ARTBEAT

ARTBEAT — From Daegu Dongseong-ro to Hongdae: An 8-Year Record of "Right Here?"

The moment someone shouts "Right→ here↗?!" in the middle of the street, a full synchronized choreography immediately kicks off. Repeating this signature scene for over 8 years, ARTBEAT is a K-pop cover dance channel that has gathered 5.07 million YouTube subscribers, as well as the name of the crew, AB PROJECT, featured in the videos. Starting out in Daegu in 2016 and making the streets of Seoul's Hongdae their main stage since 2023, they typically roll out cover performances within a few weeks of a new track's release. A single video of BLACKPINK's 'KILL THIS LOVE' filmed on Daegu Musical Street in 2019 racked up 40.2 million views, and in August 2026, they even launched 'ARTBEAT Original,' a variety series showcasing the members beyond their dance routines.

At a Glance

Subscriber and view counts reflect public figures at the time of check and will shift over time. Because crew members rotate frequently, it is best to check the "Dancers" section in each video's description for the most accurate lineup at any given point.

From Daegu's Dongseong-ro to Hongdae: The Crew's Journey

According to a June 2022 article in Maeil Shinmun, the channel started when founder Kim Jun-seok began filming dance videos for younger members of his college dance club. Hooked on the filming process, he started recruiting dancers, and by the time the article was published (at 3.81 million subscribers), the roster had grown to 54 active members—30 based in Daegu and 24 in the Seoul metropolitan area team, A2Be. Tracking the location tags in their video titles clearly shows their geographical shift. Among the first 321 episodes of "Here?", 63 were tagged "@Dongseong-ro" (October 2018 – May 2023) and 121 were tagged "@Hongdae" (from February 2023 onward), with every subsequent episode filmed in Hongdae.

"Right Here?" — How Street One-Takes Became a Trademark Brand

The series takes its name from its opening cue. Right in front of the camera, a member delivers their signature catchphrase and hand gesture—asking "Right here?"—before launching straight into a full, uninterrupted dance routine on the spot. Unlike typical dance covers stitched together from multiple edited cuts, these raw takes capture everything: passing pedestrians, curious crowds gathering behind, and hair fluttering in the wind. The YouTube title format has remained virtually the same for eight years—[여기서요?] Artist - Song Title | Dance Cover @Location—making a simple scroll through the playlist a clear snapshot of what was trending at any given time.

The Right Here? Playlist counts 328 videos up to the 2026-10-24 LIGHTSUM "What Do I Do" episode, totaling a combined 480 million views across all 328 uploads. October's lineup included ALLDAY PROJECT's "TALK" and "CRASH" as well as BOYNEXTDOOR's "ANIMAL", with the LIGHTSUM episode being a special collaboration featuring the original artists. Songs are often uploaded in two separate versions—Team A and Team B—allowing viewers to compare the same choreography across different dancer lineups, while the description box details exactly which dancer covers which idol's position.

Top 10 Iconic Performances by Views

These rankings reflect the 328 videos in the "Here?" playlist, sorted by view count as of 2026-11-02. The top seven performances date back to the crew's Daegu era, while No. 8, "GOLDEN," was filmed during their Hongdae era.

The description of the top-ranking video still carries a memorable one-liner: "An episode of 'Here?' alongside an unprecedented crowd." Among more recent releases, five of the 34 videos uploaded in 2026 have surpassed 1 million views: Hearts2Hearts's "RUDE!" (1.82M), BABYMONSTER's "Chum" (1.80M), ATEEZ's "BAD" (1.77M), LE SSERAFIM's "BOOMPALA" (1.65M), and ILLIT's "It's Me" (1.37M). Viewers can also compare how different teams interpreted the same track side by side; for instance, aespa's "WDA" is compiled under WDA Dance Cover, featuring versions by ARTBEAT's Team A, Team B, and other guest dance crews.

Telling the Three "Here?" Formats Apart

While their similar titles make them easy to confuse, each of these three series differs in filming location and purpose.

Episode counts are based on the playlists as of 2026-11-02. Because "Room Corner Here?" is filmed indoors unaffected by the weather, it is uploaded most frequently; across the two days of October 31 to November 1 alone, releases poured in all at once, including Tuide 'GRLS', fromis_9 'Vitamin ME', kiiikiii 'Candy Pink Magic Hole Flip Phone', RESCENE 'De Javu', and NCT 127 'Piñata'. Meanwhile, "Busking Here?" has not seen a new upload since its late May 2026 installment. Busking performances also produce a wealth of fan-shot fancams, which follow an individual member from start to finish, seamlessly filling the gaps left by the wide-angle, full-formation shots of the official videos.

2026 New Series: 'ARTBEAT Main Series'

Launched on August 2, 2026, ARTBEAT Main Series is a variety-style series introduced by the channel as "the stories of the people behind the dance videos." Running between 17 and 27 minutes per episode, each installment features two to three members documenting their daily lives and prep work for an upcoming cover dance, leading up to the final performance. It serves as a great entryway for fans who previously only watched their dance covers to get to know the members' names and personalities.

