250218 THE BOYZ for Singles Magazine March 2025 Issue [Full Interview Translation]
"The Possible World Unveiled by THE BOYZ"
Last week, THE BOYZ met TheBs after a while through the THE B LAND fanmeeting. You started things off with your debut song, “Boy”. Seems like it brought up some memories.
New: We thought a THE BOYZ - “Boy” stage wearing uniforms was the most anticipated one, so we prepared it as our first performance. It’s a really meaningful debut song both for the fans and for us.
Kevin: When we first rode in then walked over to our positions for the “Boy” choreography, the stage direction there was actually a reenactment of us running on the first scene of the “Boy” MV. The fans probably didn’t know that. (laughter)
Maybe because you were meeting the fans after a while since your world tour in July of last year, you looked even more excited. It’s almost as if you were having fun and not just enjoying the stage.
Younghoon: That’s right. Starting from our mindset itself, the fanconcert was different from the world tour we did before. I’m the type to always be worried about any stage, but surprisingly, I wasn’t worried about this concert. I mean that in a good way!
Differently from the types of stages where you have something to prove and show “this is THE BOYZ!”, it feels like a given that you will have different expectations for a fanconcert where all images you show will be well-received.
Younghoon: All the members had the same opinion of “let’s go crazy with TheBs”. When preparing for a concert, there’s always the pressure of not wanting to mess up choreography or feeling like we have to do well no matter what, but this time we let go of that pressure and just went into it wanting to have fun.
Haknyeon: We went there to communicate more closely with fans.
Kevin: To me it was the opposite, I felt more pressure. Because of the princess costumes… (laughter)
You felt pressured to look pretty?
Kevin: I kept wondering “is this right?”
Sunwoo: Everyone turned into princesses but Kevin dressed up as Tarzan all by himself. (laughter)
Ah, Kevin turned into Moana, right?
Jacob: More like “mwo hana?” (T/N: What are you doing?)
Sunwoo, Haknyeon: Oh, that rhymes! (laughter)
From the emergency meeting for the 11 princesses to the first-seen “Igloo”, “Whiplash”, “Shanghai Romance” units. There were reactions calling you “new concert experts” as well. If you were to choose something in particular you focused on while preparing for this concert?
New: We just wanted to show everything. It was a concert where we had a really big desire to show everything we could. We actually couldn’t hold a year-end concert like we do every year due to the agency change.
Haknyeon: That’s right. Instead of meeting at the end of the year, we met at the start of the new year, and as this was a fanconcert, we listed all the songs the fans love from 1 to 100 and carefully made the setlist like that.
Sunwoo: For this concert I focused my efforts specifically on looking pretty. (laughter)
In one interview, Sunwoo said “Big efforts are a must to truly cherish each and every performance”. I would imagine each member has different areas where they put in the most effort.
Sunwoo: I’m constantly imagining things and coming up with scenarios. “In this part I should do this expression, and in that part I should do that gesture”, that kind of thing. I come up with movements and gestures by imagining them. I lie still and imagine a lot of scenarios.
Younghoon: So you’re always lying down? (laughter)
Sunwoo: When we’re learning a new choreography, I stand still behind the members and just watch. Only after I’ve observed all the details in the movements by the dance instructor can I move my body.
Haknyeon: In my case, I’m a bit slower compared to the other members. My memorization speed, my adaptation speed, it’s all slower, so for 1 or 2 weeks before the concert, I don’t think about anything else at all, only the performances. That way, I can memorize the moves faster and familiarize myself a little more with that performance.
Jacob: I make an effort not to be satisfied. Because I believe that once you’re satisfied, you stop growing. I think I try to accept my strengths and weaknesses as they are while monitoring myself and put in the effort to develop even further.
THE BOYZ is now in their 8th year. How do each of you recall the time spent in these 8 years?
Sunwoo: All kinds of emotions. (T/N: Literally “joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure”, meaning all range of human emotion.) That’s just life. As we live, we experience joyful things, angering things, sorrowful things, pleasing things, and it’s the same with THE BOYZ. Should I say THE BOYZ is like a person? Be it the results of the team or the things we do, it all brings about different kinds of emotions.
