From co-producing tracks to fan moments, get to know the members of POW in this exclusive interview.

POW is back and brighter than ever. Since their debut in October 2023 with Favorite, the five-member group under GRID Entertainment—Yorch, Hyunbin, Jungbin, Dongyeon, and Hong—has steadily carved out their space in the K-pop scene with a colorful blend of youthful energy and honest emotion. With a growing discography that includes fan-favorite releases like “Valentine,” “Sunset,” and “Gimme Love,” POW continues to build a sound and identity all their own. Each project has further defined their signature “POW-teen” charm—an effortless mix of fun, sincerity, and vibrant storytelling.

Their latest release, ‘Being Tender,’ marks a refreshing turn for the group as they lean into a breezy summer sound inspired by European youth culture. Led by the title track “Being Tender,” co-produced by members Yorch and Jungbin, the album captures the vulnerability and warmth of opening your heart to someone. Across four tracks, from the reassuring “Reason” to the celebratory “Celebrate” and nostalgic closer “Fingerprint,” POW delivers a richer, more vibrant sonic palette while staying rooted in the authenticity that fans, POWER, have come to love. It’s a confident and comforting step forward for a group that continues to grow without losing their spark.

We caught up with POW to talk all things ‘Being Tender,’ from the emotions behind their latest title track to the little moments that made this comeback unforgettable. In this exclusive interview, the members open up about their creative process, their connection with fans, and what tenderness means to each of them. 

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Hello POW, thank you for interviewing with Hellokpop. To begin, please introduce yourself and something you’ve been doing lately that brings you happiness.

Yorch: Hello, I’m Yorch, the oldest and leader of POW. I recently got an air conditioner installed in my room, so these days, I’ve been sleeping so happily!

Hyunbin: Hi, I’m Hyunbin from POW. I recently discovered a great anime to watch, and it brought me a lot of happiness. I feel good when I discover something new to enjoy in a topic I’m interested in.

Jungbin: Hi, I’m Jungbin from POW. Lately, I’ve been really into watermelon juice. Not long ago, I bought a cup of watermelon juice on my way home after a late-night workout. I was so tired, but drinking that cold watermelon juice made me feel amazing. It made me really happy.

Dongyeon: Hi, I’m Dongyeon from POW. Recently, people have been telling me I’m funny — and it makes me proud because it’s something I’ve secretly wanted to hear more of!

Hong: Hi, I’m Hong, the youngest member of POW. It was my birthday recently, and my older members celebrated with me and gave me gifts. That made me really happy.

Congratulations on your third mini album, ‘Being Tender.’ What feeling or message do you want listeners to take away from this album?

Yorch: We wanted Being Tender to remind people that small acts of warmth can make a big difference. It’s about caring for one another and sharing warmth, even in the little things. I hope this album can be a gentle comfort for our fans on tiring days.

Dongyeon: I think being tender is about finding the right warmth when you deal with others. In this busy world, people easily get on edge. I hope our songs feel like a cool breeze on a summer day, helping everyone find that balance again.

This new album feels super fresh and full of summer vibes. If you had to describe the album’s sound using a color or a season, what would it be and why?

Yorch: I’d say this album is light yellow if it were a color, and definitely early summer if it were a season! It feels like warm sunshine with a soft breeze.

Hyunbin: Blue comes to mind for me because it feels bubbly, energetic, and free.

The title track “Being Tender” was co-produced by Yorch and Jungbin. Can you share how being involved in the production shaped the song and the album overall?

Yorch: While making “Being Tender,” I thought a lot about how we could convey the love our fans give us through POW’s unique energy. Jungbin and I talked a lot about how to make it more fun and sincere — that’s how this song was born. I think the final version feels even more energetic than the demo.

Jungbin: Back when we first debuted, if we got a demo, we’d stick to what we practiced. But now, I feel like I understand more about what makes fans enjoy our music. I focused on bringing that out as much as possible while arranging this track. I added parts that let us play and interact with fans on stage.

“Being Tender” explores the art of being gentle with someone special. Can you share what that means to you personally?

Yorch: The theme “Being Tender” holds a very special meaning for us. It reminds us to understand and care for each other and that even small actions can warm someone’s heart.

Hyunbin: I’m not usually good at expressing or empathizing with people I care about. However, the theme “Being Tender” provided me with some insight into how to treat the people I love, so it holds a great deal of meaning for me.

Dongyeon: I thought a lot about tenderness while preparing for this. I believe that when you act tenderly just for the sake of it, it can just feel like simple kindness. True tenderness is something deeper — something that comes from the heart even before you act.

What was the most challenging or memorable part while filming the music video for “Being Tender?”

Hyunbin: There was a scene where I was doing pottery for the first time. While shooting, my hands got covered in clay and turned a really pale white — even after washing with water, they stayed pale until the entire shoot was done.

Dongyeon: I believe you need to understand someone to get close to them, and to do that, you need similar experiences. So, I tried eating the cat food on set to understand the cat better. It tasted really weird! I learned that next time I have a pet, I should give them tuna or meat instead.

Hong: There’s a really cute story. During the shoot, Yorch kept falling asleep on the hammock prop whenever we had a break. He looked so cute sleeping there!

Compared to your previous releases, how do you balance showing your youthful energy while also growing as artists with this album?

Yorch: We always value our youthful energy and vibe. With this album, we wanted to keep that but also deepen our music and how we express it. We tried new things, mixed in different genres, and focused on showing our unique color. We really worked on expressing our individual voices and personalities even more.

Dongyeon: I feel the same. This album is all about our youth. When we debuted, our youth was more lively and fearless, like teenagers. Now, it feels more mature — still youthful, but with more delicate thoughts about tenderness, and a bit of clumsy honesty.

