K-pop boy group Dmtn. Jakops then shifted his focus to producing and founded Xgalx, the joint venture with Avex that created Xg. The seven Xg members were all trained and based in Japan, but the group promoted their releases through the established K-pop system in Korea and performed entirely in English, an unconventional approach at the time.

  • Xg was formed and debuted in 2022 as part of the Xgalx joint venture.
  • Xg released their album 'The Core' in 2026.

The players

Simon Jakops

The CEO of Xgalx and lead producer for the pop group Xg. Jakops, whose real name is Simon Junho Park, was born in Seattle to a Japanese mother and Korean father and spent his formative years in Korea before debuting in the K-pop boy group Dmtn.

Xg

A seven-member global pop group formed as part of the Xgalx joint venture between Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex and producer Simon Jakops. The Xg members are all trained and based in Japan, but the group promotes their English-language releases through the K-pop system in Korea.

Xgalx

The joint venture between Japanese entertainment conglomerate Avex and producer Simon Jakops that created the global pop group Xg.

Avex

A Japanese entertainment conglomerate that partnered with producer Simon Jakops to form the Xgalx joint venture and create the pop group Xg.

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What they’re saying

“Knowing the 39-year-old's origins provides a good window into just how Xg's formula came to be.”

— Nicole Fell, Author

What’s next

Jakops and Xg are expected to discuss the group's future plans and musical direction following the release of their album 'The Core'.

The takeaway

Xg's unique model of blending Japanese talent, K-pop promotion tactics, and English-language performances represents a pioneering approach in the global pop music landscape. As international music continues to gain popularity, Xg's success could inspire more groups to adopt this multi-national, multilingual formula.