Close Your Eyes makes first appearance on K-pop scene
Another rookie boy band formed through a TV competition has made an ambitious debut, full of dreams to share its own music and story.
Close Your Eyes — a seven-member boy band consisting of Jeon Min-wook, Ma Jingxiang, Jang Yeo-jun, Kim Sung-min, Song Seung-ho, Kenshin and Seo Kyoung-bae — is a multinational group that debuted through JTBC's "Project 7," which aired from October to December 2024.
'Our team name holds the meaning of delivering music that remains compelling even when you close your eyes, as well as a commitment to show our growth every time our fans blink,' explained Jeon Min-wook, the 25-year-old leader of the group, at a press conference Wednesday.
The debut album is titled "EternalT," a combination of 'Eternal' and 'Time,' to reflect the group's wish to share an everlasting time with their fans.
The album consists of eight diverse tracks, including main track 'All My Poetry,' a sentimental retro R&B song, refreshing pop-rock number 'How to Dance,' easy-listening pop track 'Laid Back' and the acoustic-driven 'Stay 4 Good.'
The band described 'All My Poetry' as a song that contrasts youthful, sentimental lyrics with a calm and mature melody. Producer Lee Hae-in, known for producing girl group Kiss of Life, took charge of the album's production and provided each of the bandmates with ample opportunities to participate in the album-making process.
Jeon contributed on raps for the main track, while Jang Yeo-jun, 19, participated in choreographing the performance. 'It was an honor to be involved in producing the main track of our debut album,' shared Jeon. "Since the lyrics are sentimental and the melody is emotional, I focused on bringing out those feelings in my rap as well."
'The performance is designed with an emphasis on storytelling rather than synchronized choreography. There's a part in the chorus where we hold our clothes in our mouths, so I hope people pay special attention to that part,' said Jang.
Before debuting, Jeon and Ma Jingxiang went through ups and downs. Jeon previously debuted with eight-member group Bae173 in 2020. Then after joining the debut team through "Project 7," he became embroiled in controversy regarding whether he would continue activities with his original team, eventually leaving Bae173.
'There are a lot of emotions that come with redebuting, but what's important is that I've always drawn strength from my fans and I've carried out my activities with the mindset of giving that love back. So rather than saying things have changed, I'd like to say that I'm consistently working hard for my fans,' said Jeon.
Chinese member Ma Jingxiag, 21, previously appeared on Mnet's TV competition "Boys Planet" in 2023, but was not a finalist. 'Although I didn't debut through 'Boys Planet,' I gained many fans through that program. I'm so grateful to the fans who continued to wait for me and support me,' he said.
Having endured fierce competition and rigorous training, Close Your Eyes is now set to showcase its performances, relying on strong teamwork.
Kim Sung-min, 19, expressed, 'I hope people recognize Close Your Eyes for its unique charm, something that sets us apart from existing K-pop groups.'
Jang added, 'I want us to become a group that people look forward to. I believe having something to anticipate is what keeps fans and industry professionals by our side.'
The youngest member, Seo Kyoung-bae, 16, shared his hopes for the group's music: 'If I had a goal, it would be for our songs to linger in someone's ears all day and even appear in their dreams. If that happens, I'd feel like our music has truly been acknowledged by the public.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
12 hours ago
- Korea Herald
President Lee to join K-pop leaders in Arirang TV special
From Twice to 'KPop Demon Hunters,' Arirang TV program to spotlight K-pop's global influence President Lee Jae Myung is set to appear on the special broadcast "K-Pop: The Next Chapter," joining key entertainment industry figures in discussing the current state and future of K-pop. The program, scheduled for broadcast on Arirang TV, South Korea's public international broadcaster, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, will feature a lineup that includes President Lee; Maggie Kang, who co-directed the animated feature 'KPop Demon Hunters' with Chris Appelhans; Twice's Jihyo and Jeongyeon; producer-DJ (Kim Jung-gu), the hitmaker behind Blackpink and Big Bang songs; and music critic Kim Young-dae. The show host is Jang Sung-kyu, a former JTBC announcer-turned-TV personality. According to the presidential office, the special was designed as a platform to reflect on K-pop's global reach, explore the new possibilities introduced by global content and share visions for its next phase. 'As Korea aims to reestablish itself as a cultural powerhouse among the world's Big 5 of soft power, continuous growth and innovation in the cultural industries, including K-pop, are essential. Accordingly, the insights and voices shared through this program will be reflected in shaping future policy directions,' a presidential office official said in a press statement released Tuesday. The appearance comes as President Lee has doubled down on positioning Korea as a global cultural leader. His administration last week unveiled an expansive five-year plan to strengthen the nation's cultural standing and develop a sustainable digital and media ecosystem. The initiative sets ambitious growth targets for K-culture while emphasizing the need to support both artistic creation and public participation. At a cabinet meeting earlier this week, Lee also remarked, 'The wave that began with K-pop is now spreading across K-culture as a whole.' He continued, 'Recently, as 'KPop Demon Hunters' has gained huge popularity worldwide, crowds have been flocking to the National Museum of Korea, with museum goods selling out day after day. We must accelerate our journey toward becoming a true powerhouse of K-culture.' The president further urged government ministries to come up with measures "including strategies for the global expansion of K-content and the development of related infrastructure such as K-pop facilities — while adhering to the arm's-length principle of supporting but not interfering.'
