InterviewWith 'Beat-Boxer,' NEXZ returns to home turf to prove its power

Clockwise from top left are K-pop boy band NEXZ members So Geon, Tomoya, Yu, Seita, Yuki, Hyui and Haru. Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

A year after their ambitious debut, boy band NEXZ evolved from promising rookies into one of the most dynamic new forces bridging K-pop and J-pop. Formed through a collaboration between JYP Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment Japan, the seven-member act — Tomoya, Yu, Haru, So Geon, Seita, Hyui and Yuki — have spent the past year performing across both countries, earning a significant fandom with their bilingual charm and powerful performances.

Now, with their new mini-album, "Beat-Boxer" set for release Monday evening, NEXZ are heading back to Korea, bringing with them a year's worth of growth and a clearer vision.

"It's been six months since our last work," said Hyui, reflecting on the Korean comeback during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul's Seongdong District, Thursday. "We worked really hard to show a cooler and more mature side."

The five-track release marks another step in their creative evolution, according to NEXZ. Members Tomoya, Yu and Haru took part in choreographing both the title track and pre-release single "I'm Him," continuing their hands-on approach from the previous album.

"This time, I took part not only in choreography but also in songwriting and lyric writing," Tomoya said. "Before, we used to receive demo tracks and work hard to express them, but now we tried to produce a track from scratch. It feels like this album finally represents our true color."

K-pop boy band NEXZ / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

The eponymous title track captures that power in full.

"'Beat-Boxer' is about having the confidence to literally break the beat on stage," So Geon explained. "People often see us as a 'performance powerhouse,' and this song really fits that description."

"It's powerful and full of energy that we can only express at our age," Tomoya added. "From start to finish, the excitement never drops. But the album also shows the bright, refreshing side that our fans love. Being able to do both is one of our biggest strengths."

The group said it often looks to their JYP seniors Stray Kids for inspiration, noting the self-producing spirit that mirrors their own.

"They're really amazing and treat us warmly," said So Geon. "They've told us our dancing is great, which meant a lot during preparations."

"Of course, there's some pressure, but it's more excitement than burden," Yu said, reflecting on what it means to carry the JYP legacy. "It's an honor to rise to the expectations our seniors set. Just like Stray Kids has its own musical identity, we want to define ours and be loved for it."

K-pop boy band NEXZ / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

Bridging both worlds

While NEXZ identifies itself as a K-pop group, six of NEXZ's seven members are Japanese, while So Geon, born and raised in Japan, is a Korean national. That dual background, once a challenge, has become part of their identity.

"When I auditioned, Producer Park Jin-young noticed my nationality and asked me to introduce myself in Korean," So Geon recalled. "At that time, I barely managed to properly pronounce my name in Korea and there was a long silence. I felt embarrassed that I couldn't speak my own language, so I started studying and talking to my parents in Korean. Now I try to speak with the staff and members as much as I can."

For the Japanese members, adapting to Korea came naturally.

"I've lived here for about six years now," said Hyui. "I realized I'd become fluent when I reacted naturally in Korean during conversations with the members. There were moments when I thought to myself, 'Wow, I've really adapted.'"

"I used to imagine and fantasize what Korean food would be like before I came here, and it's even better than I expected," Seita added, smiling. "I can't eat spicy food well yet, but I'm getting used to it. Lately, I've been loving budae-jjigae, a Korean stew."

Balancing both markets, according to the seven members, has given the group a unique edge.

"Each scene, K-pop and J-pop, has its own charms," said Hyui. "Our goal is to perform wherever we can show our skills. When we're on stage communicating with fans, we're not thinking about nationality, it's all just about delivering a good performance."

K-pop boy band NEXZ / Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

With the group's first Korean solo concert over the weekend at Olympic Hall in Seoul's Songpa District, NEXZ are eager to take the next leap.

"When I first came to Korea, I watched Park Jin-young's concert at Olympic Hall," said So Geon. "I thought the venue was beautiful, and now we get to perform there ourselves. It's surreal."

As "Beat-Boxer" and the group's long-awaited concert arrive back-to-back, NEXZ stands at a defining point in its early career where performance, creativity and cross-cultural spirit come together.

"People say our performances are strong," said Hyui. "But I want them to see that we're strong in vocals and rap too. Still, hearing 'their performance is the best' — that's what I want most."