Younghoon: To me, I want to say it was TheBs themselves. No matter what, everything was only possible because TheB were there by our side for these 8 years.
We can’t leave out the chemistry between the members. All 11 of you have distinct personalities but you respect each other as you are.
Kevin: The team spirit is really horizontal. (T/N: No hierarchy.) All 11 are friends and family.
Haknyeon: Like what Sunwoo said, THE BOYZ is a team, a person, and life itself. If we don’t respect each other, who will respect us?
New, who wanted to sing so much that he became a singer, who is your musical inspiration/idol?
New: I don’t aspire to be like anyone else. My role models are my fans, of course. I liked singing so I had a vague dream to work as a singer, but now I know this singing isn’t just mine. I share this singing with the people who are listening to it, and for that I’m always grateful towards our fans.
We’ve heard that Kevin has a lot on his mind. It’s to the point where you can’t sleep. Is that still the case these days?
Kevin: These days, there’s been a lot more of me not being able to sleep due to excitement and nervousness about our new beginning than because of worries. (laughter)
Between all of that, what are you most excited about?
Kevin: THE BOYZ evolving musically, and also THE BOYZ’s potential that’s about to blossom. I’m always sort of expecting that the day will come when our potential will blossom beyond what we see right now.
Haknyeon is such a super E (extroverted) that he says he spends even his rest days out of the house. Did you leave the house after the concert ended this time as well?
Haknyeon: I really spent a lot of time outside back in the day. But maybe I’ve grown older. (laughter) These days I find it hard to go out. So I tend to stay inside. At home I spend my time mostly listening to music and practicting recording.
We’ve heard that you like singing so much that you even sing it on your daily life. We heard your sweet voice today during the shooting as well.
Haknyeon: I had vocal practice yesterday so it must be coming out of my lips naturally. I was practicing Yoon Dohyun sunbaenim’s “It Must Have Been Love (사랑했나봐)”. I didn’t realize I was singing it today.
Sunwoo said he thinks “form” is important. What kind of form is that?
Sunwoo: I say a lot that “image/reputation is important” so I think that’s why I’m asked that, but honestly the kind of form I mean isn’t about pretending to be tough to look strong in front of the weak, or acting full of myself. It’s the complete opposite, actually. I think the real form is having great skills but not showing off and just being strong inside. Of course that in order to not lose your form, your skills can’t lag behind, so you need to work harder. (laughter)
The class president Sangyeon is about to enlist. It seems like the responsibility lies heavy on the vice president Jacob’s shoulders.
Jacob: We all work while treating each other as friends so I don’t think I’ll necessarily need to step up and lead. We lead each other.
Haknyeon: Even so, I think it would be nice if Jacob hyung did our group greeting. We should discuss that among ourselves, but still. (laughter)
Younghoon is a member who gets a lot of attention for his handsome looks, right? Between “He’s so handsome that looking at him every day never gets tiring” and “His voice is so nice that listening to him every day never gets tiring”, which one do you like the most?
Younghoon: (After thinking long and hard) Both are great, but I like “so handsome that looking at him every day never gets tiring” more. (laughter) But I think if the fans came to me and said that my voice is so nice they never get tired of listening to it every day, I would be really touched. Even so, so handsome that you never get tired is nicer. (laughter)
Is there anything that THE BOYZ wants to explore for the first time in the future?
Younghoon: If we talk to people, it’s not that they don’t know THE BOYZ. But there aren’t many people who know THE BOYZ’s songs well. So with this new start, we want to make a hit song that once you mention THE BOYZ, people will say “oh, they have a really popular song, don’t they?”.
Kevin: If I were to add to that, I’d love it if we could strengthen the image of a “self-made” group. We have many members that are good at writing and composing songs. So since we have in-house producers and a CEO that support us musically, I’m really looking forward to that.
Even if as a team there is one goal you’re running towards, each one probably has their individual goals. What is the moment that will make each of you feel like you’re satisfied?
