For fans of CLASSy, it has been a long wait. When CLASSy returned on June 23 with their fourth mini album, RE:BOOT [AFTER TEARS], it marked their first new music in nearly a year and seven months since LOVE XX dropped in November 2024. For a group whose path to this point has taken more than a few unexpected turns – a label change, a prolonged absence, a year and a half of silence – this comeback carries a different kind of weight.

Last November, the group moved to K-Tigers Entertainment, a Seoul-based agency with a background spanning both entertainment and performance arts – beginning what the members themselves describe as a fresh start. In the months that followed, they worked with producer EL CAPITXN – whose credits include BTS, Psy and IU – on new material that marks a departure. The sound, as Riwon puts it, goes somewhere CLASSy have never been before.

It is also their first summer comeback since debut, which matters more than it might sound. Summer in K-pop carries its own set of expectations and opportunities, and CLASSy are arriving with something to prove. The maturity they hinted at with Psycho and Beautiful – the title track from LOVE XX – now has room to develop into something more fully realised.

In conversation with the group, it’s clear that this is a comeback built on reflection. The hiatus was hard. The transition was unsettling. But the seven members who have come out the other side sound, collectively, like a group who know exactly who they are – and are finally ready to show it.

You've moved to a new agency and you're working with new people. How has that changed the energy around making music?

혜주 / HYEJU Moving to a new environment gave me a valuable opportunity to deeply reflect on who I am as an artist. I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of music I want to showcase, and through that process, I feel like both my personal color and CLASSy’s distinct identity have become much clearer.

지민 / JIMIN First of all, we met such an amazing staff this time around. They make a genuine effort to incorporate our opinions and work tirelessly day and night with so much passion just for CLASSy. Because of that, our synergy has multiplied, and we are working hard preparing our music in a really vibrant, energetic atmosphere.

When a lot of things change at once, it can feel uncertain. Did this period feel more like a challenge or an opportunity?

형서 / HYUNGSEO I actually see it as a great opportunity. I don’t take anything that’s given to me right now for granted. Knowing that these moments will never come back and that these are incredibly precious opportunities, I have a strong desire to show absolutely everything I’ve got. In fact, I'm approaching this with the mindset that this could be my last chance. I used to be afraid of change, but now my attitude has shifted to embracing it—and honestly, looking forward to it. That’s why this change and this opportunity feel so incredibly valuable to me.

리원 / RIWON I also thought of it as a fresh opportunity. Since our entire environment completely changed, I think all the members prepared for this comeback with the mindset of debuting all over again together.

You worked with the producer EL CAPITXN for your new music. What did that creative process feel like for you?

채원 / CHAEWON It was amazing to work with such a renowned producer for this comeback! I feel like this song is a perfect fit for CLASSy, which makes me even more excited for what's ahead. On top of that, it’s incredibly rewarding for me because some of my own lyrics actually made it into the track.

보은 / BOEUN First of all, it was a true honor to receive such a high-quality song. I've been incredibly excited for this comeback ever since we first got the guide track. Watching the song gradually transform and take shape into our own unique style was so much fun, and it really pushed all the members to prepare for it with so much passion.

Did working with someone new push you to try something different musically?

리원 / RIWON This new song features a rock sound, which is a genre we’ve never tried before. Doing this made me realize that this kind of music actually suits the members really well. Also, because the song tells our own narrative, the music video required a lot more acting scenes compared to our previous ones, and I had so much fun filming it.

선유 / SEONYOU We haven't had the chance to explore a lot of different concepts yet, so this felt like a completely new side of us. More than anything, I feel this music allows us to showcase CLASSy exactly as we are, without any filters, which helped us express ourselves in the most genuine way possible.

What do you want people to feel when they hear this music for the first time?

혜주 / HYEJU I hope people feel comforted by it. Through this song, I want to convey the message that every single one of us is enough just as we are, and that we are already whole and complete in our own right.

보은 / BOEUN I want people to feel that CLASSy still holds this much passion and dreams, and that we stand on stage with a truly earnest heart. Through this comeback, I hope we can make an impression on people once again and become a group that everyone genuinely wants to root for!

You've been together since My Teenage Girl. How do you think CLASSy has changed as a group since then?

형서 / HYUNGSEO Since our teamwork as CLASSy has grown so much, I believe the synergy we create on stage will be better than ever. Having spent more time together than anyone else over the past four years, we’ve come to live like a family and truly know each other inside out. Because every single member genuinely cares for and understands one another, our chemistry on stage just syncs up naturally. I truly believe that this bond and trust will shine brighter than ever when we perform.

혜주 / HYEJU Going through so many different experiences and moments together has allowed our individual colors to become much more distinct. At the same time, we’ve naturally learned how to truly understand and be considerate of one another.

채원 / CHAEWON At first, our mindset was just "Let’s push through with pure energy and drive!" But as we discovered and developed our own unique charms and individualities, we’ve blended together much more seamlessly as a cohesive group.

