A thriving K-pop world demands a steady stream of new groups. The Big Three and the smaller agencies alike send out their offerings. Between fifty and ninety fresh acts appear each year. In the peak seasons of 2017 and 2018, that number climbed to eighty-six, even a hundred.

Each group seeks to show off their skills and artistry. Vayonn, fresh from their debut under iNKODE Entertainment, is no exception. Their label head, Kim Jae-Joong, stands as one of K-pop’s legends. They are the younger brothers of Keyvitup, who themselves debuted earlier in 2026.

Japanese, Chinese, South Korean — each member showcases a different angle. Being Indonesian only sharpens the view, knowing the weight of that fandom in these parts.

The six members sat before us: Sen, Masato, Ayang, Jinyu, Teru, and Mano. Masato let slip during the interview that he is an anime fan, and we share the same favourite: Bleach. Fresh from their debut, they had never faced the press before, and the nerves were plain to see.

They tried to calm their nerves, but the weight kept showing, for two and a half years of training had finally paid off. And though the survival shows they endured had surely drained their minds and energy, their youth shone through in every smile.

We turned to their debut EP, Youth Today, and spoke of its making, the training behind it, and the brotherly rivalry with other groups. Their dreams run large — to become global artists carrying their own cultures and personalities to the world.

After all that training, what does it feel like to have finally made your debut?

Mano: Yesterday we had our first showcase. It’s the second day since debut, so it doesn’t feel real yet. Thursday, though — is it Thursday now? Yes, Thursday, morning actually. We’re doing a music show then. That’s when it will hit me, I think.

You are part of the fifth generation of K-pop now. What sets you apart from the rest? What defines you against them?

Teru: Youth is the past for most. For us, it is the present. The stage, the vocals, the performance — all natural, because we are living it. That is our difference.

Masato, Sen, Ayang, Jinyu — you were all on Boys II Planet. What was that survival show like, and how does it feel to have come out the other side as a debuted group?

Sen: Boys II Planet gave me fans and real joy. I was happy then, and I am grateful they waited for our official debut. Yesterday at the showcase, I saw them for the first time as Beyoncé. I did not expect it to hit so hard. I shed tears, I cried, because it was pure happiness. Meeting them as an official artist, as a group, meant everything.

You and Keyvitup both debuted this year, brothers from the same company. How does that ease the weight of being so young and so public?

Sen: I joined iNKODE with Rukia and Sena. We are all Japanese, we trained together, and I thought we would be in the same group. We ended up in different ones. But our next project brings us together on stage. For now, though we are in different groups, we stay in touch. Rukia and Sena from Keyvitup said that if we struggle, we should reach out. We encourage one another.

Which song did you pour your own words into — the one that means the most to each of you?

Mano: We wrote the lyrics for our fifth track, “Where My Youth Lives.” My personal favourite is “Got It,” our pre-debut song, though it later became “Watta Day.”

Teru: I like “Super Lucky Song.” I saw the producer’s name on the tracklist and knew it at once. It was the first time we had heard that Jaejoong wrote it, and the first time the fans knew too. I could not believe he had done that for us.

With a CEO as seasoned as yours, has he passed on any wisdom for lasting in this world?

Sen: Think of a hundred people out there. If only one of them truly cheers for you and believes in you, that one is everything. That one gives you all the reasons you need to keep working harder. So hold onto that. Never forget it.

Asia is already a giant for K-pop. So why set your sights on America? What is it about that market that calls to you?

Mano: With members from Japan, China, and South Korea, our music is special. We want to take it to places that have never heard us. Fresh from our debut, our priority is to show our artistry and what sets us apart. The market is tough, but we are ready. Honestly, it is not about one market — it is about showing who we are.

Which corners of the world are you most excited to travel to, to see the fans’ faces waiting for you there?

Mano: Japan and China feel close to us, because they are home to our members. Teru dreams of playing any Japanese stadium. We want to go to both, for them, and for us.

Youth Today is out now, follow via @vayonn_inkode

Interview Belinda Yohana