Three mini-albums, a single-album, and one global tour in, 8TURN still approach every chapter like it’s the first. The rising boy group — known for their offbeat edge and performance-first charisma — just wrapped their first U.S. tour, and they’re already back in motion: heading into the European leg and doubling down on the spirit that’s defined them since debut.

For a group still coming into their own, 8TURN already show signs of a clear identity — one shaped not just by sound or visuals, but by how hands-on they are behind the scenes. From co-writing lyrics to contributing to album design, their team-first approach stands out in an industry where not every artist gets a seat at the table early on. Still, they’re not forcing maturity. Their latest single, LEGGO, leans into the uncertainty of youth with bold abandon. “It’s about accepting who I am, whether or not I have something that makes me stand out,” says leader JAE YUN.

You guys just wrapped your America tour, so congratulations on that. How did it feel to be on stage in America, and what moments stuck with you the most from this tour?

JAE YUN This was our first time going overseas for a long period of time as a team. We were really anxious and worried about how everything would turn out. But to our surprise, we actually got along really well. There wasn’t any fighting or anything like that — everything went smoothly.

One of the moments that stuck with us the most was the energy from our U.S. TURNINGs. I mean, every country has its own specific vibe and energy, but the U.S. TURNINGs really stood out. The energy, the enthusiasm — it felt like we were partying together. It wasn’t just a typical fan interaction; it felt like we were all in that venue together, dancing and singing as one.

Before you go out on stage and you’re met with all that energy and enthusiasm, when you’re backstage preparing, do you have any rituals or a mindset before you hit the stage?

YOON SUNG I usually go to the bathroom, and there’s a mirror in there. I take a moment to look at myself, collect my thoughts, and that’s when I feel ready to go on stage.

HAE MIN Rather than just personal habits, we also have a team ritual. We always gather together and listen to some words from our leader, JAE YUN. It’s like a brief conversation before going on stage, and we always say “hwaiting” to each other — which means “good luck.” It’s a way to encourage each other right before we perform.

So the leader has a big role in making sure you guys feel good before you go on stage?

YUN GYU Yeah, it’s really important. We gather together and have to get ourselves into the right mindset — we need to prepare our hearts to go on stage and give the kind of performance our fans deserve. So having that moment is important.

And ever since we debuted, JAE YUN has always been the one to encourage us before we step on stage. We’ve gotten used to that, and now it’s like a trigger — it helps us switch into performance mode.

I know you said there wasn’t really any conflict on tour — but who’s the most organised, and who’s always running late?

YUN GYU Everybody in our team has their own pace, but it wasn’t really like anyone was particularly late or anything. We already know each other well enough to expect that someone might take a little longer to get ready than others. But there wasn’t any specific example or anything interesting like that.

JAE YUN Surprisingly enough, we do have certain members who are usually running late, and others who are perfectly fine. But on this tour, no one was really late for schedules or meet-ups. We had our stuff together and didn’t muck around. Everyone was really helpful, and I think that’s one of the key reasons we were able to finish the tour successfully without any trouble.

Touring is not easy — you’re going all across the country, and it’s just a tough thing to do. So how do you keep your energy and teamwork strong when you’re constantly on the move like that?

SEUNG HEON Every time we go abroad or prepare for a stage, we always practice really hard to deliver the best possible performance. And like we mentioned earlier, right before we go on stage, we always hear some encouraging words from our leader. The most important thing about our team is that we really trust each other, and we know we work well together. I think that’s how we keep our energy on track.

KYUNG MIN After every stage, after every concert, we’d gather with our performance director, the production managers, and everyone responsible for the tour — along with all the members — and talk about the show. Basically, we’d discuss what we could improve and what we could do better in the next show to bring the energy up and fix anything that might have felt lacking.

Doing that after every concert became kind of a routine for us, so over time, we just naturally got better by repeating that process every other day. I think that helped us a lot.

YUN GYU We also did live streams for our fans right after every concert, once we got back to the hotel. It was a way to close that chapter of the day — to wrap things up while connecting with our fans, and also with each other. It helped us end each day on a positive note.

What’s one thing you always bring with you on tour or when you travel? Like a comfort item or a lucky charm that helps you feel good?

