# Kiss of Life (키스 오브 라이프) (group)
**Kiss of Life** (키스 오브 라이프, often shortened to KIOF) is a four-member South Korean girl group formed by S2 Entertainment that debuted on July 5, 2023 with the mini album *KISS OF LIFE*.[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) • [2](https://chukkae.com/artists/kiss-of-life) The members are Julie, Natty, [Belle](https://www.edgepedia.org/belle-music), and Haneul, and the group is known for a K-pop sound tinted with early-2000s R&B influences.[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kiss-of-life-mn0001428404) The name refers to the English phrase meaning artificial respiration, carrying the message of breathing fresh air into K-pop and exciting listeners with new music.[4](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Debut | July 5, 2023, under S2 Entertainment, with the mini album *KISS OF LIFE* and title track "Shhh"[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) • [5](https://kpopdiscover.com/en/groups/kiss-of-life/) |
| Members | Julie (leader, born 2000), Natty (born 2002), Belle (born 2004), Haneul (born 2005)[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) |
| Musical style | K-pop tinted with early-2000s R&B influences; described as R&B- and soul-based[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kiss-of-life-mn0001428404) • [6](https://kpophistory.com/artist-kiss-of-life.html) |
| Notable releases | *Born to be XX* (2023), *Lose Yourself* (2024), *224* (2025), singles "Midas Touch", "Sticky", "SWEAT"[7](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kiss-of-life/1694672936) |
| Early recognition | Rookie of the Year at the Korean Music Awards (2024)[8](https://www.nme.com/reviews/kiss-of-life-midas-touch-review-3616351) |
| World touring | First world tour KISS ROAD, starting October 2024 in Korea and continuing through North America, Europe, and Asia[4](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html) |
| Japan activities | Japanese debut in November 2025 with the mini album *TOKYO MISSION START*; *SWEAT -JAPANESE EP-* followed on September 16, 2026[4](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html) |
## Members
The group's four members have distinctly international backgrounds. **Julie**, the leader, is a Korean American born in 2000 who was born in Hawaii and previously trained at [YG Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/yg-entertainment).[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) **Natty**, born in 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand, appeared on the survival shows *SIXTEEN* and *Idol School* and had already debuted as a soloist before joining the group.[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) • [2](https://chukkae.com/artists/kiss-of-life) **Belle**, born in 2004, is a Korean American singer-songwriter and the daughter of the 1990s popular singer Shim Shin; she worked as a songwriter before her debut, including on LE SSERAFIM's "UNFORGIVEN".[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j) **Haneul**, born in 2005, is the only member with South Korean nationality and is a former HYBE Entertainment trainee.[1](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j)
Belle's songwriting has continued to be a visible part of the group's identity. In August 2026 she said she had composed more than a thousand songs and had participated in songwriting for LE SSERAFIM.[9](https://www.allkpop.com/artisttag/kiss_of_life)
## Debut and early releases
S2 [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment) introduced the members throughout May 2023 before issuing the first mini album, *KISS OF LIFE*, in July of that year.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kiss-of-life-mn0001428404) The rollout was unusual for a rookie group: each member released her own solo track and music video, "Sugarcoat", "Countdown", "Kitty Cat", and "Play Love Games", before the group song, a nod to the members' different backgrounds.[2](https://chukkae.com/artists/kiss-of-life) The debut mini album included the title track "Shhh".[5](https://kpopdiscover.com/en/groups/kiss-of-life/)
