As a K-pop fan, there's something magical and fascinating when discovering a group based on their authentic side. K-pop groups appear here and there and take note that they all have their own charms and quirks that fans will surely adore. So, we're here to give you an exclusive take on what comes behind the scenes and into the mind space of your faves, and even up-and-coming idols–to get to know them better.
We're entering the 6th generation of K-pop groups at the moment (cue: 2025!), but believe us, there are still a lot of groups to discover. Case in point: EPEX. The group consists of eight talented boys with a powerful vision for themselves, for their group, and most especially for their fans. Wish, Keum, MU, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, Jeff, and A-Min have been officially together as a group since they debuted on June 8, 2021. And in case you're wondering about the meaning of their name, their leader, Wish, briefly explained, that "EPEX is an abbreviation for Eight Apex, representing eight boys gathered to complete eight apexes."
Under the wings of C9 Entertainment, the boys of EPEX have tirelessly worked hard to make music that connects and truly grasps the emotions and realities of today's generation.
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EPEX: The Introduction
In an exclusive interview, we asked EPEX almost everything about their life, career, and of course, their music. In the middle of their busy schedule promoting their latest album, Youth Chapter 2: YOUTH DEFICIENCY, the group took the liberty of answering our questions with their most authentic takes.
Curious about how saturated the K-pop market has become, we took the chance to ask the members why they still decided to be K-pop idols. United by their love for music, the eight members of EPEX explained how they've come to terms with their desire to be part of the K-pop industry.
Being the leader, Wish admitted that it was the urge to step out of a mundane life that got him desiring to be a K-pop idol. With how senior idols have shaped the music industry, he got the inspiration and motivation he needed to pursue joining a boy group.
"In middle school, my days were a repetition of studying, prepping for an exam, and studying even more. One day, I suddenly thought it would be a bit regretful to spend my time like that. I started asking this question to myself, 'Is this the life I wanted?' Since then, I have been interested in sending messages on the stage to others, stepping aside from a mundane daily life," Wish illustrated.
As for Jeff (the maknae), his dream has always been to be a singer. He said, "I dreamed of becoming a singer by listening to band music at first. Then I was drawn to the fact that idols can pursue various activities and continue music while being loved by many, so I decided to become an idol singer."
The same goes for Baekseung, Ayden, A-min, MU, and Keum but specifically for becoming an idol. The members divulged how watching idol performances when they were younger intensified their curiosity about the idol life—which they are now living.
MU also shared, "I was attending an art school and many of my friends were trainees or celebrities. Seeing them giving their best for their dream also motivated me to become an idol. That's how I found my dream."
As if encapsulating their answers, Yewang expressed that his desire to be an idol is rooted in his urge to inspire other people. "I thought the occupation of an idol was very meaningful because idols can inspire other people by singing and dancing in cool, grand appearances, hence why I wanted to become an idol," the 19-year-old idol remarked.
How EPEX members joined C9 Entertainment
Notably, EPEX's members are young. Their oldest member is Wish, who is only 22 years old. They all started their trainee life at a young age. Ultimately, though, they were all scouted when they were attending various schools for acting, dancing, and singing. Throughout their trainee days and even during the pandemic, the group has been working hard to make an impressive debut.
Wish recalled how joining a dance club added fuel to the fire inside him to debut as an idol. "I only had a vague dream to become an idol, and I first got to experience the charm of a stage by joining a dance club at school. I became more certain about my dream because idols shine the brightest on stage. Later, I fortunately got a casting offer and was able to finally debut."
The members, MU (pronounced as myu) and Yewang, entered EPEX through auditions. Yewang highlighted that although he had a shorter training period than the other members, he is continuously training hard even after debuting to further give his best in their performances. "I started my training after passing an audition during my last year of middle school. I had a shorter training period compared to the other EPEX members, so I continuously practiced hard even after my debut," Yewang assured during the interview.
How EPEX members describe themselves as idols
With all their backstories and thoughts on being an idol in this day and age, there's much need to delve into their idol personas. When asked for that one word to describe his idol persona at the moment, Wish answered: "Sunrise, because I want to shine the world warmly through music."
For Keum, it's "Best—I always want to try my best."
Jeff is out here trying to prove that he is out to survive the toughest of times. "Survival. I am always trying my best to prove my being and identity, so I'll go with that word."
Baekseung believes that when there's much effort, there's success waiting for him (which is totally true!) "Effort. When I was a trainee, I would sometimes question myself if I could really become an idol. However, I believe that I was desperate for that dream and put in a lot of effort to be where I am today!" he said.
As for Ayden, he puts a good twist on the concept of greed with his perspective. The one word that would describe his idol persona is greed and in his words, it's because, "I always feel regretful when I'm not satisfied with my performance, so I am always greedy to make the best stage every time I perform."
