Boy band CIX made a 180-degree turn for its latest EP “'OK' Episode 1 : OK Not,” which dropped on Monday. The lead track “458,” inspired by the Ferrari 458 sports car, sings about racing at full speed in search of what love truly means.

“458” topped local music streaming platform Bugs Music’s real-time charts immediately upon release, as well as the iTunes K-pop charts in the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand as of Tuesday. It ranked at No. 2 on Indonesia's iTunes K-pop chart and No. 3 on Brazil’s.

The band’s new racer theme stands in stark contrast to its previous boyish image. Inspired by a bright red sports car, the aesthetics for this EP is filled with dramatic red lights and masculine racing suits. The music style is also a turn from the breezy tunes CIX has been known for — “458,” an electro hip-hop number, has a darker atmosphere and features a piercing electric guitar riff like the buzz of a sports car.

“Maturity” was the keyword that the five members — BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, Baejinyoung, and Hyunsuk — wanted to emphasize through this release and the band’s transformation. The lead track sings about love, but also coveys a mix of the deeper and darker emotions caused by it, such as pain, obsession and a sense of being lost.

“We wanted to express the keywords ‘instinct’ and ‘love’ in many different ways,” said the band’s leader BX during Monday’s showcase for the new EP. “There are many kinds of love, as well as many emotions within love, including a sense of emptiness. It contains a lot of mature emotions.”

To those who first came across member Baejinyoung, officially spelled with all capital letters, as the teen heartthrob on the second season of Mnet’s hit audition show “Produce 101” (2017), the transformation is especially striking. At the age of 17, Bae finished the show as one of the 11 finalists who went on to form boy band Wanna One.

With a built-in fandom from the sensational audition show even before it officially debuted, Wanna One was the first act to make its debut performance at western Seoul’s Gocheok Sky Dome, one of Korea’s largest venues.

Wanna One, formed as a project group of the show, released hits such as “Energetic” (2017), “Burn It Up” (2017) and “Boomerang” (2018) before disbanding in early 2019. It had a special reunion last December at the 2021 MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards), much to the delight of fans who had been longing to see them together on stage again.

After the project group disbanded, Baejinyoung made his solo debut with the single “Hard To Say Goodbye” in April 2019. The ballad number showcased Baejinyoung’s ability as a vocalist, but his time to shine as a dancer was not over just yet.

He joined CIX, and just three months later, in July of that year, the boy band debuted with the EP “Hello Chapter 1. Hello, Stranger.” He is now the “center” member, main dancer and lead vocalist of the five-member act. CIX is best known for songs like “Movie Star” (2019), “Numb” (2019), “Jungle” (2020) and “Cinema” (2021).

The singer is constantly challenging himself with acting, both on the small and silver screens. His first performance as an actor was through Watcha’s web series “User Not Found” (2021-22), starring as the lead role Shin Yi-joon, a popular high school student with an attitude who is tender-hearted on the inside.

Baejinyoung is set to soon make his first big screen appearance through “The Antique Shop” (2022). The upcoming film is created by Thai and Singaporean production companies, and he will portray a lead role named Song alongside Singaporean stars Xu Bin and Damien Teo.


BAEJINYOUNG (Bae Jin-young)

Date of birth: May 10, 2000
Zodiac sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Seoul
Debut: August 2017 as a member of boy band Wanna One
Agency: Agency: C9 Entertainment

Baejinyoung debuted as a member of boy band Wanna One in 2017, a project group formed through Mnet’s hit audition show “Produce 101” (2017). Wanna One disbanded in early 2019 after releasing hits such as “Energetic” (2017) and “Boomerang” (2018), and Baejinyoung launched his solo career afterward. Baejinyoung joined boy band CIX, which debuted shortly after in July 2019 and is best known for songs “Numb” (2019) and “Cinema” (2021). He launched his acting career through a lead role in the 2021-22 web series “User Not Found” (2021-22) and is set to star as the lead in the upcoming Thai-Singaporean film “The Antique Shop” (2022).

This information was confirmed by C9 Entertainment on Aug. 22, 2022.

BY HALEY YANG [yang.hyunjoo@joongang.co.kr]