8TURN Keep Moving

Eight members, three continents, one mission: to keep growing, wherever the stage takes them. Fresh off their first U.S. tour, 8TURN are already gearing up for the next round — a Europe debut that marks not just a new stop, but a new phase. Known for their kinetic performances and unpredictable charm, the group – MYUNG HO, JAE YUN, MIN HO, YOON SUNG, HAE MIN, KYUNG MIN, YUN GYU, SEUNG HEON – has built a steady buzz without losing their scrappy, all-in energy. And if the last few months have taught them anything, it’s that each city brings out a different side of them.

Backstage, 8TURN are just as hands-on. From songwriting credits to album design, they’re not waiting around for creative control anymore but are claiming it – and their latest single “LEGGO” feels like a snapshot of that mindset: a little raw, a little reckless, but fully self-owned.

In the middle of preparations for their then-pending Europe tour, we caught up with the eight members of 8TURN to discuss life on the road, how they’re becoming more hands-on as artists, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Let’s talk about the Europe tour – I know that’s what you’re preparing for right now. I’m really curious how you’re preparing for this tour, and also what you’re most excited to discover about European TURNINGs.

MYUNG HO When we went to the U.S., we visited so many cities, and in every single one, the energy and the vibe were completely different. So personally, I’m really curious to see what kind of energy European TURNINGs will bring – especially since we’ll be going to different countries too.

KYUNG MIN This is actually going to be our first time in Europe since debuting, so I’m really curious to see how our fans over there will react to us. It’s something we’ve been looking forward to.

MIN HO While we were on the U.S. tour, there were definitely some parts where we felt like we could improve. So I’m excited to take everything we’ve learned and push our performance even further in Europe. I’m really looking forward to that.

MYUNG HO It’ll also be my first time ever in Europe – personally. When we were in the U.S., I saw so many beautiful landscapes and buildings, there was just so much to take in and admire. So I’m really curious to see what kind of beauty Europe holds. I’m very excited for that.

That actually leads really nicely into the next question I had – are there any cities in Europe you’re hoping to visit between shows, or something off-stage that you think might inspire you or help you feel more present?

KYUNG MIN For me, I really love the movie Ratatouille. The movie itself is great, but the way it visually shows Paris was just so beautiful. And there are so many other movies set in Paris too. So I’m really excited to see the city in real life. I feel like I’ll really be able to heal there – it’s a city I’ve been wanting to experience for a long time.

HAE MIN I really love football, so I’m especially excited to visit London. If we get the chance, I’d really love to tour some of the stadiums there. And aside from that, I’m also looking forward to seeing nature – the kind that hasn’t been touched by people. I’m really excited about that part too.

YUN GYU I’m not thinking about one specific city, because I’ve just heard that Europe in general is such a beautiful continent. So I’m excited to simply walk down the streets and take in everything around me – to appreciate the scenery and keep those images in my mind. I feel like it’ll inspire me in so many ways… but I guess I’ll have to see it for myself first.

Europe really is beautiful – there’s so much natural scenery and stunning landscape architecture. I think you’re definitely going to enjoy it here. Since you’ve now performed for fans around the world, I wanted to ask: how do you think TURNINGs differ in different places, and in what ways do they feel the same?

YOON SUNG Right before we went to the U.S., we actually had a fan meeting in Japan. One thing about Japanese fans is that they’re really great at expressing their gratitude to us – it’s very heartfelt. Then right after, we went to the U.S., and the biggest difference I noticed was that our U.S. TURNINGs were so willing to share their energy with us. It felt like we became one in that moment. The energy was just something we all shared together, and that was the biggest contrast I felt.

MYUNG HO For me, one of the most fascinating things during the U.S. tour was seeing people actually dance with us. They weren’t just singing along – they were dancing to our choreographies, which is something we don’t really see as much in Korea. That image of fans dancing along has definitely become a very special memory for me that I will cherish.

Do you have any expectations for European fans? What do you think they might be like?

JAE YUN It feels a little strange to generalise by saying “Europeans,” but I think they’ll have that same kind of enthusiastic, outgoing energy. Europe has such a deep-rooted music culture too, so I imagine the vibe will be different from the U.S. tour, but I think the energy level will be just as high. We’ll have to wait and see!

What’s something you discovered about your fans through touring that really surprised you?

KYUNG MIN Something that really surprised me during our U.S. tour was that, of course, there were so many TURNINGs there – but there were also a lot of casual K-pop fans and even just music lovers who came to our shows. I didn’t expect that. It made me realise that I really have to give it my all on stage, because I want to turn those people into TURNINGs too. I have to make them fans through the performance.

MIN HO What really caught me off guard were the chants. The cheering was so loud, and honestly, some fans were even barking! [laughs] But I could feel the love through it. It was incredible to hear such a unique and passionate kind of support. It made me realise how many different ways fans can express their love when we’re on stage.

KYUNG MIN And the U.S. is such a huge country – we did shows in so many cities – but what amazed me most was the number of people who travelled for hours just to see us. That kind of dedication is unbelievable. We’re all really grateful to those fans for making the journey just to be part of our show.

It must feel like a lot of pressure when you realise things like that. So the next question might be a little easier – after Europe, where would you want to tour next?

