Boy band TRCNG returns with 'tough guy' image

Boy band TRCNG performs while showcasing their first album, titled “Who am I,” at YES 24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. /Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

Many K-pop boy bands have previously adopted a “wolf” concept to build a tough and masculine image.

Popular groups such as H.O.T. and EXO are prime examples of groups that have successfully imprinted their masculine appeal on the public, with songs like “Wolf and Sheep” and “Wolf and the Beauty,” respectively.

TS Entertainment’s rookie boy band TRCNG has offered to take over the wolf role with their first mini album “WHO AM I,” Tuesday. The album consists of three tracks including the single “Wolf Baby,” which is an electronic dance track about a young boy acting tough in front of a girl he likes.

The 10 members of the group will become wolves to showcase a strong masculine image.

“To be honest, we were worried at first that we would be compared to H.O.T. or EXO who have already accomplished so much with the wolf concept previously,” the member Taesun said during a press showcase at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Tuesday. “However, we are confident in we could show our distinguishing points as a teenage group. We are not adults yet, but we can show off our masculine characteristics like a wolf.”

All 10 members in the band are minors.

For this, the members acknowledged people’s concern over their lack of experience.

“We are still going through trials and errors as we are teenagers. However, these experiences will make us stronger and we certainly lack skill compared to other bands but we have big potential to grow so please expect it,” Hayoung said.

TRCNG performed their new choreography for “Wolf Baby” during the showcase wearing stage costumes. It was their first press showcase since their debut in October.

“We released our new album with the start of 2018 and we are excited to hold our first showcase in front of the press. Such a time is so meaningful and I am so happy to enjoy that privilege with my bandmates,” Hakmin said.

Prior to their debut as a K-pop band, many members were child actors on both the big and small screens. Kangmin starred in the 2006 film “Maundy Thursday” and Gwangmin appeared in the 2010 romantic comedy TV series “My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox.”

TRCNG members spoke of their aspirations for this year to aim for rookie of the year at the country’s big music awards.

“We keep telling each other to do our best with our new album for the rookie of the year award. You can only get the award once in your life and we will strive for it,” Hyunwoo said.