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FLARE U turns audition show friendship into K-pop debut with 'YOUTH ERROR'
From left, K-pop duo FLARE U members Chuei Li Yu and Kang Woo-jin pose during a press event at BlueSquare Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, Wednesday. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
By Pyo Kyung-min
K-pop duo FLARE U released its debut album, "YOUTH ERROR," Wednesday, officially marking its arrival after months of anticipation from fans who first fell for them on an audition show.
The two members, Chuei Li Yu from Taiwan and Korean Kang Woo-jin, competed on Mnet's "Boys II Planet" last year, finishing 10th and 16th, respectively. Neither made the final debut lineup, but their easy rapport became one of the show's more talked-about storylines.
The name, FLARE U, captures exactly that: two separate sparks becoming one light. A few hours before the official album drop on Wednesday, the two met the press for a media showcase at BlueSquare Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, sharing behind-the-scenes stories leading up to the duo's launch.
"After the audition program ended, I took some rest and then prepared for a fan event. I felt sorry that I couldn't share more news in the meantime," Kang said.
K-pop duo FLARE U's Kang Woo-jin poses during a press event at BlueSquare Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, Wednesday. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
It was also a period of real growth, he noted. Appearing on a TV show had been a first for him, and the physical and emotional demands caught him off guard early on.
"Having gone through it, it's helped me a lot in becoming who I am now," Kang added.
For Chuei, the debut announcement was a relief.
"When I first heard that we were being formed as a duo, I was happy to finally have a group name I could officially call my own," he said. "Because people around me knew how long I had been waiting for this, I received many congratulations."
The six-track debut album traces the arc of two flawed young people finding each other and becoming something better together.
"It's a story of two youths, each with their own stumbles and mistakes, meeting and going through the process of shining as one light," Kang said. "It's charming, and each track has its own story. It's an album you can enjoy all the way through."
The lead single, "WAY 2 U," leans into that giddy, act-now feeling — the jolt of realizing a friendship has become something more, and the impulse to do something about it.
"It felt refreshing and cute," Chuei shared. "The lyrics felt like an expression of the relationship between me and my fans, which I really liked."
K-pop duo FLARE U member Chuei Li Yu poses during a press event at BlueSquare Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, Wednesday. Courtesy of FNC Entertainment
The FLARE U project marks Chuei's second debut in quick succession. The Taiwanese singer put out a solo album in December, just a few months after "Boys II Planet" wrapped. Asked about the difference, he was straightforward.
"There's no loneliness like there was when I was working alone," he said. "Having a friend going through it together makes things lighter. There are things only the two of us can do. The anticipation outweighs the pressure."
Asked about their goals, the two offered perspectives that reflected both their personality and shared purpose.
"My goal is to become like a vitamin vending machine," Chuei said. "Vitamin supplements have become an everyday necessity, and I want to be that kind of presence for our fans. I hope they can look for me whenever they want, whenever they need."
Kang pointed back to the group's name.
"Just like our team name, I want the two of us to meet and be born as light," he said. "I want us to be remembered as a team that continues to grow and makes music that resonates with many people."