Pentagon's KINO Delivers Stylish TAXI Performance on Music Bank — Third Solo EP Out Now

KINO, the multi-talented member of CUBE Entertainment group Pentagon, brought his new solo single "TAXI" to KBS2's Music Bank on April 3, 2026, in a performance that highlighted exactly why he has built a loyal following as a solo artist. The track serves as the title song of his third EP, Lost and Found, released on April 1.

Featured on KBS Kpop's official YouTube channel, the Music Bank stage gave fans a close look at KINO's confident, kinetic performance style — the kind that turns a three-minute broadcast slot into a statement. The response from fans watching both on television and through the YouTube upload has been enthusiastic, with many pointing to the crisp choreography and KINO's commanding presence as highlights.

About the Song: Finding Your Moment in a Busy Life

"TAXI" is built around a relatable central idea: in the middle of a demanding, hectic daily life, everyone deserves a moment that belongs only to them. The taxi becomes a metaphor for that brief bubble of personal time — the ride between obligations where you can exhale, collect your thoughts, and just exist without pressure.

The track's sound matches its concept in energy and texture. It's designed to feel accessible and enjoyable without sacrificing sophistication, a balance KINO described in pre-release commentary as his intention: he wanted an album that everyone could enjoy comfortably, regardless of their familiarity with his previous work.

The full EP, Lost and Found, contains four tracks in total, giving listeners a small but cohesive window into where KINO is as a solo artist in 2026. The album title itself — "Lost and Found" — suggests a journey of misplacement and recovery, an emotional arc that connects to the personal freedom theme running through "TAXI."

KINO's Career as a Solo Artist

Within Pentagon, KINO has long been recognized as one of the group's standout performers — a member whose dance ability and stage presence elevate every group showcase. His transition into solo work has allowed him to explore those instincts with more creative control, building a separate artistic identity while remaining an active part of the group.

Lost and Found is his third solo EP, following a trajectory that has steadily expanded his solo fan base both domestically and internationally. CUBE Entertainment's support for the comeback was notably broad: the label coordinated a collaboration with KakaoMobility, Korea's dominant ride-hailing platform, to tie the "TAXI" concept into a real-world promotional campaign. The partnership included in-app promotions through the Kakao T application and outdoor advertising at Seoul Station, one of the city's highest-traffic landmarks.

That kind of cross-industry promotional integration is increasingly common in K-pop, but it requires a concept that can translate from music stage to consumer experience without feeling forced. "TAXI" manages it naturally — the song's central metaphor lends itself to the partnership in a way that reinforces rather than dilutes the artistic concept.

The Music Bank Performance and Fan Reception

The April 3 Music Bank broadcast marked another step in KINO's comeback promotional cycle. He had previously performed "TAXI" on Mnet's M Countdown on April 2, giving the track its first major live broadcast outing. Back-to-back performances on competing broadcast stages within 24 hours is a standard part of K-pop comeback strategy, and KINO's energy remained consistent across both shows.

The KBS Kpop YouTube upload of the Music Bank performance has drawn comments from fans appreciating both the visual quality of the stage design and KINO's execution under live performance conditions. His solo stages are characterized by a kind of unhurried confidence — he inhabits the performance rather than pushing through it, which creates a different emotional register than pure intensity-focused stages.

International fans of Pentagon and KINO's solo work have also responded positively, with multilingual comments appearing in the YouTube upload's comment section from fans in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Pentagon's international fan base, known as Universe (유니버스), has followed KINO's solo activities with particular attention, treating his releases as significant solo career milestones rather than simple side projects.

What This Comeback Means for Pentagon Fans

Pentagon has had an eventful few years by any measure. The group debuted in 2016 under CUBE Entertainment and has maintained a loyal international fan base — known as Universe — through a combination of consistent output, genuine member personalities, and a reputation for strong live performances. Within that framework, individual members pursuing solo projects has become a healthy part of the group's ecosystem rather than a distraction from it.

KINO's three solo EPs represent a meaningful body of work in their own right. Each release has demonstrated his ability to conceptualize a project from the inside out — choosing themes, aesthetics, and sonic directions that feel personal rather than assigned. "TAXI" and Lost and Found continue that pattern, with the mobility metaphor allowing KINO to explore ideas about freedom, self-determination, and the small moments of genuine rest that make demanding lives sustainable.

For Universe fans, KINO's solo activities are an opportunity to see a side of him that group activities cannot always fully surface. The choreographic precision he is known for within Pentagon translates into solo performances with a slightly different quality — there is no ensemble to anchor to, no shared visual to lean on. What the audience sees is entirely KINO, and the Music Bank performance demonstrated that he holds that space with considerable ease.

The collaboration with KakaoMobility also speaks to KINO's growing profile as a solo brand. Corporate partnerships in K-pop are not offered to artists without a commercial profile worth associating with, and landing a deal with one of Korea's most recognizable tech companies signals that KINO's solo trajectory is being taken seriously at the industry level as well as by fans. It is a small but meaningful indicator of where his solo career is headed.

"TAXI" and Lost and Found arrive at a moment when KINO is actively demonstrating what his solo artistic voice sounds like when given full space to develop. With three EPs now in the catalog, a pattern is emerging: consistent quality, thoughtful conceptual framing, and a performance approach that prioritizes audience connection over spectacle for its own sake. The Music Bank stage was another brick in that foundation, and fans are already anticipating where the "TAXI" era leads next.