[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] “We easily reached a consensus that the five of us should continue as ONEUS. The only thing we had to figure out was finding a new agency that would recognize our value.”

The group ONEUS (Seoho, Lee Do, Geonhee, Hwanwoong, Zion) has opened the second chapter of their career. Having transferred from RBW—where they’d been since their debut last February—to B-Wave Entertainment, ONEUS recently made a comeback with their 12th mini-album, “FIRST LIGHT: 井.”
During a roundtable interview held at a café in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, prior to their comeback, the members unanimously stated, “Since this is our first album since switching agencies, we approached the preparation process with a fresh mindset.”
Another notable point is that they are performing as a full group for the first time in about a year and a half, thanks to the return of the eldest member, Seoho, who has completed his “military hiatus” (a combination of military service and a hiatus). Seoho revealed, “It felt awkward trying to dance again after my military service. I practiced hard to get my groove back, and I lost 8 kg to regain my physique.”
“First Light: Jeong” is an album themed around the time ONEUS and their fandom, “Two Moon,” have spent illuminating each other’s lives. The album’s theme also aligns with the message conveyed in their debut album, “LIGHT US.”
Geon-hee explained, “While ‘LIGHT US’ conveyed the message that ‘ONEUS was born because our fans shone their light on us,’ this album embodies our desire to ‘give back all the love we’ve received from our fans over the years.’”
The album features five tracks, including the title track “Don’t Look Away” (Say Yes!), as well as “Runaway,” “Even If I Meet You by Chance” (By chance), “Our Never-Ending Story” (Never Ending Us), and “We Run for Youth” (We run for youth).
The title track “Don’t Look Away” is a song centered on the conviction that anything is possible when we’re together and a promise of a fresh start. Producer R.Tee—who has written numerous hits such as BIGBANG’s “Era, I Don’t Care” and BLACKPINK’s “Playing with Fire” and “Kill This Love”—took charge of composition and arrangement, marking his first collaboration with ONEUS.
R.Tee serves as the main producer at B-Wave Entertainment. Hwanwoong said, “One of the things I was most looking forward to when I switched agencies was meeting R.Tee. We communicated in a relaxed atmosphere and worked together to refine the direction of the song.” Geon-hee smiled and said, “It felt as comfortable as being introduced to an older brother from the neighborhood,” before adding with satisfaction, “I think we’ve created a song where ONEUS’s unique style and R.Tee’s pop sensibilities blend perfectly.”

◇“Any kind of music, in our own style… We’ll be together for a long time”
The experience of tackling diverse concepts and genres over the seven years since their 2019 debut served as a foundation for interpreting RTI’s music—with whom they collaborated for the first time—in a way that reflects ONEUS’s unique style.
Geon-hee said, “We’ve shown you a truly diverse range of looks, from Korean-inspired concepts to vampire concepts, and we’ve tackled a wide spectrum of songs, from intense tracks to lyrical and wistful ones.” He added, “In the past, whenever we tried something new, we’d worry, ‘Can we pull this off?’ But now, we’ve gained the confidence that we can make any kind of music our own.”
Their approach to music and performances has become much more flexible. Hwanwoong explained, “Since we’re the group that debuted after our seniors Mamamoo at RBW, we’ve always prioritized skill and perfection in our activities.” He continued, “Going forward, with the mindset that ‘good music doesn’t necessarily have to be perfect,’ we plan to focus more on the essence and expression of the music rather than just striving for a perfect score.”
Hwanwoong added, “I’m trying out different vocal techniques and taking on new parts. It feels like a wider variety of music is emerging in this slightly more free environment.”
Following the release of their new album, ONEUS will embark on a world tour. Starting with concerts in Seoul on the 24th and 25th, they will meet fans across Central and South America, Europe, North America, and Asia. Standing at the starting line of the second chapter of their career, the members expressed their affection for ONEUS and their anticipation for future activities.
Lee Do emphasized, “Over the past seven years, I’ve spent more time with the members than with my family or friends. It was only natural that we’d continue on this journey together.”
Hwanwoong said, “All five members share the same dream as singers and view ONEUS as one,” adding, “Whenever we talked about the future in the past, we naturally said that we would continue to be active as ONEUS no matter what. We’ll work hard to make that happen.”
Geon-hee said, “We have many kind adults by our side who love ONEUS with one heart and one mind,” and added, “Whenever I think about the future, I feel grateful that ONEUS is a group that is loved so much,” as tears welled up in his eyes.
He continued, “The support and love our fans have shown us are by no means small,” and emphasized, “I believe the way to ensure that love isn’t in vain is to do what I do best. I will continue to work hard so that I can stay by your side for a long, long time.”