Dedicated stage videos for the songs covered in each main episode are uploaded separately during the same week under "Here?" or "In My Room, Here?". Watching the main episode first and then heading over to the dance cover lets you see the whole journey unfold seamlessly from rehearsal to final routine. As of 2026-11-02, the playlist features seven episodes ending with EP.07 on September 15, with no new episodes released since.

AB PROJECT — Member Structure and Teams A & B

ARTBEAT's dancers are grouped under the crew name AB PROJECT rather than using individual stage names. The channel features 76 member-specific playlists titled in the format Name @Instagram in AB PROJECT, making it easy to track down performances by a particular member. For long-standing members, a single playlist can exceed 300 videos.

The practice of Team A and Team B filming separate covers of the same track dates back to their 2019 release of 'KILL THIS LOVE'. Because the description box lists dancers alongside the original idol members in a 1:1 format—such as Jennie - DaGun—viewers can easily follow a specific idol's choreography parts. According to recruitment criteria compiled on Namuwiki, requirements go beyond basic dance fundamentals to include facial expressions, stage presence, teamwork, and attitude. Names frequently spotted in titles of fan-shot Hongdae fancams—such as Haeun, Seyoung, Yubin, and Yoona—are among the crew's most active performers as of 2026.

ABCC, Practice Room & Web Drama — Content Beyond Dance

For anyone learning the cover choreography, the mirrored versions on AB PRACTICE are the most practical. With the screen orientation flipped to match your perspective, following the steps is effortless.

From Crew to Idols: ARTBEAT v and Son Dong-pyo

The crew has served as a launchpad for debut idols on two notable occasions. On November 16, 2022, seven female members debuted as the girl group ARTBEAT v with their first mini-album MAGIC. After two members departed in 2023, they promoted as a five-piece unit until their disbandment was finalized on June 12, 2025. Their agency was AB Creative, the same entity running the channel. On the male roster, Son Dong-pyo performed with the crew before becoming a DSP Media trainee, placing 6th on Produce X 101 to debut with X1, and later re-debuting with MIRAE. Because both trajectories saw cover crew participation translate directly into entertainment agency scouting, many fans view the crew as an unofficial audition and training stage.

Recommended Viewing Guide

1. To grasp the channel's essence, watch "KILL THIS LOVE" (2019, Daegu) followed immediately by "GOLDEN" (2025, Hongdae) from the Top 10 list above. Filming gear and locations shifted across those six years, but the opening cue and one-take structure remain identical.
2. To get familiar with current members, watch ARTBEAT Main Edition starting from EP.01, then look up the corresponding performances on "Right Here?".
3. If you're a fan of a specific idol group, jump between that group's page (BLACKPINK, TWICE, Red Velvet, Hwasa, etc.) and this page to compare the stage formations of the original choreography versus the cover.
4. To see how other crews compare, explore the Cover Crews hub for 4X4, 4U Dance Crew, and Taiwan's ECLAT. Songs covered by multiple teams are grouped together under Song Covers.
5. Official uploads include an intro lasting 40 seconds to 1 minute 10 seconds; check the timestamps in the description box to jump straight to the performance start.

Check Dance Competitions & Events and the 2026 K-Pop Cover Dance Festival for upcoming schedules, or dive into H2 2026 Dance Cover Trends for tracks dominating the cover scene this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are ARTBEAT and AB PROJECT different teams? They are part of the same organization. ARTBEAT is the channel and production company name, while AB PROJECT is the dance crew featured in the videos. The channel's description introduces AB PROJECT as the "ARTBEAT SIGNATURE DANCE CREW."

Where is 'Right here?' filmed? From 2018 to 2023, filming took place frequently across Daegu, including Dongseongno, Musical Street, and the Colorful Festival. Since February 2023, Hongdae has served as the primary filming location. You can confirm the exact spot via the @location tag at the end of each video title.

Where can I find the dancers' names? In the description box of each video under the "Dancers" section, the original artist member, the performing dancer, and their Instagram handle are listed together. The 76 individual member playlists also serve the same purpose.

Can I watch the dance covers in person? While 'Right here?' is filmed in public spaces, shooting schedules are not announced in advance, making an in-person encounter mostly a matter of chance. As for busking schedules, checking official social media channels and fan cafe announcements is currently the only way to stay updated.

When did the channel surpass 5 million subscribers? According to Namuwiki records, it surpassed the milestone on March 18, 2026. As of 2026-11-02, public YouTube statistics stand at 5.07 million subscribers.

Information verified: 2026-11-02 (Originally written: 2026-09-21). Subscriber counts, view counts, and video numbers were compiled from public YouTube channel statistics, while historical details were cross-referenced using Maeil Shinmun reports, Namuwiki records, and video description boxes. Lineups and schedules are subject to change, so consulting official channel announcements is recommended.