JEONGHAN and JOSHUA of SEVENTEEN have announced that they will return as a sub-unit this October, under the name JxJ.

A short teaser clip was shared on SEVENTEEN’s social media channels, introducing the pair’s logo and a textured, monochromatic concept. Within the shifting grey hues, indented and inverted floral patterns can be made out before they form the letter ‘J’ and flicker away in sequence.

JxJ will make their debut on October 19, 2026 with the first mini album DREAMSCAPE. The official Weverse announcement from PLEDIS Entertainment describes the album as referring to a “landscape of dreams,” within which it will “explore two dimensions of dreaming: unconscious fantasies, and ideals we aspire to make real.” It also notes a focus on the senses and blurring of reality.

With this concept, JxJ presents a unique identity that distinguishes them from the series of SEVENTEEN’s unit projects seen so far. Since 2024, fans have seen several member combinations and narratives: the urban legend storyline of JxW’s This Man, the balanced variety of same-age duo HxW’s BEAM, the bright hip-hop approach of CxM’s HYPE VIBES, the emotional ballad-driven DxS project Serenade, and the electric, experimental edge of the self-titled EP from V8. DINO, SEVENTEEN’s youngest member, also returned as a solo artist with a title track led by his comedic persona Picheolin.

Floral, shifting imagery has not yet been seen in any of these releases, though there does seem to be an intentional connection to JEONGHAN’s previous sub-unit project with JxW through the involvement of dreams. This Man referred to a mysterious individual who appeared in dreams across the world. Now, as the first member of SEVENTEEN to return to the military and take part in this series for a second time, it appears that the new pair JxJ are paying homage to the original sub-unit using their narrative.

JEONGHAN was the first of SEVENTEEN to go on hiatus and complete his mandatory military service period, being discharged from the military in June 2026. Since then, the remaining eligible members of the group have all announced their enlistments; DINO and SEUNGKWAN, the last to go, will enlist as part of the military band on October 26. Sub-unit projects were designed to pull fans through the period, when a full group comeback was not possible. Due to the staggered enlistment dates, JEONGHAN’s return to music has coincided with the departure of other members and ensures there is no complete gap in content – responding to initial worries from fans after their final group performance in April.

Of the group’s thirteen members, the JxJ sub-unit leaves JUN as the only member not to participate in a solo or unit release as part of this timeline. In recent weeks, it has been announced that JUN has been cast in lead roles in several Chinese dramas, suggesting that his focus instead lies on a budding acting career in his home country. However, he has also released solo music in the past – the latest being PSYCHO in 2023 – so the possibility still remains.

The JxJ sub-unit will debut on October 19 with DREAMSCAPE. Pre-orders are available now.