THE BOYZ
On July 28, THE BOYZ shared its thoughts on the release of its 10th mini album “a;effect” through a Q&A session published by its agency, ONE HUNDRED.
Recently, THE BOYZ has faced significant internal turmoil due to controversies surrounding the private lives of several members. KEVIN sparked controversy after attending a baseball game where he threw the ceremonial first pitch for the Kiwoom Heroes, only to suddenly begin cheering for the opposing team, the Kia Tigers. His behavior was seen as disrespectful toward the host team.
SUNWOO also came under fire after a video surfaced showing him on his way back from an event. In the video, he drops his wireless earbuds and exclaims in an unpleasant tone, “My AirPods!” A security guard quickly picks them up and hands them back to him, but SUNWOO takes them with one hand without appearing to thank the guard, raising questions about his manners and attitude.
JUYEON was caught up in dating rumors involving Shin Si Ah, while JU HAK NYEON became the center of confirmed controversy after a private meeting in May with former Japanese adult film actress Asuka Kirara. Following this, he suspended his activities with the group. The agency later announced that he had officially left THE BOYZ and terminated his exclusive contract.
In addition, MC Mong (Shin Dong-hyun), who had been serving as Chief Vision Officer (CVO) of ONE HUNDRED and also worked as a music producer, has also left the company. He cited depression and declining health as the reasons for his departure, stating:
“In a situation like this, staying in this position would benefit no one.”
Right after THE BOYZ joined the agency, MC Mong confidently stated:
“What I promised THE BOYZ is simple: there’s only one way to give back to the fans — by practicing every day, working on their vocals, writing, and composing. If someone believes in them, that belief alone can give birth to a song, and a single song can change these boys’ fate.”
He also added:
“The members of THE BOYZ told me, ‘This is the first time we’ve had an agency that truly believes in our music and allows us to work in such a peaceful environment.’”
Below is the content of the Q&A session sent by the agency ONE HUNDRED:
Q1. You’re making your comeback about 4 months after your 3rd studio album. How do you feel?
JACOB: I’m happy to be releasing a new album sooner than expected. Coming back with a completely new style makes me really excited for this promotion!
HYUNJAE: I can’t wait to share it with THE B. It’s really exciting.
JUYEON: We’re coming back with many different sides so you can have an even hotter summer. Look forward to us!
NEW: This comeback has a concept that’s really different from the previous album! I’m excited to show how much THE BOYZ has grown and how versatile we can be!
Q2. Can you introduce the 10th mini-album a;effect and its title track, “Stylish”?
YOUNGHOON: The album includes a band unit track, which is new for us. The members involved worked really hard on it! The title track “Stylish” is very catchy, personally. I hope you’ll look forward to it.
ERIC: “Stylish” is a simple but confident song. It’s not a love song, but it’s full of charm—in both the lyrics and the choreography—and it reflects a unique sense of self-confidence.
Q3. What do you think is the “killing part” of the title track or the element to watch for on stage?
HYUNJAE: The must-watch points are the synchronized choreography and the powerful performance by all the members.
SUNWOO: My “stylish” side, obviously. In my part, I say “Stylish,” so listen closely to that part—it’ll make the song more fun to listen to!
Q4. What did you focus on the most during the preparation of the album?
JACOB: I think I worked especially hard on the recording and choreography. I wanted “Stylish” to sound both cool and relaxed, which wasn’t easy!
JUYEON: During the recording, I worked a lot to make my part sound more natural, almost like speaking.
Q5. This is the first time since your debut that a band unit track is included: “함께라서 눈부셨던, 서툴지만 아름다운” (“Dazzling Together, Clumsy but Beautiful”). Any anecdotes to share?
KEVIN: All the members really worked hard. I handled the keyboards, which I already knew, but those learning an instrument would bring their guitars or drum pads even during practice!
NEW: I was really excited to play in a band with the members. The recording was super fun, and I found it amazing to see my teammates so dedicated.
Q: I’ve always wanted to make music in a band, and I’m very moved that we can finally show it to you. It was my first time learning guitar, but we all gave it our best!
Q6. Were there any direct contributions or ideas from the members in creating the album?
SUNWOO: For the song “Stylish,” I personally directed some of the recordings to better convey the vibe of the track.
ERIC: We also exchanged a lot of ideas about the outfits. And I personally participated in the choreography for the song “Aura,” the 5th track.
KEVIN: The album name “a;effect” combines the words affect (verb) and effect (noun). We wanted to send positive vibes through our music. I also suggested the English title for the 4th song, “Constellation,” because just like stars forming a constellation, our voices come together to shine as one.
Q7. Are there any concepts or genres you’d like to explore further?
JACOB: With this album, I got to try two concepts I really wanted to explore: the band style and the hip-hop world.
YOUNGHOON: If THE B have a favorite genre, I’m ready to explore them all.
SUNWOO: I want to try an even more intense concept, a killer concept.
Q8. You’re launching a world tour right after the album release. Any message for the fans waiting for the tour?
HYUNJAE: It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to meet THE B overseas. I’m super happy and excited!
JUYEON: Since our last tour, we’ve expanded our repertoire. Expect even more diverse musical and stage performances.
Q: We plan to show you a lot of new things on stage. I hope you’ll love it!
Q9. What are your goals for this promotion?
KEVIN: As the album title suggests, if we can create even small positive waves, that would be huge. We have songs that are both powerful and refreshing, and I hope they touch your hearts.
NEW: More than just chart results, I want more THE B to love and enjoy our music.
ERIC: My goal is for fans to be happy listening to our songs and watching our performances. And above all, THE BOYZ will show powerful performances on stage again!
Q10. A final word for THE B who have been waiting for this comeback?
YOUNGHOON: Thank you for waiting, THE B! Let’s have fun together during this new promotion. And we’ll make lots of memories with the concert, okay?
KEVIN: This album was made with all our hearts. Thank you for loving it, listening to it, and enduring the summer heat with us! Can’t wait to see you at the concert too.
Q: THE B! Never get sick, and may each day bring you happiness and joy. We hope this album gives you great energy, so please support us fully! Thank you!
SUNWOO: THE B, watch our performance carefully on stage, THE BOYZ will give it their all once again. I love you so much.
ERIC: THE B, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your unconditional support, everywhere and all the time. We never take it for granted. We will keep finding ways to give back all this love, always improve ourselves, and offer you the best of us. That’s a promise! Thank you so much. We love you.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: One Hundred, SNS THE BOYZ
