Plus Magazine

ONEUS, known for their distinct energy and range of styles since debut, has returned with their enchanting 9th mini album [PYGMALION], following the successful conclusion of their first world tour. With five songs that encapsulate their strengths and an even more mature charm, the members of ONEUS dream of another leap forward. We, M Countdown Magazine, accompanied them in their moment of dignified progress, as solid as their resolve and their strong bond.
 

Hello, ONEUS! Please greet the readers of M Countdown Magazine!

SEOHO: Hello, readers of M Countdown Magazine. I'm SEOHO from ONEUS!!!

LEEDO: Hello, readers. I'm LEEDO from ONEUS, who has returned with the 9th mini album [PYGMALION].

KEONHEE: Hello, readers of M Countdown Magazine! I'm KEONHEE from ONEUS, who has returned after 8 months with our title track ‘ERASE ME’! Please look forward to our comeback stages!!

HWANWOONG: Hello. I'd like to greet you for the first time!! I'm HWANWOONG from ONEUS, who just finished our first comeback stage today!

XION: Hello. I'm XION from ONEUS, who has come back with a great album after 8 months!

You have successfully completed your first world tour, 〈REACH FOR US〉, and returned. It must have been a valuable experience to meet fans from various countries. How do you feel about it?

SEOHO: It was fun and meaningful time!!! It also seemed like a good learning experience for us!!!

LEEDO: It's not easy to meet fans in various countries, but I was happy and pleased to be able to spend precious time with so many fans.

KEONHEE: I was happy to meet our fans who were waiting for us all over the world during our world tour. And through performing many times, we spent a lot of time thinking about how we can show a more perfect stage, which I think gave us the opportunity to grow ourselves!

HWANWOONG: First of all, I was very happy to meet TO MOONs all around the world. It was a rare opportunity to experience and learn about various cultures. For our next tour, I want to visit unexplored places like Europe and Asia, and I want to surprise TO MOONs in each country in more diverse ways!

XION: To be honest, at first, I had a big question, ‘Would people around the world know who we are?’. There were also countries that we visited for the first time, but seeing TO MOONs warmly welcoming us in every city made me think, ‘I really have to work harder’!
 

Considering the intense interest from the fans, your schedule must have been quite busy. Wasn't it physically challenging?

SEOHO: Honestly, there wasn't a moment during the month and a half that wasn't tough. But the more difficult it was, the more satisfying the performance was!!

LEEDO: Of course, when the schedules pile up, it can be physically challenging, but because having many schedules means meeting more TO MOONs, I was able to finish them with joy.

KEONHEE: It was indeed challenging physically due to our long stay abroad, and there were times when I was worried about not being in good condition. But I took very good care of myself to give a great performance. So, I think I was able to enjoy it even more with the fans on stage!

HWANWOONG: Of course, there were difficult parts about being in different countries, but later, I learned many ways to rest well during the tour. So, I was able to finish the tour with a happy heart.

XION: Honestly, it would be a lie if I said it wasn't physically challenging. There was jet lag and unexpected situations that arose. Nevertheless, thinking of the TO MOONs who would have waited for our tour, I enjoyed every moment on stage without regrets.

You have returned with much anticipation after 8 months with your highly anticipated 9th mini album [PYGMALION]. Whether it was because fans were eagerly waiting or not, the title track ‘ERASE ME’ surpassed 7 million views on the music video within a day of its release. Can you feel this kind of enthusiasm?

KEONHEE: Actually, during this comeback, we spent a lot of time practicing in the practice room, so it felt a bit awkward performing on stage. However, when we met the fans for the first time during our performance, it immediately felt real! It seems like the fans really love it, and we feel proud too!
 

What has changed the most since the reorganization of your five-member group, as this is your first activity since then?

HWANWOONG: There are aspects where we have become even stronger as a group, and our gratitude towards fans has grown even deeper. We now have a common goal of protecting ONEUS and we will continue to run forward together.

Why did you choose the title of your album to be ‘Pygmalion,’ a figure from Greek and Roman mythology, and what meaning does it hold?

XION: We derived the idea from the ‘Pygmalion effect,’ which suggests that positive expectations and desires can bring about good results. The album title represents our ambition to fulfill the genuine desires we have been hoping for through this album.

Then what is the key points that should not be missed in your performance this time?

SEOHO: I think it would be our determined and passionate gaze filled with aspirations!

You have hinted at the ‘2nd generation group's sensibility interpreted by the 4th generation group’ in the production of this album. What charms did you feel from K-pop groups ten years ago?

LEEDO: Catchy refrains that can make you addicted just by listening to them and singing along together. Also, the unique emotions of that era that cannot be fully explained in words, which evoke nostalgia from within. I think those were the charms of K-pop in the past.

The first impression of your title track ‘ERASE ME’ is truly distinct. It smoothly seeps in during the intro and then changes dramatically during the chorus, captivating the listeners. It reminds me of your ability to effortlessly digest various styles, which is also one of your strengths. Do you have any charm you wanted to showcase with this title track?

KEONHEE: You might be able to experience various sides of us within this song, and you may sense our unyielding determination! We tried to express the maximum we can with this song!

