In October of 2023, the birth of an extraordinary boy group began and since then Great M Entertainment has been making history with their talented first boy group 82MAJOR. A six-member boy group, the dazzling and skillful boys have accomplished so much within just a year. Seong Il, Ye Chan, Seong Mo, Seong Bin, Seok Jun, and Do Gyun have proven to be a first-rate K-Pop boy group who have won the hearts of domestic and international fans combined.
Garnering much deserved attention with their pre-debut song “Sure Thing,” the boys solidified their place on the stage with their single album ON after crushing the music scene with their lead single “FIRST CLASS,” which expresses the top quality of the group’s performances. Just see for yourself in the MV below.
Now, 82MAJOR had a comeback with “Choke” last month and fans are living for their simplistic but artistic hip-hop concept that has an energetic tempo accompanied by a mellow vocal chorus that paces alongside the steady melody. The basketball concept and filtered color schemes for the various scenes make the video attractive and creative despite the lack of jazzy over-the-top settings. The MV is clean, chic and concise. A perfect summary and representation of the new album concept titled BEAT by 82.
Now, 82MAJOR met with ZAPZEE to discuss their debut, their current modern concepts, WATERBOMB, and the future plans they have for fans with their world tour and more! Check out our exclusive interview, special video greeting from the members themselves and our never-before-seen exclusive photos down below!
Q. 82MAJOR debuted with “Sure Thing” and “First Class” almost a year ago. When you recollect your debut stage and pre-debut, what was the most memorable experience?
HWANG SEONG BIN: “When we first met our fans, 82DE in person, the showcase day was the most memorable. It was the moment I realized how happy it is to perform in front of people who love us.”
CHO SEONG IL: “The showcase was a favorite for me too! It was the first time 82MAJOR performed in front of our fans. I was very nervous but excited, too, and I think we did well! Even now, thinking about that day brings back the intense excitement!”
KIM DO GYUN: “I remember our first fan-meeting event the most. It was a time when I could have long conversations with fans up close, so I was delighted.”
Q. “Choke” is one of your most notable comebacks with a simple but refined aesthetic taste. What is something you worked on the most to prepare for your fans?
NAM SEONG MO: “We focused on working on our music to show 82MAJOR’s unique sound. In our new album, BEAT by 82, besides the title track “Choke,” there are songs that the members participated in. ‘Illegal’ and ’82’ were songs we worked on before our debut, and we developed them further this time to enhance their completeness. 82DE, how do you like our music? We are continually striving to bring you better music, so please keep an eye on us!”
PARK SEOK JUN: “We also prepared various content to showcase our chemistry. One of 82MAJOR’s strengths is our friendship chemistry! We’re all close and witty, always joking and laughing when we’re together. We wanted to show this side to our fans, so we participated in and prepared various content.”
Q. Can you tell us some details about your comeback? What was it like making this new track and releasing a whole new album? Were there any worries or concerns about returning to the stage?
NAM SEONG MO: “We wanted to show that we have improved since our debut album, ON, and express 82MAJOR’s unique color. We were inspired by 82MAJOR’s confidence and thought about harmonizing our confidence with the hip hop genre. Many of our members like sports, and we thought expressing confidence and hip hop through the dynamic image of sports would be great. Since we were all tall, we felt that basketball suited us best, so we planned the concept of basketball.”
HWANG SEONG BIN: “We thought a lot about how to show a cooler side to 82DE. We participated more than before and gave each other feedback to show our growth since our debut album.”
Q. Is there anything each member thinks they personally need to work on or do to become a better singer and idol? How are you personally growing or training yourself?
KIM DO GYUN: “As the main vocalist, I especially want to improve my vocals. My goal is to push my vocal abilities to the extreme through more effort. I want to show 82MAJOR’s main vocal power! Haha. Also, I want to improve my songwriting skills.”
YOON YE CHAN: “I consistently practice singing, rapping, and work on songwriting. Outside of group practice time, I almost always spend personal time working on songs to improve my skills. I want to create great songs for 82DE as a cool artist and idol!”
Q. Can you tell us about your global tour? What was something you enjoyed most about the experience?
PARK SEOK JUN: “Participating in the WATERBOMB events in Hong Kong and Dubai was an honor. Meeting fans on such a big stage was really amazing and fun. I want to create and enjoy more stages with 82DE in various places in the future!”
