yes - groups are manufactured

In some respects, the Korean companies that dominate K-pop are following in the footsteps that Japanese companies pioneered. They still turn them out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIGsBI2Qlf0 . Here's an article about the industry in Japan: https://medium.com/ignition-int/japanese-idols-will-transform-the-world-entertainment-business-b6975f6e588c 

Today, though, Korean acts are far more popular. The Korean Cultural Center has space devoted to Hallyu, the Korean Wave. It is a very serious business. Here's an article about K-Pop from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2016/11/k-pops-global-success-didnt-happen-by-accident