Japanese Group ONE OR EIGHT Launches Activities in South Korea

The Japanese boy group ONE OR EIGHT is officially launching their activities in South Korea, marking a significant step in their career. On March 26, 2025, the group held a showcase at Ilji Art Hall in Gangnam, Seoul, where they shared their excitement about their upcoming endeavors in Korea.

Formed by Avex in Japan, ONE OR EIGHT debuted in August 2024 and consists of eight members: Reia, Mizuki, Yuga, Souma, Tsubasa, Ryota, Takeru, and Neo. Their debut track 'Don't Tell Me Nobody' and last year's release 'Kawasaki' have made waves on the Billboard Japan charts and iTunes charts across six countries.

With their new song 'DSTM', the group is set to make their official debut in Korea and engage in various music broadcast activities. The fact that a fully Japanese group is actively promoting in Korea is quite unusual and has garnered attention.

The members expressed their nervousness and gratitude ahead of their Korean activities. Reia stated, "I am thankful that we can stand on stage from the perspective of a viewer," while Yuga promised to convey the emotions they feel on stage.

They have been preparing for this moment with Korea in mind. Reia mentioned, "We have been preparing to perform in Korea and plan to take the stage globally," and Souma added, "We want to show our enjoyment in taking on challenges as an eight-member group. I hope that comes across in our activities."

Reia showcased her fluent Korean, recalling her past as an idol trainee in Korea. She reflected, "During my trainee days, I learned how to practice as an artist, which was very helpful when our team was formed in Japan. Although the systems in Korea and Japan are different, the training and performance methods are similar, which helped me a lot."

The members also mentioned their K-pop role models. Takeru expressed admiration for Taemin, saying, "I was captivated by his performance. He is my role model," while Souma expressed a desire to collaborate with TVXQ. Yuga shared his admiration for Jungkook from BTS, noting his captivating stage presence, and Ryota mentioned ENHYPEN, stating that he learned a lot from watching their performances as he transitioned from being a dancer to an artist.

Their new track 'DSTM' samples Rihanna's 'Don't Stop the Music' and features catchy rap, melodies, and upbeat hip-hop beats. Reia explained, "This song officially samples Rihanna's work. It signifies that as long as music flows, our challenges will not stop. We preserved the strengths of the original while reinterpreting it with our powerful energy."

Mizuki added that they incorporated Japanese lyrics into the song, which was a new element not present in the original. He noted, "It was a bit daunting to add elements that weren't in the original, but we enjoyed the process."

The choreography includes a tribute to Michael Jackson, with Takeru performing a backflip as a standout feature.

ONE OR EIGHT plans to connect with fans through major Korean music programs such as Mnet's M Countdown, MBC's Show! Music Core, and SBS's Inkigayo. Mizuki expressed his excitement, saying, "I have watched Korean music programs since I was young, and I am thrilled to actually perform on them. I look forward to various content, including relay dances."

Souma shared the group's ultimate goal, stating, "I hope that when people see us, they feel proud and inspired to take on challenges. We want to become artists who can go on a world tour."

When asked whether they identify more as J-pop or K-pop, Reia responded, "Since we are a Japanese group, I think we lean more towards J-pop. However, the characteristics of our choreography vary depending on the concept." Neo added, "While every song includes elements of Japanese essence, rather than labeling ourselves strictly as J-pop or K-pop, I believe we have our unique sound. We are a group heavily influenced by K-pop, so we hope you enjoy our new blend of dance and vocals."