Group VERIVERY is ready to take flight again in their 7th year after a long hiatus. The group released their fourth single ‘Lost a Found’ on December 1, marking their first musical activity in 2 years and 7 months. Before officially resuming activities, VERIVERY held a roundtable interview where they candidly discussed their feelings during the long break, their fears about returning, and their readiness to perform again with strong determination.
Since the release of their 7th mini-album in May 2023, the members of VERIVERY have felt a growing sense of ‘han’ (a Korean concept of deep-seated resentment or sorrow) which they incorporated into their new album. Choosing this theme helped them “release these feelings and progress further,” transforming their situation into expressive performances during their comeback.
Reflecting on this period, member Gyehyeon shared that even when Dongheon joined the military, and Minchan and Hoyoung paused activities, leaving four members (Gyehyeon, Yeonho, Yongseung, and Kangmin), their determination never fully wavered. Despite many discussions with their company about wanting to release an album, they faced the harsh realities of the situation. Meanwhile, they each pursued interests in acting or musical theater, focusing on personal growth.
Leader Dongheon, who was discharged from the military in February, recalled thinking, “How can I help my friends?” during his breaks. They talked a lot, and Dongheon suggested new potential directions. Around this time, they received an offer to participate in Mnet’s survival program ‘Boys Planet 2,’ seeing it as a potential opportunity.
Dongheon shared that although he was anxious upon returning, he was busy focusing on the program. “As I prepared around my discharge, I was worried about adapting, having been so disconnected from the entertainment industry during my service,” he confided.
Born in 1995, Dongheon was the oldest participant on ‘Boys Planet 2.’ He said, “I learned a lot from younger participants who seemed more in tune with themselves and proactively worked on their growth. It was inspiring despite the age difference, as I asked them what inspired them nowadays.”
Initially, Dongheon didn’t want to join the program. “I felt detached from the industry,” he said, but his bandmates persuaded him, expressing their desire to have him with them to provide strength and solidarity.
By participating in the survival show in their 7th year, Dongheon, Gyehyeon, and Kangmin drew closer, with Gyehyeon expressing a nurturing and supportive sentiment, similar to a parent cheering for a child. Kangmin added, “The communication throughout, not just after leaving, strengthened us, and I appreciated their support for individual pursuits.”
Although they didn’t make the debut group, VERIVERY expanded their fan base and held a fan meeting in November, which sold out quickly despite having only about 1,000 seats. Fans expressed discontent about the small venue size, and Kangmin revealed that “the company believed we could fill a larger venue, but we didn’t trust ourselves at the time due to insecurity and fear of not filling the space.”
They honestly spoke about the fear and anxiety accumulated during the hiatus. Kangmin admitted, “I became fearful of album activities, uncertain about our potential. During this period, we looked for new directions while upgrading ourselves.”
With the album’s release approaching, Dongheon still felt scared, wondering what kind of music and performances they should present. “That’s why we’ve prepared diligently to eliminate that fear,” he affirmed.
Dongheon concluded, “Over the past 7 years, we’ve showcased many stages and diverse music genres. With this comeback, we want to show there’s still room for new appearances from us. We hope to reinforce that we are an ‘evolving idol’ team, showing we aren’t content to stand still.”
Image source: Jellyfish Entertainment
