InterviewShownu X Hyungwon breaks silence with bold declaration, 'LOVE ME'

From left are Hyungwon and Shownu of K-pop boy band MONSTA X, who formed the subunit Shownu X Hyungwon in 2023. Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

Thirty-four months is a long time in the K-pop realm. Trends shift, rosters change and the industry moves fast enough to leave even established acts behind. For Shownu and Hyungwon of boy band MONSTA X, however, the wait seems to have only sharpened their focus.

The duo returns Thursday with "LOVE ME," their second mini-album as a unit, nearly two years and ten months after their 2023 debut. The album arrives at a real momentum for MONSTA X, who recently sold out the KSPO Dome in Seoul's Songpa District as part of the group's ongoing world tour "THE X : NEXUS."

MONSTA X debuted in 2015 under Starship Entertainment — home to major global acts like WJSN, Cravity and IVE — and has since built a dedicated global fanbase known as Monbebe.

Shownu X Hyungwon first came together as the group's inaugural subunit in July 2023, releasing their debut mini-album "THE UNSEEN" before Hyungwon's mandatory military service put the project on hold.

For Shownu X Hyungwon, "LOVE ME" is less of a comeback and more of a declaration.

MONSTA X's subunit duo Shownu X Hyungwon / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

"I wanted to show my natural self, with whatever maturity time has given me," Hyungwon said during an interview with The Korea Times at Starship's headquarters in Gangnam District, Seoul, Tuesday.

The military experience, he said, recalibrated something in him.

"I realized I had been taking a lot of things for granted without even noticing. The military is a place where nothing is guaranteed, and I want to hold onto that awareness now that I'm out," the 32-year-old singer said.

That awareness runs through the album's seven tracks, which span the push and pull of romantic uncertainty and the many textures of love.

The title track, "Do You Love Me," in particular, captures two people unable to fully trust each other's feelings, each demanding an answer the other won't quite give. Built on rich drum and guitar sounds, it showcases a bolder, more upbeat energy than anything the unit has released before.

"The title track has a more upbeat feel compared to our last album, so I think people will see a clearly different side of us this time," Shownu said.

MONSTA X's subunit duo Shownu X Hyungwon / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

Among the most personal moments on the record is "Superstitious," a smoother, softer track that Hyungwon originally wrote with the title slot in mind.

"I made it with the idea of highlighting the gentler side of Shownu X Hyungwon," he said.

The song ultimately made way for the more upbeat "Do You Love Me," a decision that came through ongoing discussions with the label — though Hyungwon admitted the process of getting there was anything but straightforward.

"The more songs I write, the harder it gets," he said. "You have to have conviction in what you're making, but honestly, during the actual process I had almost no confidence at all compared to when the final call was made. Trying something new always comes with that difficulty."

The final tracklist also includes solo offerings from each member — Shownu's "Around & Go" and Hyungwon's "NO AIR" — both of which were previewed at the Seoul leg of their group's world tour in January, drawing an immediate response from fans.

Members of K-pop boy band MONSTA X perform during the 2026 MONSTA X World Tour "THE X : NEXUS" at Lala Arena Tokyo-Bay in Chiba, Japan, April 28. Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

Eleven years into their career with MONSTA X, the two spoke with the kind of quiet confidence that comes from knowing exactly where they stand.

While many of today's boy groups have cycled through bright, youthful concepts, MONSTA X built their following on something rawer — powerful performances rooted in hip-hop and EDM, delivered by members whose physical presence was as much a part of the appeal as the music.

Anthems like "Hero," "Shoot Out," "DRAMARAMA" and "Beautiful" became the backbone of that intense, somewhat niche catalog, while projects like "Who Do U Love?" featuring French Montana helped push their reach beyond the core K-pop audience.

It is precisely with that identity that Shownu X Hyungwon are now distilling into something more intimate and entirely their own.

"I recently watched NCT WISH perform and was genuinely floored," Hyungwon said with a laugh. "There's absolutely no way we could pull that off. But I have real pride in the path we've chosen. Whether as MONSTA X or as Shownu X Hyungwon, if anyone else tried to perform our songs, I'm confident no one would do it better than us."

MONSTA X's subunit duo Shownu X Hyungwon / Courtesy of Starship Entertainment

That pride, grounded rather than boastful, may be the clearest thing "LOVE ME" has to say.

"I want us to be remembered as a unit that never repeats itself," Hyungwon said. "One that always brings something new."

Shownu kept his ambitions simple and to the point.

"Getting a third album made," he said. "There needs to be enough of a response for that to even be possible."