ENHYPEN reveals darker allure in ‘DESIRE : UNLEASH’ concept film

K-pop boy group ENHYPEN poses ahead of "DESIRE Concept Cinema Premier Event," an exclusive premiere of the concept film for their sixth mini album "DESIRE : UNLEASH," at Coex in southern Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of BELIFT LAB

Following a dazzling performance at Coachella last month, K-pop boy group ENHYPEN is poised to captivate audiences once again, this time with a darker, more enigmatic persona.

Composed of Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo and Ni-ki, ENHYPEN introduced its upcoming mini album “DESIRE : UNLEASH” through an exclusive premiere of a concept film at Coex in southern Seoul, Sunday. The album is slated for release on June 5.

The short film, titled “DESIRE Concept Cinema,” marks the group’s latest attempt to expand its visual storytelling, a strategy ENHYPEN has used to build a narrative ahead of each release. Drawing inspiration from 1970s American Gothic aesthetics, the film incorporates stylized vampire imagery and a retro late-night television format. The full film will be released Monday via official channels.

A poster for ENHYPEN's "DESIRE Concept Cinema" / Courtesy of BELIFT LAB

At the private screening, the group described the project as a new direction, both thematically and visually.

True to its title, the narrative explores the tension between temptation and control, offering a more mysterious and shadowy interpretation of love.

“This film expresses the theme of desire not simply as temptation, but as a profound and conflicting force that shapes identity,” Heeseung said during the event. “The monster in a film represents that desire — not just fear, but longing, hunger and transformation.”

Though not formally trained as actors, the members immersed themselves in assigned roles throughout the production. Jay, who cited British actor Tom Ellis from the urban fantasy series "Lucifer" as a key reference, portrayed a possessed, enigmatic figure.

“There’s a whisper scene that really shifts the tone. I focused on channeling a spiritual arrogance — a performance that feels both alluring and unstable," Jay said.

The short film makes deliberate use of stillness and silence, heightening emotional depth through minimalist performance.

“The absence of movement actually made it more challenging,” said Ni-ki, who took on a largely expression-driven role. “Everything had to be conveyed through the eyes, through restraint.”

Each member took on dual roles or distinctive character types, shifting from pure concept of the previous album.

“Compared to last year’s themes of youthful love, this album delves into a more mature spectrum — desire that’s deeper and darker,” explained Sunghoon.

A poster for ENHYPEN's "DESIRE Concept Cinema" / Courtesy of BELIFT LAB

Acclaimed director at helm

The "DESIRE Concept Cinema" is directed by Park Min-soo, whose short documentary "Merlin" garnered recognition at international festivals, including the Rome International Short Film Festival, New York International Film Festival, Berlin Indie Film Festival and Tokyo International Short Film Festival.

Known for his emotionally resonant direction and distinctive cinematic stillness, Park brings a unique artistic sensibility to the project, ensuring an evocative visual experience.

“This project centers around the complexity of desire,” director Park said. “Vampires became the perfect metaphor — not only as beings driven by primal instincts, but also as figures caught between suppression and indulgence.”

The film is structured around three archetypes of desire: those who indulge, those who suppress and those caught in between — showcased in a stylized talk show segment.

“I wanted to present layers,” the director said. “Vampires who critique their own kind. Humor, fear, attraction, contradiction — all colliding through a late-night broadcast lens.”

Poster for ENHYPEN's "DESIRE Concept Cinema" / Courtesy of BELIFT LAB

ENHYPEN leader Jungwon shared the joy of filming with Park.

“His coaching was precise, but he also encouraged us to explore. We had to get deeply into character, even when the atmosphere on set was so intense that we sometimes broke into laughter," Jungwon said.

Reflecting on filming, Jake said, “Every time we shoot something different from a music video, it feels distinctly different. I was nervous and the atmosphere made it feel a bit unfamiliar at first. But thanks to the director’s guidance, I was able to express myself fully with the role.”

To mark the release of the album, ENHYPEN will host a comeback fan showcase on June 5 at KBS Arena in Seoul, offering fans an intimate evening of music, conversation and celebration.

The septet also continues its “WALK THE LINE” world tour, with Bangkok in June and Tokyo in July, before continuing to the U.S. and Europe in August.

Kim Min-ji is a Korea Times intern.