8TURN Talks 90s Nostalgia, ‘LEGGO,’ and Upcoming World Tour in Exclusive Interview

From 90s vibes to graffiti-inspired concepts, 8TURN is ready to ‘LEGGO’ in this exclusive interview.

From their electrifying debut with 8TURNRISE to their genre-defying comebacks, 8TURN has proven themselves as one of K-pop’s most exciting new acts. Since stepping onto the scene in early 2023, the eight-member group has continued to push boundaries with their bold sound, high-energy performances, and captivating storytelling. With each release, they’ve built a reputation for versatility—whether it’s the cinematic intensity of Uncharted Drift or the sleek, throwback edge of Stunning, 8TURN consistently delivers fresh and dynamic music that keeps fans on their toes.

With the release of their first single album, LEGGO, 8TURN has embraced a rebellious, hip-hop-infused concept filled with 90s nostalgia. From graffiti-covered aesthetics to the mysterious “Yes, I’m a Fancy Kid” teaser featuring CCTV-style footage of the members tagging around the camera, this comeback marks an evolution in their artistry. As they prepare to kick off their first world tour, 8TURNRISE, later this month, the group is riding the momentum of LEGGO and cementing their place in the global K-pop scene.

This marks our third time sitting down with 8TURN, and with each interview, they’ve revealed new layers of their creativity and ambition. Fresh off their latest release, we had the chance to dive into their artistic process, the meaning behind LEGGO, and their excitement for what’s ahead. Join us as we reconnect with 8TURN to discuss their journey, growth, and what fans can expect next.

Hellokpop: Congratulations on your first single album, LEGGO! Please greet your fans and introduce the album in your own words.

JAE YUN: Hey, TURNING, it’s so nice to be able to greet you all here. This is our first proper album after our long journey on Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace. It was made possible thanks to all the lessons and experiences we gained through the survival program. In the process of finding our artistry and identity as a group, I believe “LEGGO” is the perfect song to open a new chapter for us. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.

YUN GYU: Hello, this is Yungyu from 8TURN!! Are you all enjoying our new single” LEGGO??” As you know, this album features the exciting song “LEGGO,” which has a strong old-school vibe, and the easy-listening track “I Want You Now,” perfect for any time you want to relax and listen.

HKP: The teasers for LEGGO have a bold, rebellious energy with a strong 90s hip-hop and graffiti aesthetic. Can you tell us about the meaning behind this concept? How does this reflect 8TURN’s identity?

MIN HO: With the LEGGO album and performances, our goal was to make sure that everyone who watched us could clearly feel the unique charm of each of the members!

SEUNG HEON: The message we’ve been talking about since our debut, “We will create our own path,” is reflected in LEGGO as well. This message is expressed through elements like graffiti and the Missing Fancy Kids poster, and you can also see it featured in many scenes of the music video!

HKP: How do you want LEGGO to define this chapter of 8TURN’s journey?

YOON SUNG: I believe LEGGO is the beginning of the second chapter for 8TURN! After debuting and releasing three albums in just one year, we’ve been finding our group’s identity. Through Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace, we challenged ourselves with various concepts and gained a lot of experience, and I think LEGGO is the new work that reflects all of that.

KYUNG MIN: I’d define this concept as one of the many things 8TURN can do! You might think energetic, youthful, and kitschy vibes are our style, but we’re confident that we can pull off other genres as well. There’s still so much of us that we haven’t shown yet, so please look forward to seeing even more of 8TURN’s unique charms in the future!

HKP: Can you share a memorable moment or challenge you faced while filming the music video?

MIN HO: When we were filming the music video, the weather was really cold, and we filmed for several days in a row, so it was definitely tough at times.

HAE MIN: I’m someone who’s not great with the cold, so the cold weather was definitely the hardest part for me! But I do remember feeling a bit better because one of the outfits was a padded jacket.

HKP: What are you most proud of with this new release, and why?

MIN HO: What I’m most proud of about this album is that the members have been able to showcase their unique charms even more than before. That’s something I’m really proud of.

KYUNG MIN: For LEGGO, I was given a bigger rap part for the first time. It was a bit challenging for me since I’m usually in the vocal position, but many TURNINGs told me I did really well and that they were surprised by it, which really boosted my confidence!

HKP: What’s something new or unexpected you learned about yourself or as a team while working on LEGGO?

JAE YUN: I worked with Yoonsung a lot for this album. The two of us were very hands-on, and it really made me realize how much passion we both have for what we do. Yes, the other members are passionate about everything, but Yoonsung and I share a deep passion not only for singing and dancing, but also for the behind-the-scenes work. Although it’s very hard and complex, we really enjoy being part of the aspects that aren’t directly seen by the audience, like the album cover, physical album design, the extra components that come with the album, character design, and all of that. Because of this, we can’t wait to work on the next album.