If there's effort, greed, and everything else, A-min never forgets one vital aspect of his idol life too: determination. A-min affirmed, "I am working hard to achieve my goal with determination."
For MU, it's innovative. He shared, "I prefer being free and taking challenges over staying in one place!"
And just like MU, Yewang wants his idol persona to ring like freedom as he aims for the boundless possibilities out there as an idol. "I refuse to be confined by certain boundaries when I sing, so I choose that word," Yewang stated.
EPEX: The Rising Action
The group is now three years old. They are continuously keeping up with the waves of the K-pop industry. The boys admitted that they had experienced and felt a lot already throughout their career. So many things have happened, but there was nothing that could demotivate them to achieve more and greater heights as EPEX.
But let's be real: that's the goal of every K-pop group out there. So, we dared to ask: what makes EPEX stand out among the other groups out there?
Keum highlights how EPEX uniquely tackles the experiences of people their age through their music. "We often receive comments that EPEX is unique in continuously expressing the youth's realistic issues or concerns while other K-pop groups tend to present romantic music. I think such comments showcase EPEX's own color."
Jeff then introduced to us the term, "EPEX vibe," which they also discovered from their fans. It's something that sets them apart, emphasizing that EPEX has its unique touch because of how "organically connected" the stories they tell through their songs. "I think EPEX having a unique musical color is what makes us stand out. Our albums' stories are organically connected to each other, so our fans enjoy looking for hidden stories or easter eggs from previous works!" Jeff told Cosmo.
EPEX: The Climax
Speaking of musical color, it's been over a month since the group released their second album. It's the second part of their Youth Chapter trilogy, and to be honest, I would say that listening to it made me feel that their songs do speak to the youth's core.
Yewang shared that the album was based on the hope of "accepting, empathizing, and comforting the dark side of youth." MU added that the stories revolve around the choices youth make. "Its title was derived from the album stories about complicated 'deficiency' only in the youth and changes that follow momentary 'choices.'"
Check out the official music video of their album's title track, "Universe," here:
But as much as they'd want to be an inspiration all the time, they can only do so much. And sometimes, the stress and just everything in between their life and their career would get to them. There will always be overwhelming moments and stressful days for them. Some of the members have revealed that they find time to watch movies, read books, play games, and watch sports matches or K-dramas—the usual stress relievers—which works for them. After all, they are still young and they find comfort in recreational activities (as we all should!).
While for Baekseung and MU, they find more comfort in talking to their members, their friends, and family. Perhaps, it's one thing for them to embrace the normalcy between the grand schedules lined up for them. MU shared, "I think I feel relieved when I talk to or ask for comfort from someone I can open up about my feelings."
As for Yewang, he finds solace when he sees himself improving after every practice. It might be a weird stress relief for some, but hey, that's the real deal. Seeing yourself improve in aspects that you've worked hard on? That's the best reward for yourself.
So when they get tired and stressed, they pause and start again. The work and the hunger to be better never stops for EPEX, especially now that they've got their fans called Zenith. In every group, the fans play a huge role. They support their idols and they motivate them, just like how it is for EPEX.
Baekseung said, "ZENITH is our motivation. They are the reason why we can continue releasing music and promoting it. Every time I feel tired, I find motivation by thinking, 'I need to show a better version of myself, and I need to work harder.'"
Call us a fan now but we're amazed at how Wish told us about his motivation as an EPEX member. He has successfully presented himself to the world as a trustworthy leader who aims to move forward to success together with their whole team. "I think my motivation is purpose awareness. As a leader, I need to be able to clearly target my own direction to encourage the team to move forward firmly," Wish underscored.
After everything, there's no hurdle that EPEX members couldn't overcome since 1) they have one another, 2) they trust themselves, and most importantly, 3) they clamor for improvement every single time.
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EPEX: The Next Chapter
In the course of the entire email interview with EPEX, the members were all about making growth and making a mark. Our chat with EPEX gave us a clear picture of what they'd want to achieve. In the most basic sense, the eight-member boy group aims to be seen and to be heard in all places possible.
And it's not even about becoming famous, but for them, it's about sharing comfort and inspiration through their music. MU declared, "I hope to express my life as an idol, and I want to continue doing music that comforts not only our fans but also me."
"I want EPEX to succeed even more as a team, get on many big stages, and promote who we are to more people," A-min mentioned. Yewan added, "I feel happy to hear our songs when I walk on the streets, so my goal is for more people to listen to EPEX's music!"
In 10 years or more, the members hope to have the recognition and steady success tantamount to the blood, sweat, and tears they've given to be standing in front of the world. Truly, they might be a group still unknown to many but with their vision and the teamwork they have together with their fans, millions of possibilities await them—at the apex.
As Baekseung conveyed, "I don't want to be a singer in people's memory; I want to continue doing music besides ZENITH ten years and beyond from now! Therefore, I want to ask ZENITH to continue staying with us."