Sunwoo: I don’t think I’ll be satisfied no matter what?
Haknyeon: Charting 1st place on Billboard.
Sunwoo: I think I’ll be satisfied then.
To move towards their goal, a team needs an engine, wheels, a steering wheel, and a gear to decide if they go, reverse, or stay on neutral. What role do you think each member assumes in that scenario?
Sunwoo: How should I say this… I don’t believe we need to think of THE BOYZ as one car. Of course, we’re all closely interconnected. But instead of assigning different roles in one car, I think we’re 11 different cars. Each person is responsible for steering its own wheel and has its own engine, right? And while we may be 11 different cars, I believe we’re all moving in the same direction. If someone falls behind, we’ll all slow down, and if someone runs ahead, we all step on the accelerator together.
That is such a cool answer. So what’s the genre of the story about the 11 cars lined up to form THE BOYZ?
Haknyeon: “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” Just like that saying, I think it depends on the perspective. From up close, it could be a documentary about 11 people, but from far away, it could be a romantic movie of THE BOYZ and TheBs.
Younghoon: All-genre. I think THE BOYZ’s color is that we can do any genre well.
What kind of group do THE BOYZ want to be defined as?
New: In the future, in the present, and in the past, THE BOYZ are boys. Just like it’s always been, I would like for us to be defined as boys.
You’re releasing a new album in March. You’re starting a new journey, so is there anything you would like to say to TheBs?
Younghoon: Our TheBs must’ve been worried since the beginning about things like what company we would move to, what new beginning we would have. But after the fanconcert, I felt like both the members and the fans grew to trust the new company a lot.
Kevin: That’s right. Our new album has a completely different color and vibe compared to what THE BOYZ has shown so far, so I’m really excited to see what will be TheBs’ reactions.
Haknyeon: I wonder if we need to express that it’s a new beginning at all. THE BOYZ is always THE BOYZ, regardless of what company we are in, we will continue to make our own path. Just like now.
New: Just like TheBs cherish THE BOYZ, we too will continue to love TheBs, so please believe in us and walk with us until the end, that’s what I want to say. Thank you always!
You showed special stages at the fan concert last week.
Juyeon: It felt like I was dreaming. The performances were all planned as a way to repay the fans’ love even if just a little bit, so we were able to definitely perform more comfortably and just as ourselves. However, instead of the performances that we spent months putting our sweat and blood into, the princess costumes seem to have gotten an even better reaction… (laughter)
Hyunjae: Nothing beat the princess costumes.
Q: What kind of performance will we do to top the impact of the princess costumes…
Seems like the princess costumes left a big impression not only on fans but on the members as well.
Eric: We wore the costumes and rode the carts deep into the standing section, right? I don’t think I’ll ever forget the look on TheBs’ faces when I met their eyes then. They were shocked, and I hope it was a good type of shocked. I wonder what those expressions meant. Even as I lie down to sleep, I keep thinking of those expressions?
Sangyeon: I think it was shocked horror…
Eric: Right, it looked like they were scared. I want to say I’m really sorry. But honestly, at first I was really mortified and embarrassed, but after doing it for 3 days I found that I was growing shameless, so in all honesty I had a bit of fun during the last day. Yes, I believe I can say it like that. (laughter)
THE BOYZ is a group where each member has his own personality, but each member also have its own associated color, right? Those representative colors aside, I’m curious to hear which color do you think each one of you has. When looking at each other, what color comes to mind first?
Q: Sangyeon hyung is mint. He just exudes mint energy. He’s just so minty. (laughter)
Eric: Juyeon hyung is either black or brown. Since he’s a bit of a romantic. Hyunjae hyung is sort of navy blue. Navy looks cold and it’s a cool (= chic) color, right? But if you befriend him, he’s a “softie”.
Hyunjae: Once you befriend me I’m pink, right?
Eric: No, no. You’re sky blue. You fade from navy blue. Because you’re really like a friend and you make the person feel comfortable. And Q hyung is apricot.
Hyunjae: Oh, I totally agree he’s apricot!
