HYBE's 1st global boy band &TEAM comes 'Back to Life' with Korean debut

Boy band &TEAM performs during a media showcase for the group's official Korean debut at BlueSquare, Yongsan District, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

By Pyo Kyung-min

• Published Oct 28, 2025 6:13 PM KST

9-member group aims to bridge J-pop roots, K-pop ambition

Almost three years after rising to prominence in Japan, HYBE Labels' multinational boy band &TEAM officially made its Korean debut with the release of "Back to Life" Tuesday, a project that marks both a homecoming and a new chapter for the nine-member act.

Formed in December 2022 under HYBE's Japan-based subsidiary YX Labels, &TEAM is the first group to emerge from the company's overseas branch. The lineup includes six Japanese members, along with one each from Korea and Taiwan, and one German-Japanese citizen.

The group's rise in Japan was almost instant. The group's debut EP, "First Howling : ME," shot straight to No. 1 on Japan's Oricon chart, while its third single, "Go in Blind," exceeded one million shipments, earning an official certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

Despite this success, the group’s decision to re-debut in Korea — the birthplace of the very system that trained them — feels like a full-circle moment.

On Monday evening, the group unveiled "Back to Life," the eponymous title track for the Korean debut album, followed by an official album release.

"When I first heard about our Korean debut, I was honestly surprised," EJ, the group's sole Korean member, said during a media showcase at Seoul's BlueSquare, Tuesday. "But seeing all the fans who had waited for us, and our staff working tirelessly behind the scenes, made me more determined than ever to do well."

"For me, it was more excitement than worry," added Harua. "It felt like we were stepping closer to our dream of being global artists."

As its name suggests, "Back to Life" carries themes of rebirth and perseverance. Member Maki described the project as a "major starting point for us, something that represents becoming stronger global artists."

The title track fuses rock and hip-hop, driven by fierce, synchronized rhythm and choreography. It stands at the crossroads between K-pop's powerful performance energy and J-pop's addictive, melodic charm.

The six-track album showcases the members' musical range, moving from the buoyant energy of "Lunatic" and the playful love song "MISMATCH," to the high-octane "Rush," the emotional rock ballad "Heartbreak Time Machine" and the introspective "Who am I."

While &TEAM's DNA intertwines K-pop and J-pop, the group said its goal with this new chapter is to bridge both worlds and expand beyond them.

"K-pop isn't just Korea's genre anymore. It's a global phenomenon," said Harua. "We wanted to challenge ourselves here so we can grow into true global artists. I'm most excited about performing on Korean music shows and meeting fans face-to-face. I'm just hoping my Korean will hold up," he added with a laugh.

"This debut is a new beginning and a challenge," Yuma added. "We want to show our unique color and identity here in the birthplace of K-pop. For us, it's the first step toward something bigger."

Questions have often been raised over whether groups formed under Korean entertainment agencies' overseas labels can still be considered K-pop. At the event, EJ emphasized the group's solid foundation in the K-pop training system and its creative principles.

"Even though we debuted through HYBE's overseas label, our foundation was built within the K-pop system. That system focuses on nurturing versatile talent from a young age, and I think that's why so many unique artists come from it. I'm proud to have trained under that system and to now debut here in Korea," EJ said.

"Through this album, we want to show both our powerful performances and our pure, family-like energy offstage."