[EXCLUSIVE] 'If you know, you know': Omega X talks about comeback, hardships

In an exclusive interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily, K-pop boy band Omega X opens up about their comeback and the hardships they faced in 2023. Their new album, titled "iykyk," aims to counteract the negative influence of the mass media.

Members of boy band Omega X pose for photos after an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the JTBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, on Nov. 3. [PARK SANG-MOON]

The year 2023 may not have been kind to boy band Omega X. But the ordeals only brought the members closer to each other and helped them appreciate the fans, family and friends that had stayed by their side during the hardships.

“It honestly was a difficult year for us, frankly speaking,” Jaehan said in an exclusive interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily on Nov. 3, prior to the release of the new album.

“We were beaten down, we were tired. But it really did make us feel grateful for everyone who gave us the strength to push through all those hard times. Our fans, family, friends, staff and everyone around us — they gave us the power to do so, and that’s allowed us to make a comeback and continue as Omega X.”

Omega X returned to the K-pop scene with a new album for the first time in a year and five months, which is practically considered a lifetime in the cutthroat K-pop world, where artists pump out new music within mere months to make sure they’re always on the minds of the public.

Boy band Omega X performs its new song during a showcase held at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul for its third EP ″iykyk″ on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

The title of the new album “iykyk” is short for “if you know, you know” and embodies the band’s urge to weed out the malicious messages of the mass media that people are unwittingly exposed to, according to the band.

Amid the turmoil and challenges, the latest album and its lead track “Junk Food” are the very expression of Omega X’s will to keep strong despite the piercing gaze of the public and the menacing messages of hostility that members have been subjected to through all the years.

“It really feels like we’re debuting all over again,” Kevin said.

“It really does. That’s why we prepared harder for this than ever. We were living apart from each other, but we’re back together and it really does feel great,” Sebin said, echoing Kevin’s remark.

Omega X sat down for an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily to talk more about its comeback, new music and fans. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Members of boy band Omega X pose for photos after an interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily at the JTBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, western Seoul, on Nov. 3. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Q. Congratulations on your comeback and new album. How does it feel to release new music in over a year?A. Hangyeom: First of all, I feel both nervous and excited at the same time, like you couldn’t imagine. Jaehan: We really tried our best to show everyone a better side of ourselves. We put in more effort than ever, and I think we really gave it our all for this album. We want to show how much we’ve improved and how we had spent the time apart to improve ourselves. What was the one thing that you wanted to highlight with this new album?Sebin:Because this is our first new music in a long time and there are 11 of us, we wanted to highlight our teamwork and cooperation skills. We wanted to show people all 11 of us in sync, and we worked really hard on that. We couldn’t wait to show people what we’d prepared, but the closer it got to the actual comeback day, the more we felt like we wanted more time to practice. We really wanted to do it right.

Boy band Omega X performs its new song ″Junk Food″ during a showcase held at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul for its third EP ″iykyk″ on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

All members took part in making the music of the album, and the last track “Island” has the band Omega X named as the lyricist. Did all members take part in writing the lyrics?Yechan:We did. “Island” began with our two-year debut anniversary meet and greet. We didn’t have the opportunity to meet with fans in person before then [due to Covid-19], so we wrote things that we wanted to tell them — mostly that we couldn’t wait to see them and that we love them. So we wrote down the things that we wanted to say and then put them together into the lyrics. Hangyeom:There’s actually a part in the song where we shout “I love you” all together. I think that fans will be able to feel our love in that specific part. Our job is to sing. We wanted our song to convey a message that we wanted to tell the fans and the public. We thought that this would be the chance to do so.

Boy band Omega X performs its new song during a showcase held at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul for its third EP ″iykyk″ on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Omega X has certainly been through a lot, but you also persevered. What got you through the tough times?Jaehan: We always told ourselves that no matter what is thrown our way, we will always stick together and catch each other so that we don’t fall down. There were things that made us feel like we wanted to give up, but we kept telling ourselves that we needed to get over this so that we can grow and keep on going. Taedong:We had our family and friends who stayed by our sides. But most of all, we had our fans who always cared for us and loved us no matter what. I think there’s this certain energy that we get from that, that we just can’t get anywhere else. The messages that the fans sent us during tough times helped us stay strong. We also had each other, who understand each other the best.

Boy band Omega X performs its new song ″Junk Food″ during a showcase held at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul for its third EP ″iykyk″ on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

What is For X, your fan club, to Omega X?Kevin:I’ve told this once to fans, that I feel like Omega X is like a roller coaster and fans are the passengers on our ride. We haven’t been on the smoothest of journeys, but I thought that they could somehow find the fun in the ups and downs of our roller coaster (laughs). Xen: A lot of things happened — both good and bad. We all think that those things helped us become more mature. Having our fans by our side kind of made it impossible for us to let go, which we wouldn’t have considered in the first place, but still. They make us want to do better, to be better.

I haven’t had the chance to tell the fans yet, but I feel like we’re growing together side by side. We thank you more than you know. You are so lovable. Thank you so much.

Boy band Omega X performs its new song ″Junk Food″ during a showcase held at the Yes24 Live Hall in eastern Seoul for its third EP ″iykyk″ on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

It’s been three years since your debut. How do you feel you’ve changed?Hangyeom:We honestly don’t feel that much change. We’ve always been together, and even though it’s been three years, the time we took off makes it feel shorter than that. I still consider myself a rookie, and that’s the mindset that I have — that I need to try harder, because I’m still a newbie.

But if there is one difference, it’s that in the past, I only thought about how I could dance or sing better. But now, I focus more on the things that make me who I am as a person. So we talk a lot about enhancing our teamwork with the bandmates and try to change the way we practice every now and then. That’s helped us trust each other more and feel more relaxed on stage. What is your goal for “iykyk”?Jaehan:Every new music is meaningful, but this one really does feel special in many ways. I want to cherish every moment of it, and we hope that everyone else does too. I want to feel happy on stage and only wish that the fans do too. I hope that people feel good after seeing us on stage.

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「■ 「 If you know, you know: Eleven-member boy band Omega X made a comeback on Tuesday with its third EP “iykyk,” the band’s first new album in a year and five months and the first new project since signing with its new agency IPQ Entertainment in May earlier this year.

Bandmates met with reporters for a showcase on Tuesday, in an emotional event where members shed tears over their long-awaited comeback. It was the first time in a year for the members to stand before the press since they last held a conference in November last year to address the abuse allegations against its previous agency, Spire Entertainment.

Members revealed that they had been assaulted — both physically and verbally — by Spire Entertainment’s CEO and his wife during their time as trainees and artists. Spire Entertainment agreed to terminate the members’ contracts with the agency in December in what seemed to be the end of one of the biggest scandals in K-pop.

It was eight months later, in August, when a YouTuber who went by the nickname Injiwoong claimed that Omega X members had intentionally provoked the assaulters in order to catch their act on camera so that they could break the deal and sign with a different agency. A messy back-and-forth between the band’s former and current agencies continued until the YouTuber uploaded his last video on Sept. 23.

Up until the last video, the YouTuber claimed to have evidence to back up his argument, such as phone call recordings and related papers, but later denied having them and apologized.

Omega X and IPQ Entertainment have been standing firm and fighting back by filing suits against Spire Entertainment and the YouTuber.

The band plans to hold tours in the United States and Latin Americas following the release of “iykyk.” Details of the tour have not yet been announced. 」

」 BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]