A second mini album, *Born to be XX*, followed in 2023.[7](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kiss-of-life/1694672936) By early 2024 the group had won Rookie of the Year at the [Korean Music Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/korean-music-awards), and the April 2024 single "Midas Touch" was reviewed by NME as a confident single with a nostalgic pop style reminiscent of [Britney Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/britney-spears) and [Christina Aguilera](https://www.edgepedia.org/christina-aguilera) in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[8](https://www.nme.com/reviews/kiss-of-life-midas-touch-review-3616351)
## 2024 breakthrough and touring
The 2024 releases *Lose Yourself* and the singles "Midas Touch" and "Sticky" established the group's presence on streaming platforms, with "Sticky", "Igloo", and "Te Quiero" appearing among their most-streamed songs.[7](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kiss-of-life/1694672936) In October 2024 the group began its first world tour, KISS OF LIFE 1ST WORLD TOUR [KISS ROAD], starting in Korea and continuing through North America, Europe, and Asia, which the group's Japanese label describes as a success built on polished performances.[4](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html)
## Controversy in 2025
In April 2025, a "hip-hop-themed" anniversary livestream organized for Julie, featuring gold chains, African braids, and exaggerated mannerisms, quickly sparked accusations of cultural appropriation and racial stereotyping.[10](https://kfm-radio.com/k-articles/kiss-of-life-a-year-after-the-scandal)
## Japan activities and 2026 releases
The group made its Japanese debut in November 2025 with the JAPAN 1st Mini Album *TOKYO MISSION START* and held the KISS OF LIFE Japan Debut Tour [Lucky Day].[4](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html) In 2026 the group released the digital single "BREAK IT" on July 4 as the ending theme of the TV anime *DIGIMON BEATBREAK*, followed by the third single "SWEAT" on August 4 at 6 p.m. KST.[11](https://kissoflife.jp/page/index.html) • [12](https://news.sbs.co.kr/amp/news.amp?news_id=N1008667067) "SWEAT" is an Afro-house-based summer song; member Natty said the group aimed for the title "Summer Queen" to come to mind when people think of Kiss of Life.[13](https://en.edaily.co.kr/news/eda202608045459/) The "SWEAT" music video passed 10 million views in two days and later surpassed 30 million views, and the group won an episode of SBS MTV's *The Show* with the song on August 11, 2026.[9](https://www.allkpop.com/artisttag/kiss_of_life) • [14](https://kpopvisage.com/group/kiss-of-life/timeline) The JAPAN 2nd Mini Album *SWEAT -JAPANESE EP-* was released on September 16, 2026.[4](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html)
## References
1. [KISS OF LIFE profile, KBS WORLD Japanese](https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/contents_view.htm?board_seq=442666&lang=j)
2. [Kiss of Life Members Profile, Discography & Music Show Wins, Chukkae](https://chukkae.com/artists/kiss-of-life)
3. [Kiss of Life — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kiss-of-life-mn0001428404)
4. [KISS OF LIFE プロフィール, 日本コロムビア](https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kissoflife/prof.html)
5. [KISS OF LIFE profile in English, KPOP DISCOVER](https://kpopdiscover.com/en/groups/kiss-of-life/)
6. [키스 오브 라이프 (KISS OF LIFE), 한국의 뮤지션들](https://kpophistory.com/artist-kiss-of-life.html)
7. [KISS OF LIFE, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kiss-of-life/1694672936)
8. [KISS OF LIFE prove they have the 'Midas Touch', NME](https://www.nme.com/reviews/kiss-of-life-midas-touch-review-3616351)
9. [KISS OF LIFE artist tag, allkpop](https://www.allkpop.com/artisttag/kiss_of_life)
10. [KISS OF LIFE: A year after the scandal, K-Articles / KFM Radio](https://kfm-radio.com/k-articles/kiss-of-life-a-year-after-the-scandal)
11. [KISS OF LIFE Japan Official Site NEWS](https://kissoflife.jp/page/index.html)
12. [KISS OF LIFE Announces Their 'Hot Girl' Summer Comeback, SBS Star](https://news.sbs.co.kr/amp/news.amp?news_id=N1008667067)
13. [Kiss of Life: "We've Infused Our New Song with a Sense of Maturity", EDAILY](https://en.edaily.co.kr/news/eda202608045459/)
14. [Kiss Of Life Timeline, KpopVisage](https://kpopvisage.com/group/kiss-of-life/timeline)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Music scenes › East and Southeast Asian pop scenes › K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Artists, groups, and people: K-pop and the Korean popular music scene › Fourth- and fifth-generation idol groups › Titles I to O*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license