K-pop group ENHYPEN has achieved their long-held goal of winning a grand prize by 2025 and kicked off their first comeback of the new year. After closing ‘Chapter 1’ with a happy ending, the group adopted a strategic approach to open ‘Chapter 2,’ enabling fans to “imagine a new ENHYPEN.” This expanded new chapter for ENHYPEN is raising expectations for the group’s future.
Last year, ENHYPEN (Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Ni-ki) achieved their first triple-million seller with their second full album ‘ROMANCE : UNTOLD’ and their third double-million seller with the mini 6th album ‘DESIRE UNLEASH.’ They performed at the U.S.’s largest music festival, Coachella, and secured three grand prize trophies at music awards, including the ‘FANS’ CHOICE OF THE YEAR’ at the MAMA Awards.
Continuing their momentum, they kicked off the new year on the 16th with the mini 7th album ‘THE SIN : VANISH.’ This album, which initiates the new ‘THE SIN’ series with a sin motif, is a concept album featuring six tracks, four narrations, and one skit, including the title track ‘Knife.’ All tracks, lyrics, and sounds are interconnected, showcasing a high level of completion that members expressed satisfaction and confidence in.
Heeseung explained the unique scale of the album, released after their Grand Prize wins. ”We were grateful to receive three grand prizes last year,” he said, ”and we believed it was fitting to showcase an even more mature image, suitable for our experience in the industry. We hope fans notice this aspect in our comeback, featuring a more mature performance.”
ENHYPEN revealed that since their 2020 debut, their goal has been to win a grand prize by 2025. Sunghoon explained, ”While we didn’t expect to win a grand prize last year, our target year was 2025, and we felt we should have achieved a certain level by then.”
Reflecting on their journey to become ‘grand prize artists,’ the members discussed their determination for 2026. Jay shared, ”Not only us but the entire company pursued a grand prize by 2025 since before our debut. We considered this period ‘ENHYPEN’s Chapter 1,” he said. ”Achieving our ultimate goal of winning a grand prize allowed one chapter to end happily.”
Jay noted, however, that ”whether we achieved it or not, that was the end of the first chapter.” He stated, ”To start the second chapter, the company and we prepared an album to prove ‘we have become newer and greater artists’ even before winning the grand prize.”
They chose a ‘concept album’ format to dive deeper into their strengths in storytelling and concepts. Jay added, ”We prepared this album to help fans imagine a new ENHYPEN,” and firmly believes that ”it will brilliantly open Chapter 2.”
Ni-ki commented, ”Winning the grand prize was a major turning point,” reflecting on ENHYPEN’s numerous challenges in 2025, including their performance on the main stage at Coachella in the United States. ”Our ENGENE (fanbase) made the ‘FANS’ CHOICE OF THE YEAR’ grand prize possible, and we believe the only way to repay them is through performances. We are determined to deliver a remarkable performance worthy of such a significant award,” Ni-ki added.
Ni-ki also emphasized his satisfaction with the album, stating: ”Every track is fantastic. It’s so good that I wonder if an album like this will come out again. The choreography, music videos, and content are all satisfying, and we are confident in them.”
With an album that fills them with pride, ENHYPEN looks forward to setting new goals for Chapter 2. Jake commented, ”I think this album is packed,” and added, ”We may not have specific goals, but our standards for ourselves have risen, and we plan to continue releasing albums and performing accordingly.”
Jungwon expressed aspirations for chart success: ”It would be great to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and chart on the Hot 100. I desire to gain attention for our music.” He also shared his wish to ”meet our ENGENEs in places we’ve never visited, like South America, and showcase our performances.”
Image source: BELIFT LAB