Eric: Because yellow is too pure and sort of has that baby chick vibe, and while Q hyung does have that pure vibe, when he’s at work he’s a total “T” (MBTI). So it feels like it should be the vibe of something close to yellow but a little colder and more chill?
Ah, because as a person he has more of a modern vibe? (T/N: Eric said mudeonhan, chill, but the question now is about modeonhan, modern; not sure if the interviewer misheard him or if they’re inferring that from what he said.)
Hyunjae: To me, it’s because Q is very human. He’s a really decent person!
Juyeon: To me, Q is gray. Because gray is the combination of black and white, right? If you look at Q, [his personality] is very clearly black and white… (laughter)
So is there any skill or talent among the members that you admire so much you would want for yourself?
Q: To me it’s Sunwoo’s wit. It’s something really intrinsic to him. He’s a really smart friend. So I kind of really want to have that wit myself too. No, actually, I want to take everything.
Sangyeon: To me it’s Eric’s energy?
Hyunjae: Oh, hyung looks like he has absolutely no energy right now.
Sangyeon: Yeah, I think I need it right now. This is the time I go to sleep, so… (laughter) Eric’s energy is really overflowing with, how should I say it, like a battery that doesn’t run out.
An all-center boygroup that doesn’t lack in anything, from visuals to skills. I would say that’s how THE BOYZ is recognized, but there’s also something like “metacognition”. I’m curious to hear what the members think of THE BOYZ right now.
Sangyeon: Even from my own perspective, I think the members are such a good combination of people. Everyone is interesting and filled with talent. So schedules together like this one today feel much more reliable and trustworthy than solo schedules.
When you were rookies, how did you introduces yourselves when you got asked “What kind of group is THE BOYZ?”?
Hyunjae: The one and only boys in everyone’s hearts!
After 8 years, how has that changed?
Sangyeon: We’re still… the boys who capture hearts?
Hyunjae: Pfft. That’s right. We’re working on it.
Sangyeon: Even now, we found that there are many TheBs finding us and joining the fandom. So we still need to work as hard as ever, that’s what I think.
You were really busy last year with your world tour and album promotions, right? On the day of release, you reached the top of the Japanese Oricon chart, and your 9th minialbum <Dohwaseon(導火線)> achieved half a million pre-sales. Do you have an even more ambitious record you want to achieve?
Q: Uhm, of course that achieving good records is great for everyone involved. However, instead of trying to achieve this record or that goal, I think what’s more important is what you have in mind and how you spend your time while preparing an album.
Sangyeon: I find that trying to chase records doesn’t make you happy. I believe that if you work hard and happily on what you need to do, on what you want to do, records will follow.
Q (to Sangyeon): But Eric thinks records are important.
Eric: That’s right. I think they’re important. Because of course that if the album does well, the members feel happy, but if it doesn’t, the members feel a little disappointed. Even then, right now I’m also thinking that we shouldn’t focus too much on records. The biggest priority became to promote for a long time happily, healthily and without getting hurt as THE BOYZ.
Everyone having fun is the most important thing. Seems like you all share the same heart about this.
Sangyeon: We participated in many competitions. We went on two survival shows, we also had year-end performances where we were rivals against other groups. Maybe because we went through those moments of trying to prove ourselves fiercely, but now we don’t want to pay attention to others. I think the answer is just focusing on ourselves and having fun among the members.
We’re talking about records and Juyeon-sshi went quiet.
Juyeon: Ah, the conversation turned serious so I tried to organize my thoughts. I would like it if we could enjoy promotions more comfortably, be it as the team THE BOYZ or as individual artists. Instead of thinking “we need to have a huge success here”, just meeting fans closely and promoting our music like we’re doing now is great, I feel grateful for that and think that’s more than enough now.
Q: That’s right, that’s definitely what’s important. To me, I think the best thing is expressing things healthily and with a good and sincere heart to TheBs. If you get caught up in the obsession of doing something, you can try really hard to pretend you’re happy. I think doing something well while enjoying yourself and being healthy is really important.
