[Dispatch=Reporter Kim Ji-ho] In truth, concerns were not few ahead of Flare U's debut. That makes sense—idols who start as a duo from the beginning are rare. In the K-pop market dominated by larger groups, the challenge of two people did not seem easy.
Yet Flare U turned those concerns into hope. Last May, with their first mini album "YOUTH ERROR," they achieved 180,000 copies in initial sales. The fresh, pure charm of two young men resonated. With their youthful sentiment reminiscent of spring and sweet melodies, they captured the hearts of fans.
This time, they bring the season of autumn. They layer a melancholic, longing sentiment onto their vibrant youth. On the 14th, they return with their second mini album "LOVEHOOD." They sing of a boy's moment encountering the unfamiliar emotion of love for the first time.
They remain pure and refreshing. Yet deeper and more mature. Flare U unfolds another page of youth with their own color. They have brought a scene from a (bromance) film to reality.
Dispatch recently met with Flare U for a comeback interview. Flare U is turning the question mark of "Will being a duo be okay?" into the exclamation point of "Being two is great!"
◆ "Because we are two, Flare U"
Chuei Li Yu (22) from Taipei, and Kang Woo-jin (19) from Boryeong. The two are different in everything, as different as their hometowns. Li Yu is a "fine arts senior" with a delicate personality. Woo-jin has a playful, spirited style. These two boys have been living in the dorm together for seven months.
The two have walked together through a survival program, debut, and the journey after. They sing the same songs, dance the same dances, share the same schedule. They now call each other family.
Dispatch (hereafter D): How did you spend the Chuseok holiday?
Chuei Li Yu: We went on a trip to Busan together!
Kang Woo-jin: My hyung wanted to go to Busan. We saw Haeundae and Songdo beaches and ate snow crab and grilled clams. Along with zero cola. The next day we went to see the Busan Aquarium too!
Chuei Li Yu: I learned a lot of fan service from the aquarium. I had to do it from all angles.
D: That was your last rest before the comeback?
Kang Woo-jin: Right. Oh, hyung and I also went to my hometown. I wanted to eat doenjang-jjigae, but my mom asked, "What does Li Yu want to eat?" She made salad, pumpkin cream soup, salmon sushi, and beef radish soup. My mom really loved hyung.
D: The comeback must be nerve-wracking now.
Kang Woo-jin: Since it's our first comeback after debut, there's a pleasant pressure. I worked hard to channel that pressure positively. This album feels very different compared to our debut, so I want to show fans quickly.
Chuei Li Yu: For me, this is my third album, but our first comeback as Flare U. I think many people are more anticipating the comeback than the debut. Thinking about that makes me so nervous. I want to show it quickly too.
◆ "Your Season Has Come"
We heard the new title track "Your Season Has Come" (Bloom) in advance. This is a synth-pop track where lyrical vocal melodies stand out. As the song develops, the swelling emotion is attractive. It feels like being gently wrapped in fine flower petals gently falling.
The album also includes "Hundred Nights," "False Alarm," "Madly in love," "Window View," and "I Forgot You for a Moment." Fresh and sparkling sentiment is blended with diverse pop.
D: When did you start preparing the new album?
Kang Woo-jin: We got demos right after finishing activities for "YOUTH ERROR." As we started recording, we also pitched a few ideas for the concept. For example, we said we wanted the next concept to be "fairies."
Chuei Li Yu: We have two fairy characters standing side by side, and we wanted them to be cute things that give healing to people. Actually, a promotional animation has been made and will come out as a prologue!
D: What is the theme of "LOVEHOOD"?
Kang Woo-jin: The theme of "LOVEHOOD" is love. The theme of love can expand infinitely. Just like our team.
Chuei Li Yu: There's love between a lover and a lover of course, but there's also love between people. This album interprets those emotions.
D: How did you choose the title track?
Kang Woo-jin: When we asked how we could interpret love in more diverse ways, "Your Season Has Come" seemed to fit perfectly.
Chuei Li Yu: We wanted to be a team that conveys happiness and healing. I think that matches well with the title track.
D: Is the season mentioned in this song "spring"?
Kang Woo-jin: The lyric goes, "After a long winter, spring named you comes." But I actually think it suits autumn better in terms of seasonal feeling. There's a certain wistfulness in the song.
Chuei Li Yu: I don't think of this song as spring. It feels like "season" is synonymous with "Flare U" or "YOUR" (our fandom name). "Your season has come" can be interpreted as us and our fans finding each other.