The track “Reason” sends a message of unwavering support to your fans. How important is the relationship between POW and your fans when you create music?

Hyunbin: There’s a line in “Reason” that says, “You’re my muse, the reason I sing.” That’s exactly what our fans mean to us, we sing because of our POWER fans.

Hong: “Reason” is about how you’re the reason I sing. There’s a line that says, “You’re why I hold on, why I sing.” My reason for singing is truly our fan. I would say “Reason” is a fan song.

Which song on the album do you think best shows your own personalities and talents?

Yorch: I think “Celebrate” suits me well. When I recorded it, I really understood how to express my tone. Plus, I love hip-hop and R&B songs, so this one feels special to me.

Hyunbin: I’d pick “Fingerprint.” It has a fun, free vibe and meaningful lyrics. They really capture what we want to show and say to our fans. So I think my charm delivers naturally in that song.

Jungbin: I think “Fingerprint” suits me too. I feel most like myself when I’m free and natural, and this song feels bright and full of freedom on stage.

Dongyeon: I think POW is always an energetic team, so I believe “Fingerprint,” with its bright mood, really shows off our energy.

Hong: In “Reason,” there’s a rap verse in the bridge. I love how my unique nasal tone comes through there, so I’m really happy with it.

What’s the one thing about this album that you’re low-key super proud of?

Yorch: I’m proud because I didn’t just write lyrics. I also helped with the arrangement. It feels good to see my role expanding in POW’s music.

Dongyeon: While working on the songs, there were parts I really wanted to do,  like the bridge in “Celebrate” and the second verse in “Fingerprint.” And, I got to do the parts I wanted!

Who in the group gives the best advice—and what’s the best advice they’ve given?

Yorch: I’d say Dongyeon. When everyone was exhausted, he said, “I know it’s hard, but if we don’t do it now, we’ll regret it later.” That really stuck with me.

Hyunbin: For me, it’s Yorch. He doesn’t necessarily give advice, but when he’s struggling. He never shows it once we start filming. I’ve learned a lot from his professional attitude.

Jungbin: I think it’s Yorch too. Earlier this year, I felt burned out. He listened to me and really comforted me. I had already been working through it in my head, but his support helped a great deal.

Dongyeon: I’d say Hong. He doesn’t give heavy advice, but has a way of making things I feel burdened by seem like no big deal.

Hong: When I was a trainee, I hit a slump. Dongyeon told me to always try things confidently. I still think about that whenever I feel stuck.

What’s something small or surprising that always makes you laugh during practice or backstage before a performance?

Yorch: It’s hard to pick just one moment, but being together and telling funny stories always makes us laugh. Usually, Jungbin or Hyunbin sets the mood.

Hyunbin: We talk a lot when we’re together. Even small stories can be funny because everyone knows how to make them fun, so I end up laughing a lot with them.

Jungbin: It’s not like we do something specific to be funny, but being together, we just end up laughing at random moments. Like suddenly playing baseball in the practice room, or Dongyeon’s random dad jokes. Those moments crack us up.

Dongyeon: We laugh a lot, but recently, when we were preparing for our preview stage, Jungbin suggested an idea where the music would pause, and we’d all jump and pose mid-air. His pose and expression were so funny that everyone burst out laughing.

Hong: Hyunbin and Jungbin usually joke around the most. They’re like an energy boost when we’re feeling tired.

How do you usually prepare mentally or emotionally before going on stage? Any personal routines or group traditions?

Yorch: I write the word “nervous” on my hand, then pretend to swallow it. It helps me calm down. As a group, we usually put our hands together and shout, “Fighting!”

Hyunbin: Right before going on stage, I stomp my feet really hard. It’s more like a superstition than a routine, but it helps me shake off nerves. It helps me feel freer on stage.

Jungbin: I always drink coffee right before I go on stage. There’s no big reason, but I feel uneasy if I don’t!

Dongyeon: We gather our hands around Yorch’s chant, then lift them up together.

Hong: Before every show, we tell each other, “Let’s just have fun!” and shout, “Fighting!”

What’s one dream or goal you’re all excited to chase next after this album?

Yorch: We didn’t start out with everything guaranteed for success, but I believe we’re steadily climbing step by step. Even if we’re slow or wander sometimes, we’re always moving forward. I hope our fans can be with us on that journey. I want POW to keep growing and always stay by your side.

Dongyeon: When I think about POW as a team, honestly, I don’t think we started with everything in place. So maybe our starting line was behind others. We stumbled and even wandered at times. Maybe we still do. But even if we’re slow, we want to keep moving forward, one step at a time. We want to be a team that grows every day. 

Lastly, please leave a message for your fans reading this.

Yorch: Thank you so much for always cheering for us and staying by our side. And thank you for waiting for this comeback. We’ll continue to work hard to show you our best. Please love our album, ‘Being Tender!’

Hyunbin: Thank you to everyone who supports us. We’re still learning, but we’re growing bit by bit because of you. We’ll work hard to make you proud.

Jungbin: Thank you for sharing your youth with us. We have so many stories left to tell with you. So please stay tuned! 

Dongyeon: Please give lots of love to ‘Being Tender.’ To everyone who’s watched POW grow, we’ve come this far thanks to you. We’ll continue to share these warm moments with you. Thank you.

Hong: To all our fans who always support us, thank you so much. Please look forward to and love ‘Being Tender.’ We hope to become artists who can always give you strength. 

Listen to POW’s discography on Spotify or Apple Music.

Connect with the members of POW on Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube.

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*Special thanks to the members of POW and GRID Entertainment for this exclusive interview.

Image and Video Credits: GRID Entertainment