![[Q&A] Seventeen reflects on 10 years and looks ahead with new LP 'Happy Burstday'](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F05%2F26%2Fnews-p.v1.20250526.5fab49d2529149ad8d9189bd1d0a95f7_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
[Q&A] Seventeen reflects on 10 years and looks ahead with new LP 'Happy Burstday'
Even after 10 years together, Seventeen's clock hasn't stopped ticking.
The 13-member boy band has redefined the path of K-pop idols. Starting out as a 'self-producing' group, Seventeen has climbed to the top of the game, setting multiple records including annual album sales exceeding 10 million units and the highest first-week album sales with 10th EP 'FML' in K-pop history in 2023.
Marking its 10th anniversary, the group released its fifth full-length album 'Happy Burstday' on Monday — a declaration of rebirth and a bold step toward the future.
In a written interview shared through its agency, Pledis Entertainment, the members spoke about their journey and the new release.
Q: How does it feel to release a new album on your 10th anniversary?
Joshua: It's deeply meaningful because the album came out on Seventeen's birthday. I hope our fans, Carats, will enjoy it just as much.
DK: I'm simply grateful that we could spend these 10 years together as Seventeen. We put our hearts into this album, hoping it would be a memorable gift to Carats full of great music.
Vernon: It feels surreal that it's already our 10th year. Since the album also showcases new musical sides of us, I'm curious how people will respond.
Q: What should listeners pay attention to in 'Happy Burstday'?
The8: For the first time, the album includes solo tracks by all 13 members. You'll be able to feel each member's unique color.
Mingyu: I think the biggest highlight is the title track 'Thunder.' It's a song that gave Seventeen a jolt of fresh inspiration after 10 years of being together.
Q: What stands out in 'Thunder'?
S.Coups: As the lyrics suggest, we hope listeners will sense Seventeen's renewed energy. Despite all the challenges, we've continued to grow and this track shows our confidence in trying new things.
Jun: The addictive melody and matching choreography are key points to watch.
DK: Even after 10 years, our passion on stage hasn't changed. We want to prove that Seventeen can keep evolving. 'Thunder' marks our rebirth.
Dino: It's also a performance-heavy track. Watch for the dynamic choreography, fluid formations, and how each member's presence shines through.
Q: How was it working with Pharrell Williams and Timbaland?
Hoshi: Both Pharrell and Timbaland are artists I've always admired, so every moment working with them was meaningful. When I first heard about collaborating with Pharrell, I was so excited. I even got to work on a solo song with Timbaland — it was an honor.
Woozi: These are producers I've learned so much from through their music growing up, so it was a true honor. I tried to stay honest and bring out synergy with the members. Through studying their work, I've realized that the most important thing in music is staying true to yourself — and I tried to bring that out in this album too.
Q: What new sides of Seventeen do you hope to show this time?
Mingyu: Our thoughts and circumstances change by the second. I'm curious myself how all the growth we've gone through over the past decade will show on stage.
Seungkwan: This album holds all the energy Seventeen has shown over the past 10 years. It contrasts with the fresh-faced charm we had when we debuted — you'll see a more seasoned Seventeen.
Q: If you could sum up the past 10 years in one word?
The8: 'Youth.' Seventeen was my youth. I'm especially grateful to Carats because I know how rare it is for all 13 of us to have come this far together.
Joshua: 'Love.' We couldn't have made it this far without the love from Carats. I'm also thankful to my fellow members — we recently had a long talk, and I feel like we've grown even closer.
Q: What's been Seventeen's most defining challenge?
Woozi: We've constantly taken on challenges. Even now, it's not easy to produce our own albums while actively promoting. But we chose not to settle even for our 10th anniversary, and pushed ourselves musically. That's what makes Seventeen a team with limitless potential.
Jun: All 13 of us are always thinking of ways to grow and try new things, driven by our love for Carats. Their support has always been our biggest motivation.
Q: What do you want to challenge yourselves with next?
S.Coups: I want to find more time to repay the love we've received. Moving forward as Seventeen is important, but spending meaningful time with fans is just as valuable. We'll keep showing our best.
Hoshi: I'd love to deepen our communication with fans. If our future challenges allow us to show that fan interaction is what fuels us, that alone would be rewarding. Personally, I also want to show more of my versatility as an all-rounder artist.
Q: Any final words for Carats and each other?
