“We’re Holding a Free K-pop Concert” — Why Lun8 Gave Up Profit [Interview]

사진 확대 Lun8. Photo | JYP Entertainment

“We hope our fans can feel happiness without any burden.”

It may sound obvious, but Lun8 is a group that puts that idea into action. The reason their return on the 22nd with their fourth mini album, “Off the Grid,” has drawn attention is their decision to hold a free fan concert.

On August 8, Lun8 will hold its fan concert, “Off Zone,” at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Fan club members can enter for free, while general audiences can also attend by paying a relatively low admission fee of 15,000 won.

In the huge commercial market of K-pop, the word “free” is not something you see often. Putting on a single performance requires significant production costs and the efforts of many staff members, so this kind of decision is never easy.

Even so, when Lun8 members met with Maeil Business Newspaper Star Today, all that came through was their affection for fans.

First, the members described the concert with the word “repayment.” Fans were the reason they had been able to keep going nonstop since their debut, and this time they wanted to give something back for that support, even if only a little.

“We kept thinking about how we could return the love we’ve received. We hope this fan concert can be the clearest way to express that feeling.”

The biggest reason behind the free concert was their wish to be with more fans. They wanted even those who had wanted to attend but could not easily make it for various reasons to join comfortably. For them, the time spent laughing and enjoying the show together mattered more than the ticket price.

What is especially notable is that the free concert began from the members’ own idea, not from the company. Jun-woo said, “It was something we thought about very seriously. After considering how fans could more comfortably experience our music, I think this was the most fundamental conclusion we reached.” He added, “We were also grateful that the company readily accepted our opinion.”

Rather than making the members feel relieved, the free concert gave them an even greater sense of responsibility. Chen Shou said, “I believe that just because people did not pay for it, the value of the performance should not be taken lightly. Even during preparation, we never once thought, ‘It’s free, so it’s fine.’ We are preparing with the responsibility that, since fans are taking the time to come, we need to give them even more satisfaction than they expect.”

사진 확대 Lun8. Photo | JYP Entertainment

Ahead of the concert, the group released a new album about 10 months after its previous work, “Lost.” It captures the ambition of breaking away from fixed standards and drawing a new starting line. The title track, “SNEAKERS,” opens with a rhythmic FM slap bass line and delivers a trendy, colorful sound that creates a strong sense of addiction.

Kael and Ian said, “We spent a long time preparing, so we feel we must meet fans’ expectations.” They added, “Honestly, it’s disappointing that our team is still not widely known. We want this album to firmly capture the public’s attention.”

Their confidence in the album was striking. The members emphasized that this was the album that could best reveal their true charm and pure appeal. They added, “We thought, ‘This is it. We’re going to take over the music scene.'”

One reason they feel even more attached to it is that the members were deeply involved in the album’s production. They actively shared ideas on the chorus, the choreography they created themselves, and the jacket shoot concept, helping bring the album together.

“Unlike the fixed image suggested by the album concept, this is an album that expresses our everyday selves, the way we play and exist naturally. It is an album filled with that kind of ease. Without trying too hard, it brings out the ‘real’ Lun8.”

사진 확대 Lun8. Photo | JYP Entertainment

Since making their debut in June 2023, they are already in their fourth year as a group. Although they have yet to gain major recognition, they have recently begun to make their name known little by little. At the forefront of that effort was Kael.

Kael recently appeared on the small screen as Kim Nam-hoon, the counterpart to Kim Min-ji (Seo Soo-min), the daughter of Mr. Kim (So Ji-sub), in SBS’s hit Friday-Saturday drama “Mr. Kim.” His face lit up with pride as he spoke about introducing Lun8 through the drama.

“The director said he had listened to our songs too. I think he must have searched them out himself. We’re just grateful. I also tried to promote the team as much as possible by mentioning that I was from Lun8 in front of other industry people.” (laughs)

The other members also said they support Kael’s acting activities. Chen Shou praised him, saying, “I saw the whole process, from preparing for the drama audition to everything else. He worked carefully on every detail so he wouldn’t become a burden to us. We know that well, so we’re supporting him even more actively.”

They also quietly hinted that the remaining members are interested in acting as well.

사진 확대 Lun8. Photo | JYP Entertainment 사진 확대 Lun8. Photo | JYP Entertainment

Lun8 has been busy promoting its music through many different channels. After the domestic fan concert, the group will head to Europe on August 10 for its world tour. This will be their second European tour, and their confidence is higher than ever.

They repeatedly expressed gratitude for the fans who love them and wait for them, both in Korea and abroad.

“Just as our fans have made us happy, we want to give them a happy day through this album.”

Throughout the interview, the members’ answers kept returning to the word “thank you” rather than any grand expression. Their sincerity toward fans seemed even clearer in the choice of a free concert than in any elaborate statement.

In closing, Lun8 said sincerely, “We won’t give up until the end and will show you many great stages, so we hope our fans will be there with us.”

[Reporter Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today]

This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.