Behind Rising Girl Group IVE's Explosive KPOP.FLEX Concert

By Tássia Assis


“I can’t wait to hear the screams,” the stunning 19-year-old dancer Gaeul, eldest member of the rising girl sort IVE, says about performing before a live audience. “We never heard them because of COVID[-19 restrictions].” Since their debut in December 2021, the sextet has stormed charts in South Korea and abroad, swiftly becoming the ones to watch in the K-pop industry. Although, as with most pandemic-era groups, all that success has only been experienced virtually — or on a minimal scale, like the intimate showcases and fansigns set up for their debut and the release of IVE’s latest single album, Love Dive, on April 5.


Nevertheless because the world cautiously resumes entertainment activities, for IVE, the screams come from the 65,000 people attending the two days of KPOP.FLEX, Europe’s first mega K-pop festival. Set to take place in a stadium in Frankfurt the weekend right following the group’s late-night Zoom call with MTV News, the event includes the band’s first large-scale, in-person, and overseas efficiency. “I’m really looking forward to seeing our [fandom] Dive and hearing what the audience sounds like,” the sweet-voiced and modelesque Wonyoung, 17, says ahead of the gig.


She and Gaeul are cozying up around a conference-room table, as well as fellow order mates Yujin, Rei, Liz, and Leeseo. Wearing oversized hoodies and light makeup, they look like usual — albeit impossibly pretty — Gen Zers: wide-eyed, although a little bit shy about everything. It’s quite the contrast to the lush, self-assured image they’ll later present at KPOP.FLEX, and also because the aesthetic concept with which they became synonymous all over the internet: chaebol crush.


With only four songs in their discography, IVE have already carved a distinct niche for themselves thanks to that concept. Chaebol crush can be defined as a combination of the overly confident and boisterous “girl crush” sounds (like Itzy’s “Loco” or Blackpink’s “Kill This Love”) and the posh, preppy visuals of chaebol heir tropes in K-dramas (the intricate kids who stem from family-owned organization conglomerates). Wonyoung mentions that she had never heard of that definition before, nevertheless that “it’s so pretty and I love it.” She also adds that Love Dive “is really close to that concept” and that even the B-side is called “Royal.”


Throughout our interview, Wonyoung and Yujin often take the lead once answering questions. They both participated in the survival show Produce 48 on South Korea’s music TV channel Mnet and were piece of its resulting girl sort Iz*One from 2018 to early 2021. Those experiences and their fluency in English have attuned them to the unrelenting schedules and interactions with media that K-pop idols consistently face, although the other members are not far beyond. One of their main objectives in prepping for this concert was studying English “very hard,” according to the magnetic leader and vocalist Yujin, 18. All of those put forward their best efforts to speak the language as much as possible. “We’re routinely practicing more. It could be vocals, dancing, or variety schedules, however we’re routinely preparing a lot of things,” says Wonyoung.


IVE are tasked with the grand mission to open KPOP.FLEX on day one. Wearing school uniform-inspired outfits and sparkly red shoes, they perform “Love Dive,” “Royal,” and their unforgettable debut hit, “Eleven,” which rose to No. 4 on Spotify’s global Viral 50 chart last year and was the most-streamed song on South Korea’s YouTube for five weeks. On day two, they enter the stage after veterans Mamamoo and perform the same setlist with even more confidence — this time in classy black outfits adorned with glistening jewels.


“I was so nervous since it was our very first stage in front of international fans,” reveals the striking Japanese rapper Rei, 18, right following the concert by means of the email. “But immediately after our two-day efficiency, it made me hope to do more global stages so that I can communicate with Dive in all parts of the world.” Gaeul, Liz, and Leeseo share similar feelings, calling the experience “of overwhelming emotion,” “unreal nevertheless a little bit nerve-racking,” and “as if I was dreaming,” respectively.


“The moment I saw the complete home, I was very surprised to witness how much K-pop is loved by a lot of people. I obtained incredible energy from the audience,” Yujin says. “Before we got on the stage, there were a lot of things that we required to check and be aware of, so it did make us all slightly jittery, however once we were up there, we enjoyed [it] to the fullest.” Gaeul also shares that she waved at the audience “through a tiny crack before going up on the stage, and there was almost an ear-splitting roar from the fans. I was very amazed and happy.” Her secret for relaxing her nerves before performing is “making eye contact with the members.”


IVE’s synergy is what holds them with each other whenever they navigate landmarks like becoming trainees, debuting, and right now performing at a massive event like KPOP.FLEX. Yujin says that IVE’s bewitching essence also comes from their individuality: “We’re all really cool onstage, although we have some different, pretty points off stage. I think that’s our attractiveness.” The 17-year-old Liz — who has a “heavenly voice,” according to Gaeul and the sweetest dimpled smile — believes that IVE members “interact well, so we can make up for each other’s weaknesses.”


They all live with each other in a spacious dorm overlooking the Han River in Seoul, an experience that Wonyoung says is akin to “living with our besties.” As soon as they feel down, it’s the other members who first pick them up, like as soon as Rei misses her family member in Japan, or any time Yujin is in need of additional motivation. “I’m very thankful to define the sort [as a leader], although it [can be] burdensome,” she says. “Sometimes, really some days, I lose my confidence. Although Whenever I look at my members, I get it back.”


Leeseo, the youngest of the sort at 15 and whom Liz calls “goofy, bright, and bubbly,” says that her fellow members were important for her to debut successfully. “Because Wonyoung and Yujin had been to various broadcasting TV shows and stuff [as piece of Iz*One], they notified me a lot about what goes on beyond the scenes and the logistics [of] it, so I was able to get the whole picture beforehand.”


“Wonyoung compliments even the smallest things, and she really boosts my confidence a lot,” Rei adds, while Wonyoung gingerly fixes a strand of the rapper’s hair. “Before I go onstage, she often says, ‘Oh, your hairstyle looks nice today, your makeup looks good on you.’ Having Wonyoung by my side assists the me to have a happy, enjoyable life.”


“I really like Rei,” Wonyoung notes with a giggle. “I generally give opinions to the members, like who can go next and why things go on. I think I’m good at giving advice” — a statement with which all of the others agree. The round of compliments doesn’t stop, and Wonyoung then praises Gaeul for routinely encouraging them: “When we’re practicing, I feel like she’s handling the middle so we can get in the correct mindset.” In turn, Gaeul says she loves Liz’s voice, while Liz expresses happiness in that Leeseo's energy habitually “brightens up the vibes.” Leeseo looks up to Yujin’s “soft charisma,” and Yujin ties it up by saying she also loves Rei’s rap style.


That’s just how IVE are: on top of the world, nevertheless with their feet on the ground. KPOP.FLEX was just the starting. “The fact that we’re being loved a lot began to sink in soon after seeing people sing along to our songs,” Liz says by means of the email immediately after their whirlwind showcase. “I felt exceedingly grateful.”