K-pop group Cravity releases 'Sun Seeker'

K-pop boy band Cravity / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

Nine-member group releases 6th mini album 'Sun Seeker'

By Hong Hye-min

K-pop group Cravity has credited teamwork as the main ingredient to their growing success, both in Korea and on internationally, emphasizing open communication and mutual respect among its members as the key factor behind their close-knit teamwork.

This insight was revealed in a recent interview with Cravity at Starship Entertainment headquarters in Seoul, to celebrate the release of the group’s sixth mini album “Sun Seeker.”

Their latest mini album, released Monday evening, centers on the themes of youth, the pursuit of dreams and the power of individuality as the album’s title suggests.

Cravity has maintained a steady upward trajectory since debuting in 2020, with their high point coming in March this year when the group released their fifth mini album “Master: Piece,” the group's most successful album to date in terms of sales. The group also held their first world tour, performing in six cities across the Americas and Asia. On the back of this recent string of success, are high expectations that Cravity will reach even more milestones with their latest comeback.

The budding fan club behind Cravity, calling themselves “Luvity,” has driven the boy band’s growth over the past three years with their enthusiastic love and support. So, how did Cravity attract such a devoted group of followers in the first place?

Minhee said maintaining honesty and sincerity when engaging with the fans may have been key to their popularity. “We always tried to be earnest, and I think our fans felt it. We approach our fans with sincerity and are communicating with them as intimately as we can. They’re a of so much love and inspiration for us,” Minhee said.

Serim also mentioned the importance of chemistry between the members as the driver of their success. “The fans not only enjoy our stage performances, but they also love our interactions and the moments that we share off-stage. Even when there are no cameras around, we love hanging out and making each other laugh. That could be one of the reasons why our fans like us.”

Indeed, teamwork has always been the running theme in their television appearances as well as self-produced content, with the keyword being explicitly mentioned by the group members as their main strength.

Taeyoung explained, “The older members of the group take good care of the younger artists, and a lot of respect is shown the other way around. It’s a very cordial atmosphere.” This was apparent during the interview, as Cravity members constantly showed warmth and caring for one another in a manner that resembled a family.

Cravity said that they hold “family meetings” regularly to openly share their feelings and opinions, allowing them to maintain their strong chemistry and resolve any conflicts before they arise, which are bound to crop up in a large band with nine distinct personalities.

Seongmin explained, “Before we release any new music, we gather in our large dormitory to share feedback and openly discuss anything that may have bothered us personally. We are completely open and honest about our feelings.”

Wonjin added, “Everyone speaks up and it’s not only to air grievances. We’re like a family and there are no topics that aren’t open for discussion. We also talk a lot about the different sensitivities about certain things that individual members have and ways in which we can exercise caution so as not to trigger them.”

Hyeongjun said, “We made our debut in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we had to rely a lot more on each other and our fans. That’s why we had so many meetings and conversations to talk about our goals for a certain album before it was even released. We’ve continued to hold these regular discussions ever since.”

Cravity’s sixth mini-album “Sun Seeker” was released on Monday (Korea Time) on all major streaming platforms.

Hong Hye-min (hhm@hankookilbo.com) is a reporter at The Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times. This article, previously published in The Hankook Ilbo, has been translated as part of a news-sharing program.