MIN HO Because I have bleached hair, one item I absolutely need in my bag is a protein spray or a treatment to help me take care of my hair properly.

MYUNG HO For me, the most important thing on tour is keeping myself in good condition — and sleep is a big part of that. To make sure I get good rest, especially on planes, I always bring an eye mask so I can block everything out and sleep comfortably.

YOON SUNG Before we went to the U.S., my dad told me that a two-dollar bill is considered a lucky charm. So he gave me a few, and I kept them in my wallet the whole time while we were traveling.

Did you end up spending them?

YOON SUNG No, no — I just kept them in my wallet the whole time.

Do you think it helped your luck?

YOON SUNG Honestly, I really thought I’d get sick at some point, but I didn’t. So I guess it worked. Is there a similar kind of lucky item in the UK?

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In England, it’s more like if you find a penny on the ground, it’s considered a lucky penny — that’s the closest equivalent. So when you come to London, make sure to look for pennies on the floor.

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Let’s move on to “LEGGO,” your latest song. It felt very energetic — what kind of message were you hoping to send with this first single album?

JAE YUN For this comeback, we wanted to send a message that’s similar to what we were saying during our debut period. But on top of that, it’s about how, sometimes, you can feel anxious or start to doubt yourself when trying something new.

So this song is kind of like an anthem not just for others, but also for ourselves as a team. It’s about saying, instead of worrying or doubting, why don’t we just go for it? Just give it a shot and see where it takes us. So it’s a very energetic song.

I also picked up on this feeling of, “I don’t fit in, and I’m proud of that.” Where does that rebellious kind of spirit come from for 8TURN?

JAE YUN I think for us, it’s not just about saying, “Oh, I don’t fit in,” or “I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.” It’s more about accepting who I am — whether or not I have something that makes me stand out — and just being proud of that. It’s about enjoying life with the qualities I have, embracing who I am, and encouraging others to do the same. That’s the message we wanted to share.

YOON SUNG Confidence is definitely an important part of the song, but we also wanted to show a fresh image of 8TURN. We wanted to bring a different kind of vibe — not just for the fans who were waiting for our comeback, but also for people who might be discovering us for the first time. That’s how this song came to be.

8TURN feels like a group that doesn’t really follow trends. So do you feel like you have to try to stand out, or is that just naturally who you are?

JAE YUN I think in this day and age, personal identity — knowing who you are — is really important. But I don’t think we necessarily try to stand out on purpose. Of course, in this fast-moving K-pop industry, we do need to stand out. But more than that, we focus on staying true to ourselves — to whom each of us is as individuals, and to the colours we create together as the eight of us. We don’t try to be different. We just go with how we feel and what we think. If that ends up being different, that’s great. If not, it’s still us. That’s what we focus on.

Where do you turn to recharge or reset when things start to feel overwhelming?

YUN GYU For me, sleep really helps a lot. Whether I’m feeling stressed, worried, or just not able to focus properly, being able to sleep and let my brain rest for a bit really helps. When I wake up, I feel refreshed not just physically, but mentally too. It gives me a new perspective.

KYUNG MIN I’d say listening to my favourite music. I get a lot of energy from that. Just listening to songs I love and reading lyrics that calm me down really helps. I believe music has so much power in so many ways — it’s amazing how it works like that. That’s how I recharge.

MYUNG HO For me, it’s going on stage. I’m the type who gets really nervous before a performance. But once I’m on stage and I see our fans — the way they’re looking at us, the way they cheer and scream — all of that stress just disappears. It gives me energy. That’s how I recharge when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

What’s one thing that TURNINGS might not know yet about your next chapter? What should they start getting ready for?

SEUNG HEON Up until now, we’ve had a few comebacks and shared a lot with our fans. But I still think there’s so much of 8TURN that people haven’t seen yet. We have a lot in store for both our fans and the general public. We want to show ourselves in many different ways, through all kinds of performances and genres of music. Even though we’re now in our third year, I still feel like this is just the beginning. So if you’re a fan, or even if you’re just getting to know us, there’s a lot more coming. Please look forward to it.

MYUNG HO You know, we are getting older — and with age, you’re naturally going to have more experiences as an adult. Different things are going to happen in life. So I think our fans can really look forward to us being able to share those real-life experiences through our music. I think that’s something they can definitely expect from us in the future.