{"id":306314,"date":"2026-02-19T15:01:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/306314\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T15:01:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:01:21","slug":"close-your-eyes-from-survival-show-to-global-k-pop-sensation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/306314\/","title":{"rendered":"Close Your Eyes: From survival show to global K-pop sensation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seoul, South Korea
\n \u00a0\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n The week before Close Your Eyes stepped onto the stage for their first-ever solo concert, the seven members moved in practiced formation across a basement rehearsal studio in Seoul\u2019s Gangnam district.\n <\/p>\n

\n Surrounded by managers and coaches, the band reviewed staging concepts for the performance at Seoul\u2019s Olympic Hall, and repeatedly ran through the steps to the 20-song setlist.\n <\/p>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

\n For a rookie group barely a year old, it\u2019s a huge moment that shows how far they\u2019ve come in an incredibly short time.\n <\/p>\n

\n Formed by global viewer votes on the 2024 cable TV survival show \u201cProject 7,\u201d the band has released three mini albums with 1.2 million sales in 10 months, picking up seven industry awards along the way. In November, Close Your Eyes even clinched the number two spot<\/a> on the United World Chart, just behind Taylor Swift\u2019s \u201cThe Life of a Showgirl.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Their relentless productivity, quick reinvention, and fiercely invested fanbase have turned them into one of K-pop\u2019s most-watched new acts.\n <\/p>\n

\n But ask the members what makes them unique, and they\u2019ll point not to the accolades, but to the intensity of the work behind the scenes.\n <\/p>\n

\n After a day of fan events, photoshoots and recording, \u201cwe practice every single day, until past 3 a.m.,\u201d says Min\u2011wook Jeon, the band\u2019s leader. Their rise may look fast from the outside, but he insists it\u2019s not just a natural aptitude. \u201cWe\u2019re not those kinds of people; we spend a lot of time on it.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\"Members<\/p>\n

\n The band\u2019s beginnings on entertainment agency SLL\u2019s reality competition series \u201cProject 7<\/a>\u201d did, in some ways, prepare them for the road ahead.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t have much time to prepare for the stage,\u201d recalls Close Your Eyes dancer and vocalist Yeo\u2011jun Jang. \u201cSo, there were many situations where we had to produce something quickly.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n From 200 applicants to 100 trainees on the show, only seven made the final lineup. Viewers voted to create teams for every major round of the competition, which meant the trainees were constantly reassembled into new lineups, with low-ranking contestants eliminated.\n <\/p>\n

\n As a result, the final lineup is a mix of personalities, skillsets, and nationalities.\n <\/p>\n

\n Jang, often seen as aloof despite what he calls a \u201csurprising charm,\u201d quickly became known for his dancing and is central to the band\u2019s choreography. Chinese member Jingxiang Ma describes himself as hardworking and passionate, while the youngest member, 17-year-old Kyungbae Seo, brings a mix of raw talent and sincerity that resonated with viewers. Rappers Seung Ho Song and Japanese member Kenshin Sakurada provide contrasting energies: Song\u2019s easy warmth against Sakurada\u2019s bubbly persona. Sung Min Kim, the self-described bridge between the older and younger members, is relentlessly positive. And 26-year-old Jeon, the eldest member, brings quiet leadership shaped by his years in the boy band BAE173.\n <\/p>\n

\"BAE173<\/p>\n

\"Min-wook<\/p>\n

\n South Korea\u2019s survival shows have been producing pop idols for decades, and several major groups \u2014 including TWICE, ZEROBASEONE, and Stray Kids \u2014 started on music reality series. These shows typically feature a group of trainees who compete for a chance to debut in an idol group. Audience members vote after each episode, determining which contestants stay and which are eliminated, a system that can sometimes prioritize popularity over talent.\n <\/p>\n

\n Despite this, the resulting groups are often incredibly successful. In 2024, girl group ILLIT became the first K-pop rookie group<\/a> to enter the Billboard 100 with their debut single, putting a bigger spotlight on the talent platformed in these shows.\n <\/p>\n

\n But it\u2019s not always a sure-fire recipe for pop stardom: from thousands of applicants, only a handful make it to the final lineup, and many bands struggle <\/a>to transform their reality show win into long-term chart success.\n <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n Each member of Close Your Eyes earned his spot through fan votes over 12 weeks \u2014 over 17 million votes in the final round alone, according to SLL \u2014 which has deepened fan attachment, as well as intensified expectations.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cDuring \u2018Project 7,\u2019 fans supported individuals,\u201d Jang, 20, says. \u201cNow, a lot of the fandom has pivoted to supporting the whole group.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Close Your Eyes debuted in April 2025 with the mini-album \u201cETERNALT,\u201d a soft, polished introduction that showcased their sentimental vocals and clean pop sound, quickly followed by the four-track EP \u201cSnowy Summer,\u201d which built on that foundation.\n <\/p>\n