S.Coups: I hope our time together continues to be full of love, care and happiness. These past 10 years have been a joy, and I look forward to building even more memories.
Joshua: Carats! We'll keep releasing great albums, so please keep showing your love — just like now.
Jun: Because I love our fans, I want to keep challenging myself and showing you new sides of me.
Hoshi: We made this album with Carats in mind. Each member's solo track reflects their voice and emotions, so please listen closely. Thank you always for your unwavering support — I'll keep growing to repay your love.
Woozi: To the members — thank you for making such an amazing team. To Carats — I hope we stay healthy and keep going strong for a long time.
The8: Thank you for sticking with us for 10 years. I'll keep working hard so we can spend even more years together.
Mingyu: To my members — I'm proud of us. And to Carats — your love helps us evolve. Let's see how far we can go together. Thank you and love you.
DK: I hope this 10th anniversary album is a joyful gift for you. We wouldn't be here without you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart — we'll keep bringing you great stages and music.
Seungkwan: I'm so thankful we're making a comeback on our 10th anniversary. I'll work as hard as if we're debuting all over again. Let's go!
Vernon: Carats, you've done so much until now. Let's keep doing even better going forward. Thank you, stay healthy and I love you.
Dino: Thank you and love you for supporting Seventeen and this album. I hope this project shows you just how much love we've built up — and how we want to return it.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
44 minutes ago
- Korea Herald
'Golden' from 'KPop Demon Hunters' tops UK Official Singles Chart
13 years after Psy's "Gangnam Style," K-pop hits No. 1 again The original soundtrack "Golden" of Netflix's global animated hit "KPop Demon Hunters" soared to the top of the UK Official Singles Chart, marking the first K-pop song to reach No. 1 in over a decade. Released as part of the animated film, "Golden" achieved the No. 1 position in its sixth week on the chart, rising three spots from the previous week. The track, performed by the fictional girl group Huntr/x, is a part of the movie's soundtrack, which features a K-pop girl group battling evil spirits to protect the human world. The UK Official Charts Company highlighted that this is the first K-pop No. 1 on the British chart since Psy's record-breaking "Gangnam Style" in 2012. In a statement published on the company's website, Martin Talbot, CEO of Official Charts, called the achievement "another landmark moment for the globally dominating South Korean genre." "Golden" has resonated with listeners for its catchy melody and impressive vocal performances. The track has garnered attention for its blend of K-pop and English lyrics, with some lines including Korean phrases like "forever unbreakable." It has been described as a summer hit, gaining traction alongside the success of the animated film. The song, composed by Ejae, a former SM Entertainment trainee, and performed by Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, also includes production from renowned K-pop producers Teddy and 24 of The Black Label. The film's success has helped propel "Golden" to new heights, moving up steadily from No. 93 to No. 4 before claiming the top spot. In addition to its success in the UK, "Golden" has reached No. 1 on South Korea's Melon Top 100 chart and No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Other tracks from the "KPop Demon Hunters" soundtrack have also charted in the UK, with "Your Idol" at No. 10, "Soda Pop" at No. 11 and "Takedown" at No. 63.
