“We debuted and are ‘Refreshing!”

There is no bolder declaration of war than this. The seven-member rookie boy group KickFlip from ‘Idol powerhouse’ JYP Entertainment (JYP) released their first mini-album ‘Flip It, Kick It!’ on the 20th and officially debuted in the music industry.

On this day, when the group‘s signboard was put out to the world for the first time, leader Kye Hoon shouted out “We are ‘Refreshing!” using his name on stage to express his excitement and relief at his ‘Debut Ceremony’, receiving applause. It was a moment that showed off the passion and bold ambitions of a rookie.

Kickflip is a seven-member group consisting of leader Kye Hoon, Amaru, Donghwa, Joo Wang, Minje, K-Ju, and Donghyun. The members honed their skills as ‘trainees’ at JYP for anywhere from 3 to 9 years. Thanks to this, they are already showing the potential of being ‘self-producing idols’. Member Amaru participated in writing the lyrics for three songs, including the title track ‘Mama Sed (What Are You Trying to Be?)’ and the pre-released tracks ‘Yeah, Yeah’, ‘Like a Monster’. Kye Hoon, Donghwa, and Minje also listed their names on the credits for tracks including ‘Yeah, Yeah’.

The debut album, which is filled with six tracklists that show the members’ hands, has already given the ‘green light for success’. ‘Flip It, Kick It!’ has surpassed 300,000 pre-orders alone, and the music video for the pre-released song ‘Yeah Yeah’ has surpassed 10 million views on YouTube in just two days.

Kickflip‘s unusual run was boosted by the 2021 SBS audition program ‘Loud’, led by JYP head and singer Park Jin-young. Kye-hoon, who was selected first place in the 2016 JYP open audition, as well as Amaru, Keizu, and Dong-hyun, have already secured a solid fandom by showing their presence in ‘Loud’.

Just like their team name, which means a skateboarding technique of spinning the board 360 degrees with the tips of their feet, the members showed off a free-spirited charm on stage that was unusual for rookies. At their debut showcase held at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on this day, they performed the title song and ‘Yeah Yeah’ with natural smiles and ‘sharp group dance’, showing off their composure in truly enjoying the stage.

Gye Hoon, who has waited for his debut for 9 years, said, “When I heard the team name Kickflip, I thought this was our true beginning”, and “Like our seniors Stray Kids who are under the same agency, we want to show our thoughts and songs to our heart’s content”.

The members also expressed their strong determination, saying, “We want to become ‘K-pop super rookies’,”and “Our goal is to become a group that can have a positive influence on those around us even 5 years from now, 10 years from now.”

Reporter Yoo Ji-hye yjh0304@donga.com
This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.