Korea Herald
12-08-2025
- Korea Herald
'My Troublesome Star' reunites Uhm Jeong-hwa, Song Seung-heon after decade
From network of 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' duo's comeback to blend romance, comedy, second chances A beloved rom-com duo is reuniting for a new series from the network behind global hit 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.' 'My Troublesome Star' follows Cheong-ja (Uhm Jeong-hwa), a onetime A-list celebrity fighting to reclaim her former glory. Along the way, she receives unexpected help from a police officer named Go-chul (Song Seung-heon). The project has been generating buzz as the first on-screen reunion in a decade for Song and Uhm, who co-starred in 2015 hit fantasy romantic comedy film 'Wonderful Nightmare.' Uhm spoke about the lengths she went to in order to capture the look of a washed-up star. During a press conference on Tuesday in Seoul, she said, 'I wanted to give the impression that she had been living hiding behind big, teased hair that covered much of her face, and that she had neglected her skin so that dark spots were left untreated. To look heavier, I wore layers of clothing and ate without restrictions during filming.' She added, 'Usually, during filming, you check your appearance a lot to make sure nothing is off, but this time I checked my appearance to make sure I looked ruined." Reflecting on their long-awaited reunion, Uhm shared, 'When we were taking a couple photo, Song said, 'It's been 10 years,'" adding, 'I was so happy to meet him again through this drama. It was truly fun, and the way I tried to completely ruin my appearance felt very lovely and enjoyable.' Song echoed her sentiments. 'It feels like we filmed 'Wonderful Nightmare' just the other day, but 10 years have already passed. Back then, the film was two hours long, so there was only one story arc, but this time it's a 12-episode series with lots of incidents, accidents and twists. I really had as much fun as I could filming with Uhm.' He added, 'I think the series is going to garner even more success than 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.'' Uhm once again tackles a role centered on resilience and reinvention, following JTBC's 'Doctor Cha' in 2023, where she played a middle-aged woman rediscovering her dreams. 'I did think that the story of finding one's dream and taking on a challenge might feel similar to 'Doctor Cha,' but Cheong-ja's journey, starting from small, supporting acting roles, was very moving. Just as Jeong-suk (in 'Doctor Cha') showed that 'age or anything else doesn't matter,' I thought Cheong-ja could also tell a story of chasing one's dreams, but in a completely different way,' she explained.
Korea Herald
12-08-2025
- Korea Herald
Zerobaseone mulls contract renewal
Members of project band Zerobaseone are discussing the renewal of their contracts, according to WakeOne Entertainment on Tuesday. The band of nine formed through K-pop competition 'Boys Planet' and debuted in July 2023. It is slated to disband in January next year. Since the beginning of this year, however, each of the bandmates and their original agencies have been in talks over extending the deal, explained the company. A local media report on the same day said that the bandmates agreed to carry on as a team and only need to hone out the details. The nonet burst into the K-pop scene with the debut album 'Youth in the Shade,' which became the first-ever million-selling debut album. The group picked up 10 rookie awards and has gone on to sell over 1 million copies of each of its five releases so far. On Sept. 1, the band will release its first full studio album, 'Never Say Never.' A track list uploaded on Tuesday showed 10 tracks, including lead single 'Iconik.'