리원 / RIWON Since time has passed, our appearances have changed quite a bit, but I think our inner selves have grown the most. While spending time together and sharing countless deep conversations during our hiatus, our hearts and minds have become so much stronger as a group. As we take on more stages in the future, I hope we continue to grow both in our performances and in our mindset.

지민 / JIMIN When I look back at the image people used to have of CLASSy, I think the impression of being "really young kids" was very strong. But we aren’t just young kids anymore; I believe we’ve grown significantly, both inside and out.

보은 / BOEUN Quite a bit of time has passed, so while all the members have grown a lot visually—haha—more than anything, I feel like we’ve become so much closer. Especially while preparing for this comeback, we spent a lot of time just talking, and through that process, we understood each other on a deeper level and grew tighter. Because of that, it was a deeply meaningful time for me personally.

선유 / SEONYOU Since we originally debuted through a survival show, things were a bit tense at first, and honestly, there were some awkward moments since we hadn’t known each other for very long. But now, all seven of us feel like a second family, and it feels like I’ve gained one-of-a-kind friends with whom I can share my deepest thoughts. Also, since everyone is deeply driven to do better, we practice incredibly hard and help each other out, which has allowed us to keep growing steadily in terms of our skills as well.

Is there something about yourselves – as artists – that you feel people haven't seen yet?

지민 / JIMIN I’ve always felt a bit of regret that we haven't been able to fully showcase CLASSy's unique energy yet, but I'm incredibly excited because I feel we’ll finally be able to show it through this new song.

선유 / SEONYOU It's a bit of a pity that only we know how hilarious we actually are. Everyone is so funny and wonderfully weird to the point where I wonder if I’ll ever meet such unique individuals again in my life. Being together brings me so much happiness, and I truly hope people can see this side of us as soon as possible.

You spent time preparing behind the scenes before this comeback. What did that period teach you about patience or about yourselves?

채원 / CHAEWON I think I figured out how to make the most of a long hiatus. Instead of spending that indefinite wait feeling empty or lost, I chose to focus on studying ways to research my own potential and grow. It allowed me to see myself more clearly, giving me a much sharper understanding of my strengths and weaknesses.

보은 / BOEUN To be honest, our hiatus wasn't always easy. Although I tried my best not to waste any time, there were definitely moments when I felt exhausted and anxious. But whenever those moments hit, I always ended up realizing that I just can't give up on this dream. If anything, that period taught me that I still truly love this work and that I'm still holding onto a massive dream.

Your fans have waited a long time for this. What do you want to say to the people who stayed?

형서 / HYUNGSEO I believe that CLASSy can only exist and stand on stage because of CLIKE:y. No matter how tough things got, just thinking of CLIKE:y helped me get back on my feet. Even when I doubted myself, it was CLIKE:y that lifted me up. Thank you so much for changing my life and allowing me to stand on stage again. Since you’ve waited for so long, we will repay you with amazing performances, great promotions, and even bigger love. Without CLIKE:y, I wouldn’t be who I am today. I will continue to love you with all my heart and always promote with a grateful mind. I love you.

혜주 / HYEJU Thank you from the bottom of my heart for choosing to love CLASSy over any other group. Thanks to all of you, I was able to overcome the difficult times. I will never forget this gratitude, and I want to repay you by showing us promoting happier and enjoying ourselves more than anyone else. Please continue to show CLASSy lots of love and support. Thank you always, and I love you.

채원 / CHAEWON I want to say a huge thank you to CLIKE:y for always waiting for us for such a long time. Since this is our first big leap with our new agency, we want to show you so many cool and beautiful sides of us. I’ll make sure you feel that the long wait was completely worth it!

리원 / RIWON CLIKE:y! Thank you so much for silently staying by our side and waiting for us for such a long time. Just waiting in itself is never an easy thing to do, but because CLIKE:y showered us with so much love even during our hiatus, CLASSy was able to tightly bond together and find the strength to keep going! I will always do my absolute best in my position while showing you great stages and many different sides of myself. Thank you so, so much and I love you.

지민 / JIMIN CLIKE:y~ I’m so sorry for always making you wait for so long... But our CLASSy really put our blood, sweat, and tears into preparing for this, so I hope CLIKE:y welcomes us with enthusiastic cheers and truly loves this comeback. I love you so much.

보은 / BOEUN I feel like words like "thank you" and "sorry" can never fully express how I feel. We always endured and pushed ourselves to work even harder thinking about CLIKE:y. That's how incredibly precious you are to us, and you are the people we want to repay the most. I hope we can stay together for a long time—laughing even louder during the good times and becoming each other's strength during the hard times. We prepared so incredibly hard for this comeback, so please look forward to it!

선유 / SEONYOU I feel so incredibly sorry that we always seem to return only after such a long hiatus. Even so, seeing our fans who wait for us and cheer us on for a long time fills me with endless gratitude, and I never, ever take it for granted. Since our fans have waited through this long gap, we are putting in so much effort to come back with an even more amazing stage, so please watch over us comfortably without pushing yourselves too hard. Always thankful, and I love you!