NAM SEONG MO: “We will visit many 82DE in person! Please look forward to it!”
Q. The boy-next-door sporty look suits 82Major perfectly – but which concept would be the most unique or daring for the group to try? For example a disco concept or cowboy theme?
PARK SEOK JUN: “We enjoyed experiencing concepts like sporty and preppy looks through this album. We haven’t tried many concepts, and I think 82MAJOR has a lot to show musically. So, I want to try all kinds of concepts! I think a unique style will come out by reinterpreting any concept in 82MAJOR’s color! Personally, I wonder how a more mature look would be.”
YOON YE CHAN: “I want to try a refreshing concept. We showed an intense and powerful image with our debut song, ‘FIRST CLASS,’ and this time with ‘Choke.’ I wonder how it would be to someday try a concept full of boyish charm. I’m confident that 82MAJOR can pull off any concept with our chameleon charm! Haha.”
Q. If you think of K-pop idols from the past, it is much easier to interact with fans on social media more than before. What is some way 82MAJOR enjoys interacting with their fans?
KIM DO GYUN: “We communicate with fans through social media and live broadcasts! Reading the letters and comments from fans, we feel the love from 82DE!”
YOON YE CHAN: “That’s right! When we have fun moments, we want to share them with 82DE, so we take pictures and upload them on social media! We want to share good things with 82DE!”
CHO SEONG IL: ”I especially like to be on live streaming! It’s fun to communicate with 82DE fans in real time through comments! I want to get closer to our fans by communicating more often and in various ways!”
See some of their amazing vlogs and candid moments on their YouTube here!
Q. Are there any viral trends in Korea or on SNS 82MAJOR enjoy?
CHO SEONG IL: “It seems like various types of challenges are popular. I think it’s good because it can bring people closer through challenges!”
HWANG SEONG BIN: “I think so too. It’s good to spend time with friends and upload fun challenge videos with others online!”
Q. The boys of 82MAJOR really seem like a family! Who would be the Mom member and Dad Member of the group? Is there anyone really lazy or like a baby? Which member do they rely on the most?
KIM DO GYUN: “SEONG IL is like our mom. He cleans the dorm well and wakes up the members in the morning. He takes care of us well and is our leader!”
CHO SEONG IL: “I think DO GYUN is like our dad. Although he’s young, he has a surprisingly mature side, so he’s reliable. As for the baby… that is… YE CHAN! Haha YE CHAN likes to play around and has a bright charm!”
HWANG SEONG BIN: “The baby of 82MAJOR is definitely DO GYUN! He’s the youngest with a cute face, which suits the baby image well. However, he’s far from being lazy!”
Q. If the members could spend a day in any other country, where would they want to go and why?
CHO SEONG IL: “Hawaii! My aunt lives there, so I’ve been there before. I had such a comfortable and fun time that I want to go back and relive those memories!”
PARK SEOK JUN: ”I want to visit the US. I have watched many Marvel movies since I was young, and watching the American scenery in the movies made me want to visit. If I go to the US, I think it will feel like stepping into a Marvel movie!”
Aren’t the boys of 82MAJOR enjoyably talkative and relatable? We savored every delightful minute with 82MAJOR and never wanted the interview to end. To keep fans happy, before the boys finished, they had another lovely message for their 82DE fans and our readers!
NAM SEONG MO: “82DE! Thank you so much for cheering us on during our “Choke” promotions. Thank you for all the support. We gained more strength and could perform better on stage! We will never forget your energetic cheers. We love you, 82DE!”
Don’t forget to see their final fan message in our exclusive interview video as well!
How happy are 82DE and our readers after seeing this interview? 82MAJOR appreciate the support of their old and new fans alike and continuously plan on showering their fans with endless love. Will you become a new fan of the boy group and add to their strength? Don’t forget to see the rest of the group’s exclusive never-before-seen photos below plus follow them on Instagram and Twitter too. If you can’t get your fill of 82MAJOR, be sure to see a more fun and light-hearted side of them through their vlogs on YouTube as well! Follow ZAPZEE for more exclusive videos, interviews and more.
Credit: Great M Entertainment / ZAPZEE
Best of luck, 82Major!!! I hope you make it far. So, we can see, watch, and see more from all of you!!!! Aja!!! xoxo