Looking for your new “Favorite” K-pop boy group? You may want to check out POW.
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If you have just a passing knowledge of K-pop boy group POW, then you probably know them mainly as Trainee A member Yorch’s new group or for its half-Filipino member (former LOUD contestant Dongyeon). But the group, composed of Yorch, Hyunbin, Jungbin, Dongyeon, and Hong, is more than just that. When the group made an appearance at the opening of Gentle Monster’s store in BGC, they had fans screaming their name even though they were active for just a few weeks. It was another sign that this five-member boy group from GRID Entertainment is looking to make waves fresh from their debut.
After releasing their pre-debut single, Favorite, last September, POW made their official debut in October with the release of their debut EP of the same name. At a lean 12 minutes and 28 seconds, it’s a fun and cohesive body of work that stays true to their name. It’s been a long journey to get here, but one they’re ready for. “It’s just the beginning. We’ve put in so much effort to reach this point and POW’s journey has just started,” says Yorch. Get to know more about the boys by reading our interview with them below as they open up about their debut, past experiences, and more.
What’s the meaning behind the group name, POW?
Jungbin: POW comes from the sound of something explosive, like “POW!” It’s about bringing some freshness and excitement to the music scene. So, brace yourselves for us to bring a “pow, pow, pow!” of fun into your lives.
How would you describe POW as a group?
Jungbin: Many K-pop groups are known to boast high-energy and powerful choreography and music. While we certainly share the same characteristic, we actually want to be more known as a feel-good group. We want to bring smiles and laughter through music, sometimes even bringing a few tears too, as we want to connect with our fans on an emotional level. We want to be a group that grows alongside our fans, and just like our name, POW, suggests, we want to be an exciting event to your lives.
Take us back to when you were preparing for your debut. How were you feeling then?
Dongyeon: It’s safe to say that our preparation wasn’t a walk in the park. We had limited time for all the members to come together before our debut. Our individual approaches to practice, dance, and vocals were quite diverse, which made it a real challenge in aligning our styles as a team. Even our practice routines were different. There were numerous moments that left us feeling exhausted, but we made a point of engaging in many discussions among the members. We prioritized having deep conversations about our unique methods and the feelings we had bottled up throughout the process. It was a demanding journey, but the step-by-step process of adapting to each other turned out to be quite enjoyable.
When you learned that you five would be coming together to form POW and debut, what was your reaction?
Hyunbin: ‘We’re finally making it!’ ‘We really are a team!’ These were my immediate first thoughts. A sense of relief washed over me knowing that we’ve crossed a significant milestone together, and I felt a sense of excitement to realize these are my friends who I’d be sharing my future with. We really are great friends to one another. On the other hand, because the official news of our debut didn’t immediately change our lives at the time, we weren’t really sure what to expect. I think it truly struck us when we began working on the music video and jacket photo shoots. That’s when we began having multiple cameras following us around at all times. It was a completely different dimension of experience from our days as trainees. I started to think, ‘Oh this must be it.’
How does it feel that you’ve finally made your official debut and your 1st EP is out for the world to enjoy?
Yorch: It’s just the beginning. We’ve put in so much effort to reach this point and POW’s journey has just started. While we’ve successfully completed the final steps of the trainee experience, as artists, we are now taking baby steps. Thinking about the future both excites and intimidates us. We hope that our journey ahead will captivate and fascinate as many people as it does us.
What was your favorite part about working on your 1st EP?
Yorch: So many individuals have worked to capture our most candid selves, just as we are, not the embellished version of us. They’ve also wonderfully highlighted the unique and individual charm that we naturally possess physically. As a result, we could naturally convey everything with more joy just by showing ourselves as we are in our expressions and activities.
Prior to your official debut, some of you were in other K-pop projects and shows. How do you think those past experiences helped you become the artists that you are today?
Yorch: Every single past experience holds value. These experiences have shaped who I am today, and it’s through them that I’ve grown to this point. In terms of performance, I’ve garnered a range of experiences working with diverse staff members. As a result, I believe I’ve been granted the opportunity to debut as a member of POW and handle various aspects of stage preparation, collaborating smoothly with the staff. I’ve developed the ability to communicate more effectively with a wide array of people, both on and off the stage.
Given how global K-pop has become, how are you taking advantage of the fact that you already have listeners and fans from around the world?
Dongyeon: K-pop being so big on a global level doesn’t necessarily change our commitment to hardwork. It’s our belief that, as we are part of such a global scene, it is essential to connect with our international fans without boundaries. Sure, music is a universal language that requires no translation, but we do want to converse a word or two in the respective native language of our fans. That’s why we are studying very hard in foreign languages.
During my recent visit to the Philippines, I learned a few phrases in Tagalog that I could use to communicate with our fans. I still have a long way to go, but since my mother’s native language is Tagalog, I aspire to communicate more fluently with our Filipino fans if we get the opportunity to perform in the future.
Has the way you viewed K-pop changed from when you started as trainees to now that you’re official idols?
Hyunbin: I’ve come to realize the weight of it, for sure. As a trainee, it only affected myself only when I fell short or made mistakes. However, seeing firsthand how many staff members come together and put in so much effort for every spectacular performance and essentially every moment, made me realize that each of our actions can have a big impact. Perhaps it’s when I did not care for my physical conditions, a slip of the tongue, or not practicing enough. I’ve learned that the situations resulting from my actions can either undermine everyone’s efforts or lead to a fantastic achievement. It’s not just about the POW members; it’s everyone working for this stage as a team. K-pop is truly about multiple teams coming together to create something remarkable.
What do you think it is about POW that makes you stand out from the other rookie groups on the scene?
Jungbin: I am certain that every single rookie group has put in a tremendous amount of work, not only to debut but also to present their talent to the world. Rather than emphasizing what sets us apart from others, we’d prefer to discuss what we, as POW, aspire to showcase as a group. POW’s focus is to tell stories of our current moments as members, more so than the past or some distant future. I think many people nowadays seek to cherish the happiness of the present rather than dreaming of a far-off future. We believe many people will resonate with POW’s music, which embraces the essence of here and now.
Five years from now, where do you think POW will be?
Hong: Five years from now, I hope and believe that we will continue our journey together. I expect more chances for us to connect with fans from diverse countries and cities, and I wish to see our performances and our growth as a group flourish in various dimensions. As the name POW suggests, I aspire for our group to become a remarkable event for everyone.
Furthermore, I hope POW’s music becomes eagerly awaited, sparking curiosity and excitement in many people. We want to be a team that not only receives affection but also builds a reputation for credibility and trust.
What would you say to people who haven’t heard of POW yet why the group is worth stanning?
Hyunbin: Creating Culture Every day. Like our team slogan says, we will continuously craft new cultures and entertainment. Picture us as a team that resembles an amusement park, always brimming with new and exciting attractions. Doesn’t that sound fun?
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