How would you describe the feeling of this album in three words?

리원 / RIWON Tears, Newness, Beginning.

지민 / JIMIN Youth, Bittersweetness, Pain.

Seven people making music together is complicated. What keeps CLASSy working as a team?

형서 / HYUNGSEO Like I mentioned earlier, the members are like family to me. Because we rely on, care for, and love each other so much, our teamwork is naturally strong. Sometimes people worry about our age gaps, but interestingly, we've barely ever felt that kind of barrier. There is so much to learn even from our youngest members, and honestly, there are times when I'm the one acting like the youngest (laughs). Since every member is genuinely kind, passionate, and running toward the exact same goal, it has made us an even tighter, more closely-knit team.

혜주 / HYEJU I think our driving force is our intense desire to do exceptionally well. Every single member is filled with passion and always wants to showcase a better version of ourselves. There are times when that exact mindset can feel overwhelming, but in the end, it’s what helps us get back on our feet and drives us to push through until the very end.

Coming back after time away, there's always expectation. Does that pressure motivate you or does it get in the way?

채원 / CHAEWON For me, it definitely serves as motivation. If there weren't even any expectations for us, I think I would have felt helpless during our long hiatus. But thanks to that interest, it makes me promise myself to show an even better side of us during our next promotions! Thank you so much for always staying interested in CLASSy.

선유 / SEONYOU I have full confidence that we will do well, so it feels much more like motivation than pressure. Every single one of the seven members is so incredibly driven to succeed, and because we practice and put in the effort consistently every single day, we have the confidence to match. I think that confidence will keep us energized and pushing hard.

What does success look like for CLASSy right now – not just for this album, but for where you want to go?

형서 / HYUNGSEO I’m naturally someone with a lot of fears, so I tend to worry a lot before starting anything new. Because of that, there were moments in the past where I didn't get the results I wanted. But this time around, I really wanted to be different. Through the upcoming album, I want to convey genuine emotions to people through the music and stages I truly want to create. Just as I found comfort through songs, I hope those who listen to our music feel comfort and happiness as well.

형서 / HYUNGSEO Spending time on our hiatus made me realize all over again how precious the stage is to me. It made me feel deeply that the stage is truly where I belong, which is why I want to do my absolute best going forward, treating every single moment as if it were my last. To me, success isn't just about charts or results. Expressing myself on stage without any regrets and genuinely enjoying that moment—and having many people find happiness through CLASSy's music—that is the success I dream of.

형서 / HYUNGSEO I believe that if we achieve that, more opportunities to perform on stage and make music will naturally follow. More than anything, I want CLASSy to become a team that can continuously make music together for a very long time, and a group that receives a lot of love. I hope everyone finds happiness through CLASSy’s music. I pray that this happiness becomes the strength that allows us to perform on more stages and make more music, so we can sing by your side for a long, long time. 🩶

If you could tell your 2022 debut-era selves one thing, what would it be?

형서 / HYUNGSEO Don't be afraid, Hyungseo!

혜주 / HYEJU Brace yourself! It’s not going to be as easy as you think. There will be days when you just want to give up. But remember, you have amazing members right by your side. Never forget that you are not alone; if you rely on each other and keep moving forward, you can overcome anything. So don't be too scared, and let's give it our all so we don't leave any regrets. Fighting!

채원 / CHAEWON There won't always be good days ahead, but I hope you don't waste any time and instead completely fill yourself up with growth! Your time to shine will definitely come. I'm always rooting for you, and even if you get exhausted, I hope you'll always find the strength to stand back up. Hang in there!

리원 / RIWON Do your absolute best with everything you're given, but make sure to enjoy it along the way. If you face hard times or have worries, I hope you become someone who doesn't bottle them up and can open up to others. Let's grow well into someone who can leave a positive impact on people!

지민 / JIMIN Even though it's going to be much more painful and difficult than you imagined, when you look back on it all later, it really won't feel like a big deal anymore. So, I truly hope you can just enjoy the present moment without worrying so much.

보은 / BOEUN Since it's your first time, there will be plenty of fun moments, but just as many tough ones. Time honestly flies by much faster than you think. So, don't worry too much and enjoy the present more. I also hope you don't push yourself too hard under the pressure to be perfect. You'll eventually realize that the anxiety you feel now was just a stepping stone in your growth. Tell the people you're grateful for how much you appreciate them, and fully cherish the precious relationships you're about to build. Don't hold onto hardships for too long—I just want you to be a little happier. Be happy!!

선유 / SEONYOU Don't beat yourself up over things that aren't your fault, and even if your environment gets tough, block out the noise and just do what you want to do. No matter what choice you make, no path is entirely free of regret. So moving forward, trust yourself regardless of the choices you make, don't lose your original passion, and work hard!

---

This feature is taken from our fifth printed issue, available for purchase here.