From left, K-pop boy band NouerA members Junpyo, Yuseop, Miraku, Fan, Lin, Gihyeon and Hyunjun pose during a press event marking the group's official debut at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, Wednesday. Courtesy of Nouer Entertainment
Making a bold entrance into the music scene, seven-member force NouerA is determined to lead a new era of K-pop, with each member bringing something unique to the stage.
Formed through the KBS2 global audition program "MAKEMATE1" (MA1), the boy band consists of Korean members Gihyeon, Junpyo, Hyunjun and Yuseop, alongside Chinese members Lin and Fan, and Japanese member Miraku.
The team name, NouerA, combines the French word "nouer," meaning "to connect," with "era," reflecting their ambition to bring in a new era while bridging different generations of K-pop.
On Wednesday, the group announced its ambitious debut with the release of its first mini-album, "Chapter: New is Now," during a media showcase at Blue Square Mastercard Hall, Yongsan District, Seoul.
Amid debut jitters, Miraku shared his excitement, saying, "It's surreal to be on stage for our debut showcase. This is such a huge goal for me, and I'm extremely nervous. But I'll cherish this moment for the rest of my life."
NouerA's Chinese member Lin poses during a press event marking the group's official debut at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, Wednesday. Courtesy of Nouer Entertainment
Lin reflected on the emotional moment when he was chosen for the final lineup on the show.
"When my name was called in the finals, I felt like all my hard work had paid off," he said. "That moment gave me a lot of confidence and courage. Today marks a new beginning, and it's a very important first step in my life. I'm determined to stay true to our goals as a team."
The group's debut mini-album "Chapter: New is Now" tells the story of young secret agents overcoming different missions in life. The album features six tracks, including the title track "N.I.N (New is Now)," along with "Sparkle," "Bring the Crunk," the prereleased track "MU," "Jet Stream" and "Pairing."
According to Junpyo, the title track "N.I.N (New is Now)" embodies the message of "this very moment being new," inviting listeners to "feel the energy of creating new possibilities."
After delivering a powerful performance of the lead single at the event, Junpyo commented on how their skills drastically improved during the competition.
"'MA1' was a show about ordinary boys achieving their idol dreams, so we started out with limited skills. But through training and mutual support, we grew together," he said.
Junpyo, a member of boy band NouerA, poses during a press event marking the group's official debut at Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District, Wednesday. Courtesy of Nouer Entertainment
Since its formation, NouerA has gained global traction with a successful Japanese fan meeting event and its participation in the "2024 Music Bank Global Festival in Japan." The group also enjoyed the predebut honor of attending the Billboard No. 1s Party 2024 in Los Angeles, where they walked the red carpet alongside famous pop stars.
Hyunjun described the experience as both a challenge and an honor.
"It was a lot of pressure, but an inspiring experience," he said. "Meeting various artists motivated me, and I now dream of performing on stage there one day. It made me even more determined to prove ourselves."
When asked about their role models, they mentioned senior K-pop groups SHINee and Seventeen.
Gihyeon said, "We want to be a team that feels approachable like our seniors, able to make people laugh but also show our cool side when we perform."
As they look to the future, NouerA shared its vision of unity.
"In the primary colors of light, when different colors come together, they form white," Junpyo explained. "That's how we see NouerA — many different aspects coming together to create something special. We want to become a team that leaves a lasting impression."