KIIRAS Makes K-Pop History as First Girl Group to Headline Malaysia New Year's Eve Countdown
Rookie girl group KIIRAS became the first K-pop act to headline Malaysia's Sunway Velocity New Year's Eve Countdown on December 31, performing for 3,000 fans at Jalan Peel in Kuala Lumpur.
The six-member group-Lingling, Harin, Kylie, Kurumi, Doyeon, and Roah-delivered performances of "Kill Ma Bo$" and "BANG BANG!" at the annual street festival, which featured artisan markets and midnight fireworks.
Lingling's Homecoming
Leader Lingling (Alicia Wong), Malaysia's first female K-pop idol, marked an emotional return to her home country five months after KIIRAS's August promotional visit. Crowds filled the airport upon their arrival, with extensive local media coverage highlighting the group's growing influence.
"Spending the last day of 2025 in my hometown of Kuala Lumpur made this incredibly special," Lingling shared with fans. The 20-year-old from Klang communicated with attendees in four languages: Malay, Chinese, English, and Korean.
"We'll return next year with even better performances," member Harin promised.
Seven-Month Journey to Headliner Status
KIIRAS's headliner position at one of Malaysia's premier New Year's celebrations represents a rapid rise for the group, who debuted May 29, 2025, under LeanBranding. They shared the stage with Malaysian artists MASDO, DJ Blink, and Layla Sania.
Korean outlet Sports Kyunghyang noted the achievement demonstrates KIIRAS's "steep growth trajectory befitting a '5th-generation global girl group.'"
Growing Malaysian Presence
Since debut, KIIRAS has built momentum in Malaysia through strategic appearances. Their August visit included "The Music Journey 2 Roadshow," a collaboration with girl group DOLLA, and the FILA "LOVE:ALL" launch at Sunway Pyramid.
The group's recent releases include Christmas single "KIIRASMAS" (December 8) and comeback album "BANG BANG!" (November 14). Producer Saay (formerly of EvoL) oversees their musical direction.
KIIRAS's New Year's Eve headliner status marks their strongest signal yet of international growth, particularly in Southeast Asia where Lingling's Malaysian heritage has cultivated a dedicated fanbase.