MIN HO I would like to do an Asian tour and also a Latin America tour. We haven't really gone to those places yet. And I would really love to meet our fans that are in those regions and show them our performance and basically meet the fans that live so far away, but they still love us and support us.

JAE YUN Oceania. Since I am from New Zealand, I want to be able to tour where I was raised and possibly meet my friends again.

MYUNG HO We actually went to Japan quite a lot of times, but we never actually went there as part of our tour. And I would love to have a Japanese tour where we go to different cities in Japan because I really do believe that the vibe and the energy in each of those cities would be different. So this is definitely on my bucket list.

I’m sure you’ll get to go to all of those places. Let’s also discuss your music and your latest release, “LEGGO” – what would you say is your favourite lyric from it, and why does it stand out to you?

SEUNG HEON It’s actually a lyric from my part. It goes, “Let go of your worries, worries, worries.” In Korean, the word we use, “내려놔”, is more like “put it down” or “lay it down,” which gives it a deeper meaning. And in the choreography, we do this motion with our hands like we’re physically pushing something down. That gesture really amplifies the emotion behind the lyric. It’s a moment where the message really comes through, both visually and musically.

MYUNG HO I’d choose SEUNG HEON’s part too. But during the tour, my favourite changed to YOON SUNG’s bridge part [where he sings “It's my life, 괜찮아 / 그 누가 뭐라 하던 change it, oh”]. At every soundcheck, every rehearsal, he would sing that part without fail. I heard it so many times that it just grew on me and it kind of brainwashed me into liking it the most.

This question actually sparked a lot more debate than I expected, but I’m happy about that. It was really nice to see you all enjoying that shared memory of the song. Something else that came up was the choreography. It has such a fun, free vibe, so I wanted to ask: what was the hardest part to nail, and what movement feels the best when you’re performing it on stage?

YUN GYU For me, the hardest part was definitely the first chorus. There are so many details, and every member is doing a different move. It was tough to match everything up. But my favourite part to perform is the last chorus. There’s a moment where we all come together and bring our hands in, almost like a cheer. By then, you’re tired – it’s been two and a half minutes of performing – but as soon as our hands touch, it’s like, “OK, yeah, let’s go. Let’s push through to the end.”

JAE YUN Compared to our other performances, the choreography for “LEGGO” is more laid-back and chill overall. Sure, it still has detailed parts, but instead of going all out and giving everything in a high-energy way, we had to focus on keeping a consistent dynamic. We needed to stay controlled and hold that tension for the full three minutes. That was a totally different mindset for us while preparing for this comeback, and I think that challenge helped us grow a lot.

And then, since there are a few lyrics that talk about your visuals and style, I wanted to ask: how do you express your identity through what you wear?

MYUNG HO I think it was from our second album – that’s when I started wearing a lot of crop tops. At first, I was honestly a bit shy when I was told I’d be wearing one. I was like, “Oh, OK… I guess I’ll go with it.” But now, it’s become part of my identity. I feel really confident in it, and when I put it on, I think, “Let’s show them what I can do.” It’s definitely something that represents me now.

KYUNG MIN For me, my style really depends on the day. Sometimes I wear all black and go for a cool, hip-hop vibe. Other days I’ll wear a button-up and look super polite – almost like a student. There’s not much in-between. It really depends on the day. “LEGGO” definitely influenced the way I think about fashion, too. It pushed me to try different things.

JAE YUN It’s a pretty straightforward song. [laughs]

That question ended up sparking more conversation than I expected, too – it’s interesting how the “easier” ones sometimes lead to the deepest reflections. But it ties nicely into my final question. Now that you’ve had a few comebacks and grown a lot as a group, how would each of you describe how you’ve changed since debut?

JAE YUN I think over the past three years, we’ve really matured and found our true identity as ourselves. Each of us now knows what we like and don’t like – whether that’s in fashion, music, or just how we work creatively. Road to Kingdom was a turning point. It helped us get hands-on with the production side of things. And that continued with “LEGGO” – YOON SUNG and I were involved in everything from the music and lyrics to the physical album and even how we planned our promotions. We’ve become more serious and more deeply involved in the process, and I think we’ve also just fallen more in love with K-pop itself. We started as kids who loved singing and dancing, but now we see ourselves as artists. That shift in perspective has shaped who we are.

SEUNG HEON Just like JAE YUN said, when we first debuted, we were mostly performing what the company prepared for us – which is normal for a new group. But starting with our third album, and again with “LEGGO,” we’ve been a lot more involved in the production process. We’re really putting effort into writing lyrics, and some members are also contributing to design and other creative decisions. As a rapper, I write my own lyrics, and while that can be challenging, it’s also really rewarding. Performing a song with words I wrote myself feels meaningful. I’m grateful we have that opportunity now, and I think it clearly shows how much we’ve grown.

KYUNG MIN Looking at 2025, there’s a lot ahead of us. We just wrapped up our U.S. tour, and now we’re preparing for our European tour – we’re going to visit so many different countries and meet fans all over the world. We’re ready to receive that energy and give it back on stage.

YUN GYU We’ll definitely come back with even more great music. We really hope you’ll look forward to it.