INTERVIEW CIX pushes forward as 4, steps into new era with 'GO Chapter 1 : GO Together'

From left are K-pop boy band CIX members Yonghee, Hyunsuk, Seunghun and BX. Courtesy of C9 Entertainment

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Sep 8, 2025 8:00 AM KST

In the crowded landscape of K-pop, few groups have built their identity around long-form storytelling as meticulously as boy band CIX. Since its 2019 debut, the band has used interconnected album series like "HELLO" and "OK" to explore sin, salvation and the turbulent nature of love.

That story, however, faced a rupture last year when the group lost one of its most recognizable members, Bae Jinyoung, who first rose to stardom on the second season of Mnet audition show "Produce 101" and as part of project boy band Wanna One, before deciding to pursue a solo career.

While the departure could have easily destabilized the group, the four remaining members were eager to make it a turning point.

Reorganized as a quartet — BX, Seunghun, Yonghee and Hyunsuk — CIX doubled down on its commitment and is preparing to release its eighth EP, "GO Chapter 1 : GO Together," Monday. The record marks only the group's second project as a quartet, and its arrival signals both continuity and reinvention.

The EP serves as an introduction to the new "GO" series, a trilogy that extends CIX's conceptual ambition. While the "HELLO" albums focused on sin and redemption and the "OK" series examined the painful essence of love, this new chapter looks toward resolution.

"This album tells the story of receiving salvation and heading toward our version of heaven," leader and rapper BX explained during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jungnang District, northeastern Seoul. "Our journey did have its struggles and despair, but this time it's about finding answers."

At the center of the four-track EP is "Wonder You," a pop-driven track that captures the curiosity of love.

"It's about wanting to know everything about someone you love, even the smallest details," BX said. "Then you come to realize that person is the angel you've finally found."

Musically, "Wonder You" moves with bright pop energy while unfolding through shifting rhythms and instrumentals. It keeps the group's dreamy sound intact but sharpens its contours.

"It would have been easier to take a different route," BX said. "But we wanted to stay true to what makes us CIX."

CIX's teasers for "GO Together" also drew attention from the K-pop community for their imagery of angel wings and shirtless portraits. Youngest member Hyunsuk said those elements were carefully chosen.

"They're extensions of our musical narrative," he said. "From the teasers to the upcoming music video, fans will be able to find hidden visual details that connect back to our storyline."

Preparing for that concept, according to Seunghun, meant physical discipline.

"The company told us the shirtless scenes had to be done properly," he recalled, laughing. "I trained intensively with a coach for a month. It was tough, but I wanted to get it right."

The choreography followed the same approach. Instead of leaning into overt provocation, the members said they crafted movements that balance sensuality with sincerity.

"The choreography has sexy nuances that fit the lyrics, but it's not overdone," Hyunsuk said. "We wanted to show a sexiness that feels genuine for our age, not something too explicit."

The members also deepened their involvement in the music itself. BX contributed to three of the four tracks, while the group collectively debated song selection and performance structure.

"We are ambitious, both on stage and musically," BX said. "This time, members' opinions shaped everything, from songwriting to choreography drafts."

Yonghee added that the lyrics themselves carry "something you cannot quite describe, but it feels unmistakably CIX."

Although Bae Jinyoung's exit cast a shadow, CIX said the adjustment strengthened their bond.

"We had to redo everything, from choreography to recording, for our previous works to perform onstage without him, and it was hectic," BX recalled. "But when we were finally done, the relief really hit us."

Hyunsuk emphasized that there are no lingering tensions with Bae Jinyoung.

"He has his own path, just like we have ours," he said. "We still cheer for each other."

The group is also looking outward.

"From the beginning, this album was designed with global fans in mind," BX said. "We want the world to understand the charm in our music."

CIX's hopes remain ambitious: bigger concerts, broader audiences, more chances to connect. The four members also hinted at even more to come this year.

"We have concerts and new projects planned for the second half of the year," BX said. "Please look forward to it."