The seven members shared details about their debut, intercultural coexistence, and the group’s dreams for the future.
NAZE (네이즈; ネイズ), formerly known as C9ROOKIES (씨나인루키즈), is a seven-member South Korean boy group under C9 Entertainment, consisting of Ato, Kaisei, Younki, Turn, Yuya, Kimkun, and Dohyeok. Before their official debut, the members participated in the drama DREAM STAGE, produced by TBS, C9 Entertainment, and CJ ENM Japan, which premiered on January 16, 2026.
In an exclusive interview with Entretetizei, the group spoke about their expectations for their official debut.
Entretetizei: What are your expectations for the group’s official debut?
Younki: We’re excited for our activities to move forward, but more than anything, we’re thrilled to share the many sides of ourselves as NAZE with everyone. I’m looking forward to the story the seven of us will create together as NAZE, and I hope people will recognize our various charms and colors.
E: Do the main themes of the mini-album somehow represent your journey?
Kimkun: When we thought about what element could show us in the most natural way, we felt that the title of our debut album, NAZE, would be the most authentic way to portray ourselves to many people. Our album carries the time NAZE is living through today, while also representing the journey ahead of us.
E: What has it been like living the dream of being in a K-pop group, and what responsibilities does that dream require?
Ato: It truly feels like a dream! It’s very exciting to finally experience the moment we’ve longed for so much, but of course there’s also pressure to show our best side in front of everyone. Still, I believe it’s our responsibility as K-pop idols to overcome that pressure and give back the love and support from our fans.
Yuya: We’re very grateful to be able to stand on the same stage as senior artists we once only watched through screens, and that motivates us to work even harder. At the same time, we always try to act responsibly and with humility, so that our ambition to do well never becomes overwhelming.
E: What has it been like being in a K-pop group with members from different countries? Do you think connecting with other cultures and customs has been fun? Have you faced any difficulties?
Turn: At first, there were some difficulties and challenges due to our different cultures and languages. But now, as we live and work together as a team, we’ve started communicating more through understanding each other’s hearts rather than through language, which has brought us closer like brothers and friends. Living together has brought both challenges and fun moments, but there are definitely more moments where we enjoy ourselves together. We also had different perspectives and opinions when it came to dance or music, but instead of seeing them as conflicts, we were able to build good synergy and find a better direction for ourselves by having positive conversations with one another.
E: Do you plan to come to Brazil someday?
Kaisei: Yes, of course. We’re ready to visit wherever our fans are waiting for us.
Dohyeok: I would love to experience Brazil’s passion in person!
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Text revised by Sabrina Borges de Moura
