XLOV
Discover the first “genderless” group of 2025.
The boyband XLOV is making its debut today, via a showcase held online on the channel GUM TV, broadcast live on YouTube.
The group is composed of four members: WUMUTI, RUI, HYUN, HARU, and starts under the agency 257 ENTERTAINMENT. Oriented around a concept «genderless» that promises to break the codes of Kpop as rare groups have done in the past, the group releases its first single «I’MMA BE», directed by WUMUTI.
During the showcase, some voices in the audience can be heard that support the four boys who naturally answer questions from the MC. The majority being foreigners, including the leader, some misunderstandings of languages are heard, but quickly swept by their professionalism. The members begin by expressing their excitement about making their debut, knowing that apart from HYUN they have all participated in survival BOYS PLANET.
Regarding their nationality, WUMUTI is Chinese, RUI Taiwanese, HARU Japanese and HYUN Korean. Many fans follow the showcase online, with the chat full of comments encouraging the boys. WUMUTI presents the album, unveiling and photobook and photocards, then HYUN sings a few lines of a song about love to soften the audience. RUI later stated that HYUN used to sing from morning till night in the dorm room on their day off, and that at the end of it, RUI developed a strong «PTSD» melodies following him daily like a ghost.
WUMUTI shows a video of RUI dancing in the dorm room in front of their fridge, from headphones to ears while dancing on an AESPA song. As a «punishment» for mocking HYUN, RUI must then repeat the same dance on stage. In addition, RUI has a habit of mumbling in his sleep, sometimes singing. The leader, WUMUTI, is happy to have come across a group that is so well-connected and laugh at every piece of information.
Members start to tell stories about WUMUTI, including its complicated relationship with food. For example, when he is very hungry, he will order a lot of food, but as soon as he sees it, he feels full so he eats very little and throws most. The leader admits that he often has bigger eyes than his stomach as he wants to taste a lot of different things especially when he is outside, but not managing to finish his dishes he often has to take them to take away to finish later at the dorm.
Sharing a new photo of HYUN, we learn that he keeps a diary and writes on average three pages per day to remember each memorable moment of his day, or to support himself like today before going to the showcase where he wrote “Good luck, you’re going to make it!” Finally, a video of HARU crying is broadcast as members had prepared a hidden camera claiming to be angry with him all evening, asking why he behaved badly, meeting his friends instead of training hard.
Seeing HARU start crying, the boyband revealed that it was a joke and they had done nothing wrong, but at the time, HARU spoke too little Korean and did not understand the word “joke”, the story making people in the room laugh. The youngest member of the group asks that his elders do not make him a joke like this in the future, because he is too gullible.
To conclude on a more positive note, WUMUTI starts by sending positive messages to all members of XLOV, saying that they have worked very hard to get where they are today, He is happy to be on stage with this group for his debut. HARU also thanked his members, especially HYUN with whom he shared a photo shown at the showcase just before going on stage. HYUN, speaking again and showing a new photo, ends this series of anecdotes by telling the story of one time when he met a ghost in the dorm room, causing him to fear for his life.
Refocusing on their debut, RUI presents the key moment of the choreography of their single «I’mma be», first accompanied in Ac Capella by the members, then with the song behind as musical background. It’s the occasion for the members to share last words, HARU asking everyone to be interested in their debut, then XLOV leaves the stage to prepare to perform for the very first time its single officially marking its debut. A video is first prepared, where we find the group in its dance training room, excited to start, and presenting the fanchants for their single.
XLOV then performs «I’mma be», surrounded by LEDs in pink and violet shades to bring a more delicate and sensual side. The MC tells us after the performance that HARU‘s family came especially from Japan to support the boys, as well as the HYUN’s family. Once XLOV returns to the stage, WUMUTI expresses their wish that their debut will please everyone, HARU is just grateful for sharing this moment with the other members, RUI thinks first of all to the audience, worried if he enjoyed their performance, and HYUN says the group will continue to work hard in the future.
We then bring on stage a board full of post-it left by fans bringing either encouragement or asking questions. The first question is about their MBTI: HYUN was originally an INFJ, but after retaking the test recently became an INTJ. WUMUTI is ENFJ, RUI ENFP and HARU INTJ. They are then asked for their favorite animals, HYUN chooses the monkey, HARU the fox, RUI the dog, and WUMUTI declares that he loves all animals as long as they are not reptiles, but if he had to choose it would be the cat or the dog. Asking for a first impression, HYUN was afraid of WUMUTI when they met, but now finds him funny, like a second mother.
The following post-it questions how they name themselves in their repertoire, revealing that none of them have a special nickname, but next to their names is a heart according to the colors representing them: WUMUTI in red, HYUN in blue, HARU in yellow and RUI in pink. WUMUTI reveals that he chose their color, because he likes to draw and it is the colors that imposed themselves in his mind when he drew characters straight out of a manhwa. We then ask what is the secret of HYUN’s height. He recommends that you always eat what you want and to sleep well in order to stay healthy and grow. RUI adds to eat apples every day.
Just before closing the showcase, gifts are offered to fans via a draw system using the numbers on the fan ticket. To win: 16 signed polaroid, two per member, and a special gift selected by each boy: WUMUTI has selected a perfume he made himself thinking of the fans, hoping it will make them happy, HARU a bag he used when he went to school, RUI of green and red fabrics to achieve magic by changing colors, a trick he had presented at BOYS PLANET, and HYUN monkey plush with whom he used to sleep.
Each member then gives thanks in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean before leaving the stage for good to prepare for the days ahead and new performances full of promise. For the fans present at the showcase, a high touch is planned at the exit of the hall, which will leave memorable memories to those who made the trip.
Our reporter’s words: A most original showcase with this system of Q&A and series of anecdotes delivered by the members themselves, interesting to discover more about a rookie group. Good luck!”
Reporter: Pillet Anaïs
Translator: Pillet Anaïs
Photo : 257 ENTERTAINMENT
Sources : KSTATION TV
