With millions of viewers around the world tuning in and casting votes for contestants in the K-pop survival show Boys Planet, contestants who didn’t make a place in the final band left the program with fans eager to see their next steps. No group perhaps better embraces such potential than EVNNE, the seven-member boy band quickly ascending the K-pop ranks and proving themselves as far more than just a simple spin-off act.
Noted for an intense collective charisma, the boy band’s debut with hard-hitting singles “Trouble” and “Ugly” spoke to a viewpoint as the convention-defying underdogs ready to prove themselves to the world. The group scored number-one hit songs and awards on Korea’s competitive music programs, and this summer embarked on their first U.S. tour to expand their international fanbase and showcase their dynamic performances across multiple cities.
But it’s not just the awards and accolades that define EVNNE’s success. In less than a year, the group has shown remarkable evolution in their musical style, transitioning from the rebellious anthems of their debut to a softer, more romantic sound with their third EP, RIDE or DIE from June. The lead single, “Badder Love,” a soothing rock-pop track recorded in both Korean and English, marks a new chapter for the group.
With accomplishments both in awards and aristry, Keita, Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yunseo, Seungeon, Mun Junghyun and Jihoo have managed to carved their place in the industry and show lasting potential even if the group’s time together may be short. Read on for why else EVNNE is a group to watch as Billboard‘s K-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.
Get to know the rookies more with exclusive photos and quiz questions below.
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Meet EVNNE
Meet EVNNE, the seven-member boy band from Jellyfish Entertainment who take Billboard readers behind the scenes on their Ride With EVNNE North America Tour.
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Meet MUN JUNGHYUN
My position in EVNNE is: All-rounder
But I love when our fans call me: Visual
My MBTI: ENFJ
My favorite EVNNE song: “Pretty Thing”
My favorite song ever: BOL4’s “To My Youth”
My favorite movie: Weathering with You
A mantra I live by: “Don’t let others control you; What I am doing is the answer, so don’t hold what others say too seriously” -
Meet JI YUNSEO
My position in EVNNE is: Vocal, dance, lyric-writing, the one who gets teased
But I love when our fans call me: YUNSEO! (My name)
My MBTI: INFJ
My favorite EVNNE song: “Even More” or “Festa”
My favorite song ever: G-Dragon’s “Untitled, 2014” or Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself”
My favorite movie: Peter Pan and Marvel movies
A mantra I live by: “Greet others well, do not lie, love myself more” -
Meet KEITA
My position in EVNNE is: Sleepyhead
But I love when our fans call me: Super charismatic leader
My MBTI: ISTP
My favorite EVNNE song: “Role Model”
My favorite song ever: Lany’s “dna”
My favorite movie: Howl’s Moving Castle
A mantra I live by: “Steadiness is the key” -
Meet LEE JEONGHYEON
My position in EVNNE is: Clumsy — I usually say or do random things, so I am the clumsy one in the group.
But I love when our fans call me: Babo — means “a fool” in Korean — many fans call me babo which can sound offensive when taken literally, but I know it’s their way of showing affection to me so I love this.
My MBTI: ISTJ
My favorite EVNNE song: “TROUBLE,” not only because it’s our debut track but also because it has a strong beat and charming melody.
My favorite song ever: Penomeco’s “Hotel Lobby.” I’m a big fan of Penomeco and I started listening to every song after I heard the news of his new album. When I heard this track, it instantly left a strong impression on me that I actually listened to this song at least 10 times every day.
My favorite movie: October Sky — I was impressed with the main character, Homer, because he was determined to achieve his dreams despite all the hardships and challenges since his youth!
A mantra I live by: “Those who work hard will be rewarded.” This is something I experienced as a member of EVNNE and I’ve been always saying this to myself to not give up and continue running. -
Meet PARK HANBIN
My position in EVNNE is: Balance controller
But I love when our fans call me: Cat
My MBTI: ESTP
My favorite EVNNE song: “TROUBLE”
My favorite song ever: Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile”
My favorite movie: About Time
A mantra I live by: “Luck comes to those who are prepared” -
Meet YOO SEUNGEON
My position in EVNNE is: Main vocal and bright energy
But I love when our fans call me: Visual main vocal
My MBTI: ENTJ
My favorite EVNNE song: “TROUBLE”
My favorite song ever: NCT DOYOUNG’s entire 청춘의 포말 YOUTH – The 1st Album!
My favorite movie: A Star Is Born
A mantra I live by: There are too many things to consider to regret about the past and worry about the future. Just live your day to the fullest. -
Meet PARK JIHOO
My position in EVNNE is: Crushing the choreography
But I love when our fans call me: Potato
My MBTI: ISTJ
My favorite EVNNE song: “Role Model”
My favorite song ever: HYUKOH’s “Gondry”
My favorite movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
A quote I live by: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain,” by Vivian Greene -
HANBIN & JUNGHYUN
“We were able to sing the English version of ‘Badder Love’ for the first time, and I think the response was good because the fans sang along to the whole song which made us really happy,” MUN JUNGHYUN says of EVNNE’s first U.S. tour.
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KEITA & SEUNGEON
“I’m so happy to be able to come to the U. S. tour following the Asia tour and so excited to meet people from different places,” SEUNGEON says. “We truly believe that winning on the music shows and being able to go on tours in different countries is all thanks to our fans’ love and support for us.”
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YUNSEO, JIHOO & JEONGHYEON
“From what I understand, there’s about 500 people per venue for this tour, but from what we felt on stage, it really felt like the cheer was coming from 5,000 or even 50, 000 people,” said JIHOO. “I feel like we’ve been really eager to share our energy with the audience, but in return, I think we got even more energy and motivation from them.”