\n But it was \u201cblackout,\u201d released in November, that signaled the band\u2019s first bold reinvention. With house\u2011inspired production and a darker, more experimental sound, the mini-album \u2014 which sold more than half a million copies in four days \u2014 hinted at the group\u2019s creative ambition.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cIt\u2019s not that we changed,\u201d Jeon says. \u201cFrom the beginning, we\u2019ve tried to tell our own story in various genres.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The shift, he explains, reflects both their evolving artistry and their desire to explore new sounds.\n <\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

\n Part of that growth comes from taking creative control. Jeon earned his first writing credit within six months of their first album, and contributed heavily to \u201cX,\u201d the lead single from \u201cblackout.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cI really wanted to sing this song with lyrics that I wrote,\u201d he says. \u201cBecause it was lyrics that reflected what our team felt, I personally felt a sense of satisfaction, and I think that my affection for the song grew even more.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The group\u2019s increasing musical range attracted international collaborators as well, including a notable partnership with Grammy-winning Kazakh DJ Imanbek on \u201cblackout,\u201d venturing into \u201can electronic genre that we don\u2019t do much as K-pop idols,\u201d says Jeon.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWorking with DJ Imanbek made it very different from our previous Close Your Eyes music. And that song definitely stands out on our third EP. It\u2019s a song that clearly has the DJ\u2019s signature sound more than the others,\u201d says Jeon. \u201cI think I learned a little bit that I could do this style of music.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n Beyond the studio, CYE\u2019s first year has been packed with variety-show appearances, photoshoots, fan meets, performance schedules, and now concert rehearsals. Several members are adding new skills \u2014 both Sakurada and Song have taken up guitar, hoping to perform it live.\n <\/p>\n

\"Kenshin<\/p>\n

\n The awards followed quickly: from the TikTok Awards to the Korea Grand Music Awards and Golden Disc Awards, Close Your Eyes collected seven rookie and artist prizes in five months.\n <\/p>\n

\n But for the members, the highlights have been more personal.\n <\/p>\n

\n Jang, who like Jeon has previous experience as a K-pop trainee, recalls his parents watching him perform at an event last year after other attempts to launch his career hadn\u2019t worked out.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cMy mother came backstage, and when she saw me, she started crying. Those tears brought back a variety of emotions and memories,\u201d says Jang. \u201cI realized how happy people were that I debuted, how happy my mom and dad were. That\u2019s why I remember that day so vividly.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The debut concert marked the end of their first chapter \u2014 and the beginning of another.\n <\/p>\n

\n After their performance in front of thousands of fans in Seoul\u2019s Olympic Hall on January 31st, Close Your Eyes began their first international tour.\n <\/p>\n

\n Just last week, the band took the stage in Japan, with upcoming stops announced in Canada, Malaysia, and Russia.\n <\/p>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

\n The Russia date has sparked backlash from fans, who argue that performing in Moscow during Russia\u2019s ongoing invasion of Ukraine is inappropriate.\n <\/p>\n

\n UNCORE, the group\u2019s management agency, issued a statement on X<\/a> (formerly Twitter) that performances \u201care not intended to represent or support any political stance,\u201d describing them instead as cultural exchanges: \u201cAt UNCORE, we believe that music has no borders. Our primary mission is to provide fans worldwide with the opportunity to enjoy K-POP performances.\u201d\n <\/p>\n

\n The band\u2019s Malaysia concert date<\/a> has been rescheduled by the organizers<\/a>, after fans raised concerns about holding the event during Ramadan.\n <\/p>\n

\n For a rookie band, the controversies illustrate how quickly global fandom can become both a platform and a pressure point.\n <\/p>\n

\n In the studio, though, the band remains focused on the work and is already shaping its next musical era.\n <\/p>\n

\"Close<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

\n After three mini-albums in six months, they\u2019re eager to release a full-length album in 2026, which will include three unreleased tracks \u2014 \u201cBest Life,\u201d \u201cLemonade,\u201d and \u201cNameless\u201d \u2014 which premiered at their debut concert.\n <\/p>\n

\n \u201cWhat I can say for sure is that we\u2019ve explored a variety of sounds, so what we\u2019ll be releasing in 2026 will also be something incredibly new and unexpected,\u201d says Jeon.\n <\/p>\n

\n As soon as our interview ended, the seven idols disappeared to change outfits for an evening rehearsal, and returned minutes later, slurping down steaming cups of ramyeon. There was barely time for their dinner to settle before they were bouncing around the dance floor again, running through the steps one more time.\n <\/p>\n