D: If you did a "character-season match," how would it be?
Kang Woo-jin: I think I suit winter. I personally feel my voice has a 'shh~' quality to it. Doesn't that match winter's coldness? Plus, I'm a Christmas lover too.
Chuei Li Yu: I think I suit autumn. Atmosphere-wise, I'm calm and don't talk much—that's my character.
D: What did you focus on during recording?
Kang Woo-jin: I sang carefully with the thought of adding more detail than the first album. Compared to the previous album, there's a stronger feeling of growth, and I'm satisfied. When we shot the performance video, the lyrics suddenly clicked in my ears. Verse 1 ("when I see you, I feel like I've come to heaven") sounded like words my parents say to me. They always say to hyung and me, "You two are my everything." I got emotional. I think that's one of the various interpretations of love I mentioned earlier.
Chuei Li Yu: The previous title track "Way To You" was bright and cheerful. We laughed while recording it. This time it's much more wistful. The intro at the beginning is my part, and it was burdening. I had to set the foundation of the song right from the start. We re-recorded the opening many times.
D: Looking at the track list, I see producer Han Sung-ho's touch throughout.
Chuei Li Yu: Since my solo debut album, the director has been very attentive up to now. I'm so grateful. Sometimes he even asks us about the music we want to do. We're thankful he reflects that.
Kang Woo-jin: We meet the director directly and get immediate feedback and have meetings. When we run into him at the company, we ask, "This is the direction we're thinking, what do you think?" Then he looks at it carefully.
D: What about the choreography? I heard there's pair choreography this time?
Chuei Li Yu: It's choreography in a genre I like. There are lots of sharp, angled movements, and it was fun dancing it. I put a lot of effort into bringing out the pretty angles. During pair choreography practice, everything made us laugh. We're both serious, but then we see each other's faces and just burst out laughing.
D: There's challenge choreography too, right?
Kang Woo-jin: There's choreography that feels like plucking flower petals. You do it while saying, "I like you, I don't like you," plucking one by one. I think this is unbeatable choreography for me. When you pluck them all, the last one is always "I like you" or "I don't like you," but if only the stem is left, you throw away the stem and say "I like you." So the conclusion always ends up being "I like you."
◆ "Wait, It's a Cultural Difference!"
An extreme T (Kang Woo-jin) and an extreme F (Chuei Li Yu) met. Their personalities are opposites, but their hearts are similar. They're both sensitive and thoughtful. Living 24 hours together, they're learning how to understand and consider each other.
In particular, Woo-jin adjusts to Li Yu's sensitivity. The time accumulated that way has become a strong bond unique to the two. In other words, Flare U's relationship is also a hit. The bromance chemistry that fans will love is ripening.
D: Your teamwork must be solid now.
Kang Woo-jin: At first, I really thought we were different people. Since we grew up in different places with different personalities. But when there seems to be trouble, hyung says first, "Wait! This is a cultural difference!"
Chuei Li Yu: Personally, honestly, I don't think there's a cultural difference. It's a keyword to stop and not fight. (Laughs) It's about not blaming each other.
Kang Woo-jin: Hyung adjusts well to me, and I try to adjust well too. So I think we match up pretty well.
D: Are you really that different?
Chuei Li Yu: Woo-jin is frank and extremely T. He has the ability to make decisions quickly. It's refreshing. He's ENTP and sometimes just tosses out words.
Kang Woo-jin: Hyung is a meticulous person. There's a point that what he does must be beautiful. He has sincerity that never overlooks even small things. Hyung is INFJ, and his identity is really solid.
D: How are the personality traits you've each picked up on?
Kang Woo-jin: Hyung hates it when I just toss things out. By my personal standard, I'm not speaking harshly, but it can feel different to the listener. From some point on, when I have complaints, I try to be more careful. I already speak calmly, but now even more carefully. Absolutely no excitement.
Chuei Li Yu: I sometimes ignore Woo-jin. (Laughs) There are times I decide not to accept him. But he actually gets hurt by that? From my perspective, it's "you speak like that, so I won't talk to you." But then he's like, "Hyung, why are you like that to me?" and gets hurt.
D: How do you resolve conflicts?
Chuei Li Yu: I don't like heavy conversations. I think we can just do it over a meal, but Woo-jin likes to have serious talks in a formal way.
Kang Woo-jin: I think it's necessary every once in a while. I've asked hyung for "serious talks" many times. I don't bring up every small thing, but gather them little by little. Then hyung doesn't refuse and listens well. I'm grateful for that.
