INTERVIEW Close Your Eyes makes it snow in July with 'Snowy Summer'

K-pop boy band Close Your Eyes / Courtesy of UNCORE

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Jul 9, 2025 7:00 AM KST

What do you get when you mix snow, ghosts, Christmas nostalgia and chaotic death scenes — all in the middle of summer? For rookie boy band Close Your Eyes, the result is "Snowy Summer," the group's second mini-album and most delightfully offbeat concept yet.

Just three months after debuting through JTBC's audition show "PROJECT 7," the seven-piece group — Jeon Min-wook, Ma Jingxiang, Jang Yeo-jun, Kim Sung-min, Song Seung-ho, Kenshin and Seo Kyoung-bae — is already making waves not just for their looks, but for their commitment to unique storytelling.

"This new album tells the story of seven unlucky ghosts," the group's leader Jeon said with a playful smile during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Yongsan District, Tuesday.

"Each of us dies in our own unfortunate ways and misses out on that year's Christmas. So we return in the summer as ghosts who make it snow. That surreal contrast is what makes this album feel really special."

"Snowy Summer," set to drop Wednesday, is a four-track release with two lead singles: the wintry pop anthem of the same name, and "Paint Candy," a colorful track with retro R&B and new jack swing vibes.

The group says the duality of the album reflects its evolving identity.

"Our debut album showed the calm, poetic side of us, like those quiet boys you might spot in bookstores or libraries," said Jang. "This time, we've brought more energy and sharper choreography. You'll see a completely different side of us."

That includes a chaotic music video for "Snowy Summer," where each member meets their end in increasingly bizarre ways. Kenshin gets electrocuted, Jang chokes on a game die and Seo takes a dart to the head.

"We were a little surprised when we first saw the script," Kim admitted, laughing. "But it ended up being a really fun shoot."

Kenshin said he prepped for his death scene by watching a lot of videos — "even including ones featuring Pikachu" — and got praised by the director for his performance.

"I really sacrificed my body during the shoot," added Seo with a big grin.

For a group formed through a highly competitive survival show, Close Your Eyes has built some significant chemistry. Though the members span nearly a decade in age, Jeon explained that their group dynamic developed naturally.

"I didn't need to force anything," Jeon, the eldest among the members at 25, said. "Because of the age difference, the others followed my lead, but we work like friends."

Jang agreed, saying, "Min-wook doesn't act like he's the oldest, and in a good way. He knows exactly when to guide us as the leader of the group, and we all try to follow because we respect how hard he works."

Their bond has shone through, yielding remarkable results. The group's debut album sold 139,000 copies on release day alone, ranking third among 2025 debut acts and ninth among all boy groups in daily sales.

The members said they're not chasing numbers, but they do hope their music reaches a wide audience.

"We think our songs are genuinely enjoyable," Jeon said. "Even if someone hasn't seen our performances, we hope they hear the music and think we're worth following."

For Jang, the dream is for Close Your Eyes to become a kind of "music restaurant" — a group known for consistently serving up great songs. "We want to be the kind of team where every track you try is good," he said.

Jeon added that their visual appeal matters, too. "We want people to see us as a group that's not only talented, but good-looking as well."

For now, the group is leaning into the fun of it all, from dreaming of appearing on the iconic SBS variety show "Running Man" to battling broken air conditioning in their dorms.

"This concept fits us really well," says Jang. "Honestly, when we're together, we're always acting like mischievous little kids. It's not just a concept. It's who we are. That's why I believe our natural charms will really shine in this new release."