During their seventh year anniversary, K-pop group A.C.E will be embarking on a U.S. tour following the completion of each member’s mandatory military enlistments. While the youngest member, Kang Yuchan, was serving in the military, the other four members recorded their sixth mini album, My Girl : “My Choice,” which features “My Girl” as the title track. Although this recent album only features four members, all five will be touring together this summer. Ahead of the tour, members Park Junhee, Lee Donghun, Wow, Kim Byeongkwan, and Kang Yuchan shared their thoughts about their upcoming tour, latest album, and the group’s reunion as five members.
After being apart for some time due to their military enlistment, the group, who have long grown accustomed to being together, shared that they’ve become even more grateful for each other now. “I’ve come to appreciate the significance of small things and the value of our members,” said leader Junhee. “Before, we were always together, working, eating, and hardly spending any time apart. However, during the hiatus and being apart, I realized how precious those moments were. I was so happy to be back together, and I’m incredibly grateful that we can perform together again.” As Yuchan relies on his members to gain strength, having them by his side again brought him a lot of comfort: “Living far from my family makes it challenging to visit them often, but I’m grateful to have other family members here with me. I turn to my fellow members and share my concerns, getting their advice and support. They’ve faced similar life experiences, so I trust their insights and empathetic understanding. I consider them my ‘angels’ and rely on them greatly.”
Aside from the joy they felt coming back together as five members, the group had to learn how to adapt to the current idol culture after being inactive for some time. “It was quite challenging to adapt to the ‘challenge’ culture. During our early debut stages, this culture wasn’t prevalent,” started Junhee. “However, nowadays, when we visit the waiting areas at broadcasting media, artists are constantly filming challenge videos with members from other groups and artists, leaving little time for rest after performances or rehearsals. This new culture requires everyone to learn the dance moves of other groups, which was difficult for us to keep up with. Yet, our fans love seeing these videos, so we are quite satisfied with it.”
On the other hand, A.C.E also believes their hiatus helped them find a new sense of self-confidence. “Initially, going into the recording booth right after our debut was nerve-wracking for me. I worried about showcasing everything I’d prepared in the limited time, considering we were several members with time constraints,” said Byeongkwan. “Coming back from the military service, I’ve noticed a more relaxed approach to recording, which reflects positively in the final outcome. It’s a noticeable change I’ve experienced.”
Diving into the group’s involvement in the recording process for their recent album, My Girl: ‘My Choice,’ Donghun shared, “Each of us pre-recorded a guided version of the song, and we then put them together into one. Based on this, we divided lines and proceeded with recording. This method significantly enhanced the album’s quality, and it was an opportunity for all of us to grow even more.” Byeongkwan couldn’t help but chime in about how fun it was to record the album: “For the track, ‘Facetime,’ Wow composed the song, so we were calling him the producer, a nickname that he really liked. During the recording of the guided version, he would joke around saying that his version was the original, that he got the ‘original sound.’ It was very funny.” All but one track on the album has both a Korean and English version, and Byeongkwan revealed that the group recorded the English versions before the Korean counterparts: “When we later recorded the Korean version, we aimed to maintain the same vibe as in the English recording. Each member provided feedback on pronunciation while one member was in the recording booth, and we all listened and offered input. I believe this collaborative effort is evident in the final result.”
As the new album is dedicated to A.C.E’s fans, known as CHOICE, each song expresses the group’s love in a different way, and even the music video for title song “My Girl” was uniquely crafted with the fans in mind. For this comeback, the four participating members included a fifth element within the video: CHOICE performing the choreography. “I was initially concerned because we needed to teach the choreography to our fans, and they had to fully learn it within a week for the shoot. Despite the tight timeline, our fans dedicated themselves to practicing the choreography with utmost effort. I was pleasantly surprised by their commitment, and it was heartwarming to see the love they have for A.C.E. It was truly a touching moment for us,” started Junhee. “Our goal wasn’t to pioneer something new or set a trend; rather, we aimed to make this music video meaningful as it marked our comeback after a long hiatus, and we wanted to create lasting memories for our fans. The response has been incredibly gratifying, with our fans expressing immense joy and considering it a memorable gift. I’m simply thankful for all of this.”
When it comes to the new album, each member has a certain attachment to a different song, all for different reasons. For Wow, he picked a “Effortless,” as he finds it charming the more he listens to it. For Junhee, his recent favorite has been “Facetime,” mainly because of producer Wow. “[Wow] has gifted us with the opportunity to sing the song. I’m really thankful for that, and I wanted to compliment his songwriting skills.” As the only member who was unable to participate in the album, Yuchan is still incredibly supportive of the other members: “[My song choice would be “Angel,”] because the [live] performance was what really resonated with me when I saw the other members perform on stage.”
Back in the studio, the group revealed that their next album is in the works, with Yuchan joining for the full group’s participation. Wow shared, “All of us share a deep love for music, which has allowed us to maintain our unique style. This passion for music also emboldened us to explore new styles and genres, finding value in pushing our boundaries and remaining versatile. We are committed to continuing this journey of exploration and embracing new genres in the future.” Teasing the upcoming album, Byeongkwan shared a hint: “We’re aiming for a more intense and sexier vibe than “Under Cover” or “Savage.” It feels like it’ll be the best one yet.”
As 2024 marks the group’s seventh anniversary and activities as a full group, A.C.E took a moment to reflect on their career and goals. “I hope our fans see us as proof that with determination and effort, one can achieve their goals in life. We have started from the bottom and we had a goal to succeed which has brought us where we are now. I want our fans to feel inspired and believe in their own abilities, knowing that they too can accomplish great things with faith and determination,” said Junhee, like a true leader.
While the group has had their fair share of disagreements, Donghun shared that it’s what keeps the group close: “We’ve learned to prioritize understanding and thoughtful actions. Reflecting on past experiences has taught us the importance of clear communication and resolving misunderstandings promptly. Mutual respect and care have become our guiding principles for maintaining close relationships. With time and maturity, these values have become ingrained in our teamwork, which have brought a harmonious dynamic among us.” Byeongkwan also noted that the group has been growing alongside their fans: “We think that is the most important part of our journey.”
As the member who has returned most recently from military enlistment, Yuchan shared that his love for performing and his members has him looking forward to whatever comes next: “I’ve noticed that [A.C.E has] become more attractive. Watching the members promote ‘My Girl,’ I couldn’t help but think that everyone has become better looking overall. Additionally, emotions like our love for our fans and passion on stage remain constant and unwavering over time. I do expect the members to become even more handsome over time, because they are my angels.”
The 2024 A.C.E US TOUR [REWIND US] begins mid-June, and the group will perform in 14 different cities across the nation. Tickets are on sale now, and more information can be found here.
