Fresh off their official debut under Sony Music Korea and iNKODE Entertainment, five-member boy group KEYVITUP step into the spotlight with a self-titled EP (produced by Kim Jae-joong) that introduces both their sound and their philosophy. Built around the idea of the “key” that opens new doors, the group’s identity blends ambition, self-belief, and connection, anchored by hip-hop-driven production and a strong performance-first approach.
In this interview, TAEHWAN, HYUNMIN, JAEIN, SENA, and RUKIA reflect on what their concept truly means to them, how they shaped their debut music, and the dynamics forming as a newly launched team navigating its earliest stages together. From introspective thoughts on pressure and growth to lighthearted moments, KEYVITUP reveal both their discipline and their personality as they begin building their place in the industry.
What does being “the key to a new generation” mean to you at this point in your debut journey?
JAEIN: We’re finally introducing KEYVITUP to the world, and while there may be some nerves, we really want to show our confidence, aspirations, and ambition.
TAEHWAN: Just like the “key” that opens the door to a new world, all of us in KEYVITUP carry a strong ambition to open that door and step into something new. Since this is just the beginning for us, we’re filled with rookie confidence and drive. For now, I really connect with that meaning—we’re ready to open the door to a new world.
HYUNMIN: “KEY” in our name represents opening a new world, and I think it carries a lot of confidence and ambition. At the same time, that confidence comes with uncertainty and worry, so we’ve all been going through many thoughts and emotions. Even so, we’re trying our best to learn from every situation and approach everything with a humble mindset. Moving forward, we want to prove that we’re a team that keeps growing.
RUKIA: Like a key opening the door to a new world, we want to fully show everything we have as we move forward. We also want to introduce KEYVITUP to people all around the world and show our unique personality and musical identity.
SENA: To me, we are the key, and every challenge is a new door. Our debut is a new door, and so are all the challenges ahead. Through all of that, we want to show our identity and energy.
HYUNMIN: At this point, having just debuted, we see the key as the tool that opens the doors ahead of us, and we believe that key is us. As we continue taking on challenges and moving toward a new generation, we hope you’ll keep supporting and showing interest in us. With that support, we believe we can show even better sides of ourselves.
'KEYVITUP' has an old-school hip-hop feel—did that influence your lyrics or delivery?
TAEHWAN: When we first heard the beat and demo, we felt it had a strong old-school hip-hop vibe. When writing lyrics and recording, I didn’t want to just follow the beat directly—I wanted to reinterpret it and bring a new twist to that style. I also wanted to incorporate modern K-pop elements, so we focused on being honest in our lyrics and expressing our real thoughts. During recording, we tried to add many modern K-pop details as well.
How do 'KEYVITUP' and 'LEGENDARY' work together to introduce the group?
HYUNMIN: We’ve been writing the lyrics for 'KEYVITUP' since our trainee days, so it represents both our past and present. As you can hear from the lyrics, 'LEGENDARY' reflects our ambition and dream to become legends, so it represents our future. If you listen to them that way, it feels like one connected story, which makes the music even more enjoyable.
TAEHWAN, as the eldest, what’s your “senior advice” for the members?
TAEHWAN: Even in college, when you’re working as a team, you really need to rely on each other and genuinely care for one another. I hope all of us can continue to treat each other like family—truly supporting and caring for one another with sincerity.
HYUNMIN, when was the last time you had to be strict as a leader?
HYUNMIN: Since our debut, it’s been a constant cycle of going on stage and showing new sides of ourselves. We can’t always be in perfect condition, and in those moments, as TAEHWAN mentioned, mutual respect can sometimes slip. In those times, it becomes even more important to care for and support each other—that’s what strengthens our chemistry and performance. Before going on stage, we always come together, lean on each other, and build that “let’s do this together” energy.
JAEIN, who gives the best “boyfriend expression” on camera?
JAEIN: I think HYUNMIN did the best. The key to those “boyfriend” moments is smiling and looking at someone with a really warm, loving gaze. I saw that sweet, affectionate look in HYUNMIN’s eyes.
RUKIA, what are you surprisingly bad at?
RUKIA: I’m not good at swimming—honestly, I’m scared of water. I had swimming classes at school, but I couldn’t really do anything during those lessons.
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Any closing thoughts for your fans?
HYUNMIN: Even though we’ve just debuted, we sincerely want to thank our fans for already giving us so much love and happiness. To anyone who has recently become our fan, we hope to share many more moments and memories with you. As we continue to grow, we’ll work hard to become artists you can always be proud of. Please continue to show us lots of love and support.
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