One of the most anticipated K-pop rookies of the year, KickFlip, made an energetic debut, promising to shake up the K-pop scene with fresh energy and confidence.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life. KickFlip will work really hard moving forward,” said leader Kyehoon during a debut press conference held at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, on Monday.
The seven-member group is the first boy band JYP Entertainment has launched in seven years, following Stray Kids’ 2018 debut. Members Keiju, Amaru and Donghyun joined the company as trainees through the SBS audition program Loud in 2021.
Kyehoon, who appeared on the same show, has been a long-time trainee since placing first in JYP’s official audition in 2016. Donghwa, Juwang and Minje completed the group lineup.
KickFlip’s debut album, Flip it, Kick it!, sold over 300,000 copies in pre-orders alone, showcasing fans’ high expectations. The pre-release track, Umm Great, and the title track, Mama Said, highlight the group’s youthful energy with their catchy melodies, playful beats and bold lyrics about living freely without worrying about others’ opinions.
The album features six tracks in total, including Warriors, Knock Knock, Like A Monster, and See You Tomorrow. Members Kyehoon, Amaru, Donghwa, and Minje contributed to the songwriting for several tracks, signaling the group’s intention to actively participate in their music production.
The members cited Stray Kids as their role models. “We contributed a little to the songwriting for this debut album, but we hope to become a group like Stray Kids, producing our music and expressing our ideas through our songs,” said Donghwa.
Juwang shared advice they received from Stray Kids members, especially Changbin and I.N. “They told us that teamwork is key and that even if we fight, it’s important to fight with the intention of making up. We already have great teamwork, but we’ve become even closer.”
Leader Kyehoon also recalled the encouragement from JYP founder J.Y. Park. “He didn’t hold back on his praise. He said we have the potential to lead trends in the K-pop scene, and I’m so grateful for that.” Reflecting on his nearly 10-year journey as a trainee, he smiled, saying, “I think those long trainee years are why I am here today.”
Throughout the press conference, the members couldn’t hide their excitement and joy about their debut and upcoming concerts, fan meetings and music shows.
Donghwa asked fans to look forward to KickFlip’s music and performances.
“I hope when people and fans think of our group, the word ‘slime’ comes to mind. Slime feels great to touch, and it changes shape however you want. We want to be a group that can adapt to any genre or concept we want and a group that gives you joy,” he said, concluding with a smile. — The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