SEUNG HEON: I’ve definitely realized that we’re a team that knows how to enjoy the stage. “LEGGO” is such an exciting song, and when we perform it, we have so much fun and energy that we end up smiling the whole time. I’m really satisfied knowing that that energy is being passed on to our TURNINGs as well!

HKP: You start your first world tour, 8TURNRISE, later this month! How does preparing for a tour differ from preparing for a comeback?

YOON SUNG: Preparing for a comeback means we have to focus on perfecting every detail for a single song. However, for a tour, we have to perform dozens of songs back to back, so it’s more about physical endurance and energy to deliver a high-quality performance across many tracks, rather than focusing on the fine details. Also, while music shows focus more on how we look on camera, during a live performance, we focus on delivering good energy to the audience. Both have their own unique charms and excitement.

HAE MIN: Preparing for a tour seems to require even more work than preparing for a comeback! While we focus all our attention on one song during a comeback, for the tour, we pay extra attention to each song to show a different side of ourselves on each stage.

HKP: Can you share any spoilers of what fans can expect from the tour? Is there a particular song you’re excited to perform live?

MYUNG HO: The song I’m most excited to perform live is definitely “LEGGO!” Since it’s the most recent release, I’m really looking forward to it. You’ll also get to see a side of 8TURN that you haven’t seen before.

YOON SUNG: I still can’t forget the “TIC TAC” chant from the audience when we performed at KCON LA two years ago, so the song I’m most excited to perform is definitely our debut track “TIC TAC!” And just to give you a little spoiler, you’ll get to see a stage where the members’ charms explode in a way you’ve never seen before!!!

HKP: Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines before you step onstage?

HAE MIN: It’s about boosting your energy, keeping your stomach from getting hungry, and taking items out of your pockets.

YUN GYU: I have a habit of putting my hands together with the members to strengthen our unity before going on stage! Just before the performance starts, I usually take a deep breath and exhale.

HKP: What are three things you must bring with you on this tour?

MYUNG HO: Three things I must bring with me on this tour are sunglasses, wasabi, and vitamins.

SEUNG HEON: Whenever I have an important schedule like this, my parents always get me traditional Korean medicine to help boost my energy. Since we’ll be on tour for over a month this time, I’m planning to bring enough for the entire duration of the tour.

HKP: How would you describe the evolution of 8TURN since its debut?

JAE YUN: I think we’ve evolved from being this “well-manufactured” perfect K-pop group to an independent and autonomous one. I’m not saying that the whole “well-manufactured” thing is wrong—I mean, that’s one of the factors that makes K-pop so special. But from that, we decided to go down a different path and get more hands-on with the whole crafting process. As much as we may seem unorganized and a bit lacking, we’ve decided to embrace that as part of our journey in finding our true artistry. 

KYUNG MIN: I feel like I’ve gained more stage sense and confidence through the various performances I’ve experienced, and I’ve definitely grown a lot in terms of my skills!

HKP: Lastly, please leave a message for your fans.

MYUNG HO: TURNING! Thank you so much for always supporting and loving us. We’ll continue to repay that love with amazing performances, so please keep loving us as always!

JAE YUN: Thank you, TURNING, from all around the world. The amount of love and support you guys have given us for this album truly touched us. We can’t wait for the future that’s about to come. Love you.

MIN HO: As much as you’ve been looking forward to it, we’ll continue to show you our best, so we’d be really grateful for your ongoing support and love.

YOON SUNG: TURNING! We’re about to go on tour soon! It’s our first tour, so I’m really excited but also a bit nervous, haha. We’ll make sure to stay safe and enjoy the performances, and we’ll give it our all! For those of you coming to watch the shows, let’s have fun together! Love you all!

HAE MIN: We’re working hard to prepare for all the TURNINGs who have been waiting for us! Please welcome us with open arms and cheer for us when we meet again!! We love you so much, TURNING!!

KYUNG MIN: To all the TURNINGs who always send us warm support! We’re always so grateful, and we’ll continue to repay that love with great performances and music as 8TURN!

YUN GYU: TURNING!! Thank you for always supporting us! We’ll work hard to show you even more amazing performances. See you soon!

SEUNG HEON: 8TURN put a lot of effort into preparing our first single album LEGGO, and we’ve also prepared some surprise performances for all the TURNINGs overseas that will truly amaze you!! We hope you’re looking forward to it, and we’d really appreciate your continued love and support for 8TURN in the future!

*Special thanks to 8TURN and MNH Entertainment for this exclusive interview.

Image and Video Credits: MNH Entertainment