Korea Herald
18 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Is K-pop's global strategy backfiring? As popularity up abroad, domestic interest wanes
Absence of breakout rookie girl groups and weakening domestic fandom raise concerns for K-pop's future at home Despite chart-topping hits on Billboard and sold-out world tours across the US, Europe and Southeast Asia, K-pop's grip on its home turf appears to be slipping. Industry experts are sounding the alarm over a growing disconnect between the genre's global success and its dwindling influence at home — particularly as the domestic fanbase, once the engine of the K-pop phenomenon, shows signs of fatigue. At the heart of the issue is a conspicuous absence of breakthrough rookie girl groups in the first half of 2025. These groups have historically driven fandom growth and revitalized the market, but this year's lineup failed to deliver the same impact. Data released in the Circle Chart's 2025 Mid-Year Report backs this up. Total digital music consumption for the top 400 songs fell by 6.4 percent year-on-year and compared to the genre's 2019 peak, it has plunged by a staggering 49.7 percent. Meanwhile, physical album sales — a metric typically bolstered by passionate fans — also dropped by 9 percent, totaling 42.4 million units, down from 46.7 million the year before. The number of albums surpassing 1 million units in sales fell from nine to seven, and not a single release managed to exceed 3 million — a feat achieved by Seventeen just a year ago. These numbers suggest stagnation, or even a decline, in the size and spending power of domestic fandoms. Kim Jin-woo, a data journalist at Circle Chart, noted a sharp drop in girl group dominance in the domestic market. 'In the first half of 2024, NewJeans held the top spot in market share and five girl groups were in the top 10. This year, only aespa, Ive and NewJeans made the cut,' Kim said. Kim also cited growing listener fatigue stemming from similar-sounding concepts and English-heavy lyrics aimed at overseas audiences — part of a broader 'de-K-pop' strategy that may be alienating local fans. 'Many groups now focus on global accessibility, often gravitating toward a narrow range of genres and English lyrics,' Kim said. 'This might attract international listeners but has started to exhaust interest at home.' Music critic Lim Hee-yun also pointed out that shifting media consumption habits have weakened the dominance of idol groups. 'With music increasingly consumed through self-produced content, fan platforms and social media, fandoms are less concentrated,' he said. 'Idols used to dominate the charts thanks to mass fan activity, but that's no longer the case. In contrast, solo artists are resonating more with casual listeners.' The Top 10 of the 2025 mid-year digital chart paints a telling picture: Solo acts like Woodz with 'Drowning' at No. 1, Hwang Garam with 'I Am a Firefly' at No. 3 and Jo Jazz with 'Don't You Know' at No. 7 — none of whom enjoy major global recognition — significantly outperformed their idol group counterparts. Seven of the Top 10 artists were solo performers, leaving aespa, Ive and Boynextdoor as the only groups in the Top 10. Lim added that while idol tracks are 'fun and powerful,' they often lack emotional depth. 'Ballads or rock-inflected songs with strong melodic structure and individual expression are better suited for immersive listening,' he said. Industry officials warn that this trend raises serious questions about the sustainability of K-pop's current trajectory. A sluggish domestic market could eventually undermine the health of the entire ecosystem. 'As K-pop pursued global mainstream appeal, the music took on a more (Western) pop-oriented flavor — but unless you're on the level of BTS' Jungkook, that strategy rarely pays off,' an entertainment official said. 'Even with its global expansion, K-pop remains confined to a subculture category rather than breaking into the true global mainstream.' jaaykim@
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Japanese version of 'Marry My Husband' becomes Prime Video Japan's most-watched series
The show's success highlights the global appeal of culturally reimagined storytelling The Japanese adaptation of the hit Korean drama "Marry My Husband" has become Amazon Prime Video Japan's most-watched series. Having premiered on June 27, the series soared to the top of the platform's viewership charts, drawing the largest audience in Japan within its first 30 days, from June 27 to July 27, 2025, according to data provided by Amazon Prime Video. As of Thursday, the drama also clinched the No. 1 spot on Prime Video's Top 10 chart in Japan, based on rankings compiled by FlixPatrol, a global streaming analytics firm. Keisuke Oishi, head of Amazon Prime Video Japan's local content division, said in a press release, 'The Japanese adaptation of 'Marry My Husband,' which reinterprets the universal appeal of the original from a uniquely Japanese perspective, has achieved the highest viewership record in our history. This accomplishment proves that the first collaborative effort between outstanding creators from both Korea and Japan has borne fruit.' Son Ja-young, executive producer at Studio Dragon -- the production house behind both the Korean and Japanese versions -- added in the same release, 'It's meaningful that this first attempt by a Korean production team to plan and produce an original drama tailored to Japanese sensibilities and culture resonated authentically with local viewers.' She continued, 'I hope this project serves as an opportunity to show that K-dramas can evolve in diverse ways, transcending cultural and regional boundaries.' A localized reimagining of the original tvN series, the Japanese version of "Marry My Husband" was developed by Studio Dragon and CJ ENM Japan, and co-produced by Jayuro Pictures and the venerable Japanese studio Shochiku. The series stars Fuka Koshiba as Misa Kanbe, a woman who is transported back in time after discovering her husband's affair with her closest friend. Takeru Sato co-stars as Wataru Suzuki, her boss and a potential romantic interest in her second shot at life. CJ ENM, which produced the original Korean TV adaptation of "Marry My Husband," stated during a June 26 press conference that the Japanese version is not a remake of the Korean series, but rather a reimagining of the original web novel, customized for Japanese audiences and cultural sensibilities.
