연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-07-06 15:54:45
SEOUL, July 6 (Yonhap) -- Rookie boy group VAYONN said Monday it hopes to become the group that comes to mind whenever people think of youth as it officially debuted with its first album.
"There's only one debut in a lifetime, so it's even more precious and meaningful. We performed on stage for the first time today, but we think this is only the beginning. We'll continue working hard and grow into great artists," member Sen said during a showcase in Seoul marking the release of the group's debut album, "Youth Today."
The six-member multinational group said it had put tremendous effort into preparing for its debut.
"For us, this very moment is our youth and our happiness. We want to become the group people think of when they think of 'youth,'" the members said.
VAYONN is the latest boy group launched by iNKODE Entertainment, where singer Kim Jae-joong serves as chief strategy officer (CSO).
The group consists of six Korean, Chinese and Japanese members -- Masato, Sen, Ayang and Jinwei, who gained attention through Mnet's audition program "Boys 2 Planet," along with Teru and Mano, who joined later.
Kim provided extensive guidance during the group's preparation and also participated in writing the lyrics for the album track "Super Lucky Song."
"Producer Kim Jae-joong was once an idol himself and is still actively promoting," Mano said. "He often emphasized the importance of manners. He told us that greeting people properly and showing respect would help others view us positively and create opportunities for growth. We've really taken those words to heart."
Ayang recalled another piece of advice from Kim.
"He told us, 'Even if 99 out of 100 people dislike you, if there's one person who likes you, don't give up. Keep going,'" Ayang said. "Those words gave me a lot of strength."
While another iNKODE boy group, KiiiKiii Up, which debuted in April, adopted a powerful concept, VAYONN is pursuing a bright, youthful image.
According to Teru, the group's name reflects its ambition to amplify youth through its voices and create a new story.
"VAYONN is not about looking back on youth. It's about expressing the youth we're living right now," he said.
Masato said the members worked hard to understand the concept of youth itself.
"Our strength is that we're all different in age and personality, which allows us to portray many different sides of youth," he said.
The group's debut album also centers on that theme.
Its lead track, "MUAH!," released at 6 p.m. Monday, depicts the summer sun as a symbol of love and youthful excitement, expressing the thrill of romance with bright and refreshing energy.
The five-track album also includes "Got It."
"I hope 'MUAH!' helps people beat the summer heat. It's a very refreshing song," Masato said. "We worked hard to make it a song people will remember."
Although visibly nervous during their first showcase, the members repeatedly expressed gratitude for finally making their debut. Some of the foreign members answered questions in Korean despite still being unfamiliar with the language.
"Before coming to Korea, I'd never been a trainee. I was just living an ordinary life and going to school," Jinwei said. "I think VAYONN's real youth begins now."
Masato became emotional as he reflected on the journey.
"Looking back, every moment has become a precious memory," he said. "These aren't tears of sadness. They're tears of happiness."
Sen also said the road to debut had been filled with happy memories rather than hardships.
"I appeared on 'Boys 2 Planet,' and it felt like I was getting closer and closer to my dream of debuting," he said. "Now that we've finally made our official debut, we'll continue to grow and repay everyone's support."
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]