Regardless of anything, we can't leave out the discussion of dynamic performances when it comes to ONEUS. What aspect did you focus on in the choreography this time?

HWANWOONG: I believe that our title track and performance for this time have the characteristic of maintaining tension and intensity from the beginning to the end. As such, we constantly immersed ourselves and focused during the preparation for the stage, and we practiced choreography that emphasized expression rather than predetermined movements.

Your pre-release song, ‘잇다 있다 잊었다 (Unforgettable),’ is like a scene from a youth movie, and its clever wordplay title remains memorable. Among the fans, it is already being referred to as ‘잇있잊’ (sounds like ‘It It It’). What do you think about that?

SEOHO: I thought it would be called ‘잇3’ (‘It3’)…..

XION: ‘잇다 있다 잊었다 (Unforgettable)’ is such a great song. Actually, it was a candidate for the title track. I was in favor of '잇있잊'! I think this song conveys a lot of messages. Not only the title track but also in the other tracks of this album, you can find the meanings that we want to show, so please make sure to listen to the entire album.

LEEDO participated in the lyrics and composition of the song 'ECHO' in this album. What is the behind-the-scenes of the work process?

LEEDO: ‘ECHO’ is a song that was completed during our world tour. Before embarking on the world tour, I created the initial format with Mingki(composer Kim Minki) and Hyunkyoo(composer Park Hyunkyoo) and worked on continuous revisions, putting our hearts and souls into it. It embodies our tremendous passion.

Each member of ONEUS has taken on an animal character. If you were to metaphorically compare the album [PYGMALION] to an animal, what animal would it be?

SEOHO: Hmmm... Maybe a chimera with a fierce lion's face, a horse's body, and a pig's tail! (pig + 말(horse) + lion)

LEEDO: An eagle. It feels like soaring high and leaping forward again with renewed strength.

KEONHEE: To me, Pygmalion is a unicorn! It's an imaginary creature, you know. It may not be visible, but the hope that embodies our desired image is gradually getting closer, little by little. I feel like it resembles us in that aspect.

HWANWOONG: It feels like a swan busy playing the water xylophone underwater, exuding elegance and grace, which is similar to us.

XION: A unicorn. After all, a unicorn is an imaginary creature, right? I feel like a unicorn represents the image I want to show through this album. It embodies the magnificent and beautiful appearance that everyone wanted to see and liked since childhood. I want to present that kind of image to our fans and leave a lasting impression. I always believe that if you want something, you should dream big. Even though it's an unimaginable creature, I consider it a dream and gave it a big thought.

Except for the title song, please pick your favorite b-tracks.

SEOHO: I really like ‘Halley's Comet’. It has a nostalgic yet uplifting feeling that I really enjoy!

LEEDO: ‘Intro : LETHE’. It represents our album very well, and it can be considered the starting point of our album. The lyrics and melody blend beautifully, making it a beautiful song.

KEONHEE: My favorite track is ‘잇다 있다 잊었다 (Unforgettable)’! Everyone liked this song so much that it was even considered a candidate for the title track! It captures the bittersweet yet refreshing sensibility unique to ONEUS.

HWANWOONG: I like ‘ECHO,’ which LEEDO participated in writing and composing! It's an attractive song with a sweet and melodic chorus.

XION: It's really difficult to choose a favorite track from this album. I'll go with ‘ECHO,’ which LEEDO participated in writing and composing. This song is warm and can be enjoyed in any situation, anytime, and anywhere.

If you have personal goals for this comeback, what would they be?

SEOHO: I hope that our hard work and preparation will satisfy and be loved by many fans!!!

LEEDO: As everyone has been running without rest, it may be physically challenging. My goal is to stay uninjured, be healthy, and perform perfectly as a complete group of five.

KEONHEE: For this comeback, I want to do well on stage and provide fans with everything I can, making them proud! I also want to create many good memories for our fans!

HWANWOONG: I want to meet more TO MOONs and, later, perform in larger venues.

XION: We haven't firmly set specific goals. Of course, if the results are good, we'll be thrilled and grateful. However, since this is a new leap for ONEUS, we want many people to think, ‘Yes, this is ONEUS. I missed them,’ and we will work hard for that.

Lastly, what would you like to say to the fans who always support and cheer for you?

SEOHO: Thank you so much for always being by our side, and words cannot express how grateful we are. Let's always be together!!!

LEEDO: To our beloved TO MOON who always supports and cheers for us ♡ Thanks to TO MOON, we were able to come this far together. Thank you for always being there, whether we're smiling or feeling sad. I love you. Let's continue to make happy memories together ♡

KEONHEE: Our dear TO MOON, who always supports us! we will work hard, trusting only TO MOON! Please rely on us again this time!

HWANWOONG: We truly prepared for this comeback with TO MOON in mind...!! I hope you enjoy our various performances together and create wonderful memories. We cherish you a lot ❤

XION: Our beloved TO MOON~ It feels like we worked hard on this album with the love you have given us. I mentioned that I want to be an artist who is not ashamed and makes you proud, and I will continue to strive to become an even more prideful artist. I hope we can always walk happily together by your side. My happiness, TO MOON~ I love you💜