KEYVITUP x VAYONN

Rising rookie groups KEYVITUP and VAYONN share a creator, a company, and a beginning. Both groups came through iNKODE's INTHE X project before splitting into two separate acts – KEYVITUP debuting first in April with their self-titled EP, VAYONN following in July with Youth Today.

So far, KEYVITUP have built their identity around contrast: an "ON/OFF" concept that plays the group's on-stage intensity against a looser, more playful side underneath it. Their double title tracks, "KEYVITUP" and "LEGENDARY," move between boom-bap groove and cinematic trap, while five members – TAEHWAN, HYUNMIN, SENA, JAEIN, and RUKIA – co-wrote the lyrics that shape the project's sense of self-assurance and momentum.

VAYONN's Youth Today leans warmer and lighter, built around the rush of new feeling and the idea of youth as something worth holding onto. Four of the group's six members – MASATO, SEN, AYANG, and JINYU – came through Boys II Planet before VAYONN existed, with TERU and MANO joining through iNKODE's INTHE X project, adding another layer of shared history underneath the group's fresher, more open-hearted image.

Before either act existed in its current form, all eleven trainees prepared and performed together for the INTHE X project – rehearsing side by side, debuting on the same stage at "PROLOGUE : FIRST PAGE," and building a closeness that neither group has fully left behind. KEYVITUP watched VAYONN prepare for a debut they'd already lived through months earlier. VAYONN, in turn, debuted knowing exactly what that road looked like, since they'd walked part of it together already. This shoot marks their first official activity together since going their separate ways – KEYVITUP in April, VAYONN in July – making this cover as much a reunion as it is a first meeting between two groups.

That history shows up throughout this conversation, somewhere between friendly rivalry and sincere support. Several members describe the relationship as something closer to family than competition: SEN calls the two groups "twins who share the same blood," different in sound and image but built from the same root. Others point to smaller, more specific threads – shared values around growth and character instilled by their company, a mutual respect for how hard each group works, an unspoken competitiveness that pushes both sides forward rather than apart.

There's also an honesty here about where each group still has room to grow. KEYVITUP members speak openly about wanting audiences to see the effort behind their performances, not just the polish. VAYONN's members talk about being still early in defining who they are beyond their "cute" image, hinting at a range they haven't fully shown yet. Nobody in this conversation is claiming to have arrived – if anything, the shared thread running through every answer is a kind of forward motion, two groups conscious of walking parallel paths at the same early stage of very different careers.

What follows is a conversation with both groups – on debuting months apart, on what each has learned from watching the other, and on what they hope people will understand about KEYVITUP and VAYONN, now and years from now.

KEYVITUP, what was it like watching VAYONN prepare for their debut a few months after your own?

SENA At the time, we were still fairly new to our own debut and were busy preparing for our own stages, but we had seen how hard the VAYONN members were working, so we were always cheering them on from the bottom of our hearts. Since they were friends who had witnessed our own debut journey up close, watching VAYONN make their debut felt very personal to us. I remember feeling genuinely moved and proud, almost as if it were our own debut.

And VAYONN, what was it like debuting, knowing KEYVITUP had already gone through it a few months before you?

SEN To be honest, I’d be lying if I said we never felt a sense of rivalry. Of course, there were moments when we wanted to do better ourselves, but since we trained together and became close friends, there was also a healthy sense of competition between us. At the same time, we’ve always wanted to grow into bigger artists together and help make our company even bigger.

Your two groups have very different sounds. What do you think that difference says about each group?

HYUNMIN I think each group’s unique charm will shine in different ways depending on people’s musical tastes and the concepts they enjoy. For KEYVITUP, since we have our “ON/OFF” concept, I think our biggest appeal will be the contrast between who we are on and off stage. VAYONN, on the other hand, has a fresh and uplifting sound that creates a warm yet refreshing atmosphere, which I think can appeal to a wide range of listeners.

SEN Our company places a lot of importance on continuous growth and having good character and manners. I think that’s something both VAYONN and KEYVITUP have in common, and perhaps that’s why we were able to make our debut under this company.

MASATO We both share a deep love for our fans and another thing we have in common is that we can speak four languages: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and English.

Although each group has its own distinct identity, is there something that connects you beyond coming from the same company?

TAEHWAN I think the “IN THE X Project,” which took place before we became two separate groups, played a big role in shaping the relationship we have today. Since we all prepared and performed together before our debuts, I think there’s a possibility that we could create a whole new kind of synergy if we come together as one team again.

Is there a specific memory from training together as INTHE X, before the groups were finalized, that still comes up between you now?

JAEIN It would have to be the “PROLOGUE : FIRST PAGE” fan meeting. It was the first time all of us were introduced to the public and performed together as INTHE X, so we were all incredibly nervous. At the same time, we really enjoyed being on stage, which is why it remains one of the most memorable moments for us.

RUKIA Preparing for our first stage as INTHE X is also the most memorable for me.

