[Edaily Starin KIM HYUNSIK Reporter] "I finally feel confident about our musical direction."

In an interview held on the 20th at the MPMG headquarters in Mapo-gu, Seoul, the band Touched shared these thoughts on releasing their first full-length album six years after their debut.
Touched is a four-member mixed-gender band composed of graduates from the Department of Applied Music at Seoul Institute of the Arts: Yoon Min (vocals and guitar), Kim Seung-bin (drums), John B. Kim (bass), and Chae Do-hyun (keyboard). Debuting in 2021, they made a name for themselves the following year by winning Mnet’s band survival show “Great Seoul Invasion.” They subsequently gained widespread popularity when Yoon Min reigned as the “King of Singers” for nine consecutive weeks on the MBC music variety show “King of Mask Singer.”
The group released their first full-length album, *Gyeokya*, on the 15th. Kim Seung-bin expressed his pride, saying, “We’re an indie band that used to perform only in Hongdae clubs, but now we’ve stepped out into the wider world and are finally presenting our full-length album.” Yoon Min, the only female member of the band, emphasized, “*Gyeokya* is an album that showcases the kind of music TOUCHED most wants to make right now.”
The album features a total of 12 tracks, including the double title tracks “Fallen Angel” and “This Star.” TOUCHED channeled emotions that don’t easily fade—such as frustration, resentment, loss, and loneliness—into their music.
Yoon Min explained, “Up until now, we’ve mainly shown a strong and charismatic side on stage,” adding, “This time, starting from the idea that ‘everyone lives with their own ‘Extreme Night,’ we filled the album with songs that express our inner melancholy.”
He continued, “I wrote these songs based on my own experiences,” adding, “I wanted to offer comfort to those going through dark times by conveying the message that ‘someday, the polar night will end and the polar day will come.’”
John B. Kim expressed his satisfaction, saying, “Since we’re a band that made a name for ourselves on a music competition, the focus had been on intensity,” and added, “With the release of this album, which also incorporates deeper narratives, I feel that Touched’s music has achieved a good balance.”
Since their debut, Touched has consistently performed on stage, expanding their fan base. Their standing has now grown to the point where they participate as headliners at music festivals both domestically and internationally. Earlier this year, they successfully held their largest-ever solo concert at the Ticketlink Live Arena (Handball Stadium).
Chae Do-hyun smiled and said, “While touring overseas, I’ve been able to experience firsthand the global interest and enthusiasm for K-culture. I feel like Touched is riding the wave of the Hallyu craze.”
Yoon Min emphasized, “We’ll continue to grow by gradually expanding the scale of our solo concerts,” adding, “They say you should aim high, don’t they? We’ll keep working toward our goal of performing at the Super Bowl halftime show in the U.S.”