D: So, when does each other look most beautiful to you?
Kang Woo-jin: Hyung's face is so handsome that when he sleeps, it's really~ beautiful. And when I feel hyung showing consideration for me, it feels so good. Sometimes I feel him adjusting even though it's not his personality.
Chuei Li Yu: When Woo-jin tries his best to speak indirectly and carefully. I feel him making the effort. When he suddenly speaks in a soothing tone to comfort me, I'm so grateful.
D: Now he must feel like family?
Kang Woo-jin: Right. We're family. We're closest. Even on days off, we just play with each other and stay at home.
Chuei Li Yu: We're family. I don't have many friends, so Woo-jin is who I'm closest to.
D: Are you satisfied with being two?
Kang Woo-jin · Chuei Li Yu: We're very satisfied! We can each use our own bathroom. That's a big privilege. Music video shoots wrap faster than other senior members' teams too.
◆ "Slowly, We'll Burn Brightly for a Long Time"
It is ultimately fans who complete the dreams of these two. The first chant that broke through the in-ears, the chorus following their voices together. This is why Woo-jin and Li Yu couldn't help but break down in tears in front of fans.
Chuei Li Yu and Kang Woo-jin share the same goal. Not to rush, but not to stop. They dream of reaching higher places while delivering happiness and comfort to fans. We asked about the pace of growth Flare U envisions and the future the two dream of.
D: You must have done many stages by now. Which stage stands out in your memory?
Kang Woo-jin: There are about 2 stages I remember particularly. One is our debut day, when we heard our fan chant for the first time. I had both in-ears in, and through that gap came this incredibly loud echo. Chuei Li Yu, Kang Woo-jin, Flare U! It was a pre-recorded "M Countdown," and I remember the set and the on-site atmosphere. I got emotional. The next is the Kaohsiung Festival. I remember the temperature, lighting, humidity, and atmosphere of that day.
Chuei Li Yu: Same for me. The debut showcase was so moving. Also, we did the "BeerRock Festival" at Taipei Dome in Kaohsiung. Since it was in my hometown, it felt like going home. Many people sang along with the song.
D: Fans are ultimately what complete the stage. Speaking of which, you cried at the fan signing event?
Chuei Li Yu: I really tried not to cry. I cried at my solo fan signing too, so fans made fun of me a lot. This time I thought I wouldn't cry, but once I started talking about it, I got so overwhelmed. I was surprised myself. I'm just so grateful.
Kang Woo-jin: I usually don't cry. Even on the day "Boys Planet" ended, I didn't shed tears. But gratitude for the journey that started last year, as I opened up about it to fans, suddenly overwhelmed me and... I didn't know I would cry like that either.
D: You've built narrative with fans and are growing steadily as rookies. What is Flare U's pace right now?
Chuei Li Yu: To be honest, I have a growing belief that we could do better than now. There are also many things to improve. Since we're rookies, there will be more opportunities to introduce ourselves further. We're trying to be more mindful in every aspect.
Kang Woo-jin: I'm naturally an impatient person. Even during vocal lessons, my teacher says, "Woo-jin, you're rushing too much. Calm down." But a flame that burns too fiercely goes out right away, so I always try to be calm. Right now, I'm telling myself to not be impatient—to go slowly and steadily, even if not super fast, but continuously improving.
D: Do you have a goal you want to achieve with this album?
Chuei Li Yu: I want to get first place on "The Show." Since I'm the MC of that program, it would be a historic moment for us.
Kang Woo-jin: First place on "The Show." Because hyung is the MC.
D: For those who haven't been won over yet, can you promote your members?
Kang Woo-jin: My hyung is really handsome. He's the kind of hyung who goes viral just with his face.
Chuei Li Yu: Our dongsaeng is handsome and tall too. He's 186cm. Everywhere we go, people ask about his height. We're proud of it.
Kang Woo-jin: Hyung is 180cm too. So Flare U is a tall idol group with an average height of 183cm.
D: Finally, can you do some self-promotion for "Flare U"?
Chuei Li Yu: We're global, and we're both visible (since we get lots of parts on stage).
Kang Woo-jin: Our team is a rare duo idol group. And I think we're a team where authenticity is always felt. Fans seem to recognize this point, and I want to boast about it.
D: What kind of team do you want to be for fans going forward?
Chuei Li Yu · Kang Woo-jin: We want to be a team that gives happiness and healing.
<Photos provided by FNC Entertainment>