AYANG When we were doing INTHE X, I wasn’t very fluent in Korean yet. I hadn’t seen the KEYVITUP members for quite some time, so the first time I saw them again was when we took our group photo. After that, I had many more opportunities to communicate with the KEYVITUP members in Korean, which I really appreciated.

SEN Even now, whenever I meet HYUNMIN, we often talk about how tough it must have been to debut as a group of 11. We always say things like, “That must have been so difficult. How did we even manage to practice with 11 people back then?”

What's one thing about your group that you want audiences to understand the most?

MASATO Compared to KEYVITUP and the other groups, we had a relatively short trainee period. I’m not sure if we’re always able to show the kind of performances and image that our fans hope to see, but I really hope that all the effort we’ve put in comes through to our fans.

AYANG I hope people will know that while VAYONN has a cute concept on stage, we’re actually quite different off stage. We can be cute, but we also have a masculine side to us.

TAEHWAN People may mostly see our free-spirited and playful side, but I want everyone to know that, no matter where we are or what we’re doing, KEYPERs are always the most important people to us, and we love them more than anything.

SENA I hope people realize how much thought and effort goes into every KEYVITUP performance behind the scenes. It may simply look like an exciting and energetic performance, but what you see on stage is the result of countless hours of practice and attention to every little detail to make sure we move and perform as one.

What's something you learned from watching the other group?

TERU Even though our concept is cute, we’re learning from KEYVITUP how to bring out a more masculine and charismatic side through things like our angles, facial expressions, and choreography.

SEN Seeing KEYVITUP taking lessons and staying late to practice even after debuting really inspired me to work harder and taught me the importance of that kind of dedication. I’ve carried that mindset with me and continue to practice consistently so I can keep improving my skills.

HYUNMIN I think we’ve learned a lot from the way VAYONN interacts with their fans. Although KEYVITUP debuted first, VAYONN also has members who met their fans through Boys II Planet before debuting. So, when it comes to how to treat and connect with fans who support us, I think there’s a lot we can learn from each other.

RUKIA For me, it would have to be their facial expressions on stage. They’re really good at expressing themselves and genuinely look like they’re enjoying every moment on stage, which always makes me go, “Wow!”

If your two groups worked on something together further down the line, what do you think that would look like?

JAEIN I’d love for all of us to perform together as INTHE X at an end-of-year awards show!!

RUKIA Maybe we could switch songs and perform each other’s songs on stage…?

MASATO Since we all have our own schedules, we don’t get to see each other very often. If we ever get the chance to do something together, I think it would be fun to create our own special content. It might be difficult to do something in front of fans, but I’d love to try something like a fitness or sports-related challenge, similar to the “Cops and Robbers” content we did before. If we ever get to do something musically together, I think a sexy concept could be fun too.

TERU Since we’re all comfortable around each other and have a lot of fun together, I think it would be similar to SEVENTEEN sunbaenim’s group dynamic, where a large number of members can have fun and enjoy themselves together.

What do you hope people take away from seeing both groups share this moment together?

TAEHWAN Of course, we hope people will continue to love and support both groups, but more than that, I hope it can be remembered as a meaningful moment where two groups with different concepts come together and create something special - a moment that delivers a special message and gives energy to many people.

SENA I hope people can see us growing together as friendly rivals and each other’s strongest supporters. Even though we’re pursuing our own paths, I hope the positive energy and greater synergy we create when we’re together can be felt by our fans as well.

MANO Since we also went through the IN THE X Project together as trainees, I hope seeing how we’ve spent all this time practicing and working toward our dreams side by side can inspire people to work hard and stay motivated in pursuing their own goals.

JINYU I hope people can see that we’ve all grown and improved, and that we look even more confident and polished than when we were first introduced to fans through the IN THE X Project.

Years from now, what would you want people to remember about KEYVITUP and VAYONN starting out around the same time?

HYUNMIN I hope every member can be loved by many people and become an icon who represents our generation!

JAEIN Even though our concepts are different, I hope both groups continue to do their best in their own ways and become groups that people can always count on to deliver.

RUKIA We’ll always cherish our fans, look out for each other, and strive to become artists who are known not only for our talent, but also for our character. Please remember that!!

SEN I hope people will remember the two groups as twins. We may have different personalities and looks, but at the end of the day, we’re twins who share the same blood. And for VAYONN, even if we take on a completely different concept a few years from now, I hope the spirit of youth and the passion we had when we first started will always remain somewhere within us. I hope that when people think of youth, they’ll remember VAYONN.

TERU Since KEYVITUP and VAYONN started around the same time, I think it’s still difficult for fans and the public to know each member’s personality and individual charm in depth. But a few years from now, I hope people will be able to clearly recognize each member for who they are and what makes them unique. For now, I hope people remember us as KEYVITUP and VAYONN as groups, but in the years to come, I hope they’ll remember each member individually and know each of our personalities and characters.