Boy band Winner says it’s at its best in the summertime, so it came back with a summery love song for its fourth EP “Holiday,” just in time for the season.

The team of four — Seungyoon, Jinu, Hoony and Mino — sat down to introduce “Holiday” at a press conference held at the YG Entertainment building in western Seoul’s Hapjeong on Tuesday. This is the band’s first comeback as a complete team of four in two years and three months since its third full-length album “Remember” (2020).

While the EP dropped digitally on the same day, the physical albums are to be released on Friday. After its digital release, “Holiday” topped the iTunes’ Worldwide Top Album charts in 18 countries. The lead track “ I Love U” reached No. 1 on music streaming website Bugs Music instantly upon release, and the other tracks are quickly climbing up domestic music charts.

“I Love U” is a lighthearted number that features fun vocals in a high tone professing one’s love.

“It’s the ninth year of our career, but I didn’t want that to mean we have to start making music that’s all serious,” Seungyoon said during the press conference. “No matter how long our career has been, I think we’re the coolest when we make lighthearted, bright music that can make people happy.”

Over the two-year hiatus, members Jinu and Hoony finished their mandatory military service. They thanked the other two members, who had been diligently preparing for Winner’s next release in the meantime.

“A lot of things were so well-prepared when we came back, so we were able to make a swift comeback,” said Jinu. “I want to say thank you [to Seungyoon and Mino]. I really wanted to come back in front of the public, but the time off was also personally a great opportunity for me to self-reflect and organize my thoughts.”

Although Seungyoon and Mino have yet to enlist for their service, the members say they are not too concerned about another military-induced hiatus.

“I don’t want fans to be too worried about that,” Seungyoon said. “While Hoony and Jinu were away, Mino and I were working really hard. I know our fans must’ve felt like it was a long wait, but it actually wasn’t that long. But I’m happy to be back as a complete team. It feels different every time we come back together.”

Winner is known for its signature music style dubbed “Winner pop,” represented by refreshing sounds and catchy melodies, well-demonstrated in its 2017 love song “ Really Really.” The band is also known for its songs “Empty” (2014), “Baby Baby” (2016), “Island" (2017) and “Ah Yeah” (2019).

The group formed in 2013 through the Mnet survival show “Win: Who is Next?” It debuted in 2014 with the show’s five winners, including former member Taehyun who left the team in 2016. The remaining four renewed their contracts with YG Entertainment last year, sticking together to open the second act of Winner’s career.

“To me, Winner members are my comrades-in-arms,” said Hoony, laughing. “In this battlefield [of K-pop] with a pouring rain of bullets, we’re a team and we stick together until the very end.”

Winner has been an ideal example of balancing group endeavors with solo pursuits. Member Mino is especially known to be active in numerous fields, ranging from television shows to contemporary art.

On the small screen, he is best known for his appearance as a regular on the tvN entertainment show “New Journey to the West” since 2017. He will also make his first silver screen appearance through Netflix’s upcoming original film “Seoul Vibe,” reportedly slated to hit the streaming platform within this year.

He is also active as a contemporary painter under the alias Ohnim, along with Seungyoon, who also pursues art projects under the alias Yooyeon. Their artworks and photography were displayed at London’s Saatchi Gallery in 2021, as well as in other contemporary art exhibitions.


Mino (Song Min-ho)

Date of birth: March 30, 1993
Zodiac sign: Aries
Birthplace: Yongin, Gyeonggi
Debut: August 2014 as a member of boy band Winner
Agency: YG Entertainment

Mino debuted in 2014 as a member of boy band Winner, which formed the previous year through Mnet’s survival show “Win: Who is Next?” The boy band — currently consisting of members Seungyoon, Jinu, Hoony and Mino — is best known for hit songs including “Empty” (2014), “Really Really” (2017), “Island" (2017) and “Ah Yeah” (2019). Mino has also been active as a television personality, most notably on the tvN entertainment show “New Journey to the West” since 2017. He uses the alias Ohnim for his contemporary art projects. The singer is set to make his acting debut sometime this year through Netflix’s upcoming original film “Seoul Vibe.”

This information was confirmed by YG Entertainment on July 5, 2022.

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