Where do you think is THE BOYZ’s highest peak? I understand the members don’t chase records or success. But a peak could be enjoying a stage comfortably, or a huge happiness that’s achievable as a team called THE BOYZ.
Hyunjae: It’s right now!
Q: I think our highest peak worthy of celebration was our contract as a group. I feel really reassured and proud that this many people have the same heart. We’re past that hurdle and every moment together from now on can be our highest peak, so I would say our contract as a group.
Eric: Later, when THE BOYZ comes together again as 11 people, wouldn’t that be our highest peak? Sangyeon hyung is about to enlist. After everyone fulfills their duty and we come together again as THE BOYZ, I think that will be our highest peak. But also, personally, I want us to try having a concert at Jamsil stadium? (laughter)
As expected of the goal-oriented Eric. (laughter)
Eric: Ah, but really, it’s not that. It’s just that it’s an open air venue so if we performed there, we could have fireworks, and I think that if all the members got together to perform on that stage, it would be really romantic. Let’s just move on. (laughter) All right, next, would Juyeon-sshi like to answer?
Juyeon: Our highest peak… It’s the next album!
Hyunjae: Oh, I like that. (laughter)
You’re releasing an album in March, right?
Hyunjae: That’s right. We can’t say much yet, but I think we’ll be able to show music that’s completely different from the music we’ve done for the past 7 years, so I’m looking forward to it.
We heard that after today’s shooting, you’re going straight to recording. Everyone is always doing their best, but there are days when our condition isn’t great, of course. How do you push through that?
Hyunjae: Our performances are rather powerful, and there have been times when I was disappointed in my body for not delivering things the way I wanted. (laughter) Thinking about it now, the process of going through that while enduring those moments has made me grow. And there were many times when THE BOYZ faced difficulties and instead of feeling afraid, we instead turned those difficulties into opportunities.
You must have gone through a lot of things to get to the place where THE BOYZ is right now, like a sculpture that is completed by adding or removing things in the process. The time you spent so far, was it one where the members added something, or removed something?
Sangyeon: My MBTI changed from F to T. (T/N: From emotional to rational.) Back in the day, there were many times when I let anger or sadness overwhelm me. But as I did this job, I started to judge things more rationally and realistically. I can’t tell what exactly I added or extracted, but what I learned was between worrying about other people and my own ambition, I couldn’t lean too hard one way or the other, I had to find a balance there.
Q: Back then, I was receiving a lot of inspiration and through that worked on maturing myself. However, I realized I wasn’t internalizing necessarily good things. So I learned how to erase all of that and leave only myself. By erasing all of that I found again the good things that were already inside me since then.
“By erasing all of that I found again the good things that were already inside me since then” is such a wonderful way to put it.
Eric: I also used to absorb everything I saw, but then came to learn that some of those things were poisonous. I still don’t know how to remove that, and I’m still filling myself, but more wisely, with more discretion, “let’s ingest only nutritious things and not poisonous ones”!
Hyunjae: It’s similar to how I feel. The bowl isn’t always full of clean water. If you add just a little bit of muddy water, the whole thing turns muddy. So now I think I should just wait for the dirt to set and for the water to purify itself.
Juyeon: Until last year, we were only running nonstop like racehorses. We could look straight ahead. Of course we’re still running just as hard, but I think we changed our way of doing it. How can I say it, like riding a wave.
As if surfing?
Juyeon: As if surfing. We got a little bit more freedom, not physical freedom but in our hearts, so I think our field of vision expanded. We’re not just looking straight ahead, and while we’re still moving forward in that direction, it’s a bit like surfing.
Where are you headed now? To THE BOYZ’s highest peak, the new album?
Juyeon: Perhaps? That’s right now. (laughter)
Eric: All right, we have to go record now, right?
Sangyeon: Even as we’re recording, we think this album is something really new. And that means it’s just as hard too. I wonder if TheBs will think “huh, so THE BOYZ did this kind of music this time”, I wonder if they’ll have fun, I’m really looking forward to that. Please enjoy it a lot. (laughter)
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(source 1, 2 | translation may contain inaccuracies!)