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Still soaring: N.Flying marks 10 years with 'Everlasting' return
From left are Jaehyun, Dongsung, Seunghyub, Hun and Hweseung, members of the five-piece Korean rock band N.Flying. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
By Pyo Kyung-min
After nearly two years of performing as a duo due to members' military enlistments, Korean rock band N.Flying is back as a five-member act — just in time to mark its 10th anniversary with a fresh full-length album.
N.Flying debuted in 2015 under FNC Entertainment, home to iconic Korean rock acts FTISLAND and CNBLUE. The band has since undergone multiple lineup changes, navigating its fair share of turbulence while keeping the flame of band music alive in the K-pop scene.
The band's breakthrough came with "Rooftop," a 2019 release that unexpectedly went viral years later, earning the band recognition well beyond its core fan base.
Now the group is back with "Everlasting," its second full-length album, released May 28. It's both a fresh start and a message to fans that they intend to stay by their side "everlastingly."
In an interview Monday with The Korea Times at their agency's headquarters in southern Seoul, members Seunghyub, Hun, Jaehyun, Hweseung and Dongsung opened up about the long-awaited return to full strength and the excitement of releasing new music together again.
Rock band N.Flying / Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
During the hiatus, only Seunghyub and Hweseung remained active while Hun, Jaehyun and Dongsung completed their military service. But Dongsung said he didn't feel uneasy about returning.
"I had no fear after getting discharged because the other bandmates were working so hard while I was away," he said. "Now, it feels like all that's left is for us to move forward together."
Jaehyun added, "I didn't want to fall behind after finishing service, so I worked hard to keep improving after discharge. This album captures that effort. I want to grow, not just in skill, but in every way."
For the team's leader Seunghyub, releasing the album as a full group in time for their 10th anniversary felt surreal.
"It's such a joy and feels like a dream that we're able to put out another full album now," he said.
Rock band N.Flying recently dropped its second full-length album, "Everlasting," on May 28. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
"Everlasting" features 12 tracks, including the title track of the same name, a Korean version of the Japanese release "Songbird" and songs like "Love You Like That," "Born to Be," "Run Like This," "Moebius," "LOG" and "Stand By Me."
The title track stands out with its Britpop-inspired acoustic piano intro, rhythmic drums and guitar solos. According to the band, it is about wanting to remain a steady presence in someone's heart.
"Words like 'eternity' and 'moment' kept popping up while writing lyrics," said Seunghyub, the creator of the standout single. "Then I realized those were the key themes of the album. The title track was the last song I worked on and it felt like the song brought those ideas together."
Hweseung said the band felt it was important to make the album meaningful not just for themselves, but as a gesture of gratitude to fans who waited patiently.
"Since we're finally back as a full group for our 10th anniversary, we wanted this album to include a message that reflected that," he said. "We also wanted it to feel like a gift to the fans who've supported us."
He added that the whole process of preparing and performing the album had been especially energizing.
"Once everyone returned and we started working together again, it was so exciting —just as I'd hoped," he said. "And the recent concerts gave us even more energy. Seeing fans again on stage really lifted us."
Five-piece rock band N.Flying / Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
In the weeks leading up to the album drop, N.Flying kicked off its return with a string of performances, including a solo concert in Seoul that marked the start of a new world tour. The band also appeared at music festivals and university events, introducing themselves to new audiences.
"Because we'd been gone a while and had so much happening all at once, I didn't express it much," Dongsung said. "But inside, it felt like being reborn — almost like I was starting fresh. I want to hold on to that mindset."
Despite having been with the band for a decade, Seunghyub said his hunger still burns strong. More than anything, he hopes to connect with old and new fans through live performances.
"I still have this hunger to meet more new fans," he said. "I want to prove what our band is capable of through live shows that really satisfy them. What we've done so far hasn't been enough. Seeing how much people enjoy the shows only makes me want to do more. As long as I'm able, I want to keep performing live."