H Rookie boy band ALLOURS seeks to emulate success of Stray Kids

Rookie K-pop boy band ALL[H]OURS poses during a press event held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment

Many aspiring trainees harbor dreams of becoming established idols in the K-pop industry, but few manage to finish their marathon to debut. Joining the ranks of the chosen ones, a new boy group has emerged in the industry – ALL[H]OURS from Eden Entertainment.

In a press event held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, to celebrate the group's debut on Wednesday, the members of ALL[H]OURS — Kunho, Youmin, Xayden, Minje, Masami, Hyunbin and ON:N — took the stage, brimming with dreams.

The name of the group, ALL[H]OURS, carries a layered significance. It combines "ALL OURS," symbolizing the group's dedication to giving everything they have, with "ALL HOURS," signifying their commitment to putting their utmost effort into every moment.

The members shared their aspirations to stand alongside seasoned seniors, including Stray Kids, a boy band under JYP Entertainment.

"I want to be a cool idol who resembles Hyunjin of Stray Kids," Hyunbin said. "Also, the chemistry within the entire Stray Kids team is so impressive that our whole team aims to emulate it. I've learned from observing seniors who share close and friendly bonds."

ALL[H]OURS already has a special connection with Stray Kids through Cho Hae-sung, the founder and CEO of Eden Entertainment who was previously the vice president of JYP Entertainment. The team revealed that it even received encouragement from Park Jin-young himself, the founder of JYP Entertainment.

The members of rookie K-pop boy band ALL[H]OURS attend a press event held at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of EDEN Entertainment

Xayden recalled a surprising moment during practice when the legendary producer walked in. "Once producer Park suddenly came in while we were practicing and we were all astonished, frozen in place," he said.

Kunho chimed in, explaining that Park offered words of encouragement for their future growth. "He told us to cherish the moments onstage, and always be thankful for the ones that allow and help us to shine," he recalled.

During the press event, Park added to the excitement by surprising the members with a congratulatory video message for their debut.

"I take pride in ALL[H]OURS, who have openly shared their entire debut process with me. Now, as you make your debut, I believe you will evolve into a group that gains recognition worldwide," Park said in the video.

Following Park's tips, ALL[H]OURS demonstrated remarkable live skills while performing "GOTCHA," the lively first single of its debut album, "ALL OURS." The members performed without showing signs of tension, dispelling any expectations of a typical rookie performances.

While being labeled as "Stray Kids juniors," each member of ALL[H]OURS also possesses unique charms.

When asked about their individual strengths, Hyunbin mentioned confidence in his long limbs, ON:N in his "aegyo," the Korean term for "acting cute," Youmin in power and Kunho in smiling. Xayden highlighted his abs, Minje his flexible shoulders and Masami his remarkable visual appearance.

The first idol group to debut in 2024, ALL[H]OURS' members expressed their ambition to leave a mark throughout the year.

"As we became the first idol group to debut in 2024, we're actually very nervous. We'll strive to create colorful memories within our fans' hearts at both the beginning and the end of the year," Kunho concluded.