Can you imagine a world where your favorite K-pop group’s name feels like a cruel joke? Well, that’s the reality for many fans after CUBE Entertainment's recent trademark application for the name ‘XOGEANS’ sent shockwaves through the online community.

Rumors of a new girl group under this name were met with a mix of disbelief and dismay. While some fans wanted to believe it was just a publicity stunt, the official application made it all too real. The panic set in as fans questioned if this could indeed be the name of their next big idol group.

“They’ve lost their touch… please tell me this is a lie… are they going to work like this…” one concerned fan lamented, voicing the sentiment that many others shared. The shock and confusion were palpable, with fans suggesting that the agency might just be leaning into what they called ‘noise marketing’ — a strategy that seems more about creating buzz than sustaining quality.

Another fan chimed in, “It’s so horrible that it feels like a lie… please tell me it’s a lie.” The unfortunate reality is that many can’t help but draw comparisons to other well-known groups like EXO and NewJeans, eliciting a sense of nostalgia for names that hold significant weight in the K-pop world.

There’s also a growing concern among fans that rather than investing in new ventures, CUBE should perhaps focus on their existing talent. Take Lightsum, for instance, a group many believe has been repeatedly overlooked. One passionate fan tweeted, “Meanwhile, their actually talented group Lightsum gets shoved to the side time and time again.”

This frustration only amplifies the conversation. As one user put it, combining already popular names of existing groups feels like a recipe for confusion. “Sorry, but combining the existing names for two very popular groups is a bit???” they commented, highlighting the potential pitfalls of this naming strategy.

And let’s not forget the backlash over the perceived laziness of the name choice itself. “Lazy as f*** name, and what will be their fandom name? Bunnies-L??” another fan quipped, showcasing the mix of humor and frustration that often accompanies fan culture.

The community is buzzing with questions. What do you think about this new group name? Will it live up to the expectations, or will it fade away faster than a summer hit?