CIX's '6th year since debut' concert attracted overseas fans... “I’m also going on a US tour.”

At this concert, CIX (CIX, BX, Seunghoon, Bae Jinyoung, Yonghee, Hyunsuk), who celebrated their 6th anniversary this year, showed the growth of their global popularity. CIX, which debuted in July 2019, made its pre-debut in Japan in October of the same year and released its first single in April 2020. Those who had restrictions on their activities due to the aftermath of COVID-19 accelerated their overseas activities starting in 2022 when social distancing measures were eased. CIX toured the United States in 2022 and performed in Europe in January of last year, working to expand its fan base to the global realm. At the concert site, many foreigners speaking various languages were spotted, proving that CIX had a strong presence as a K-pop artist.

This is a concert by the group CIX held on the 6th and 7th at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. The performance name '0 or 1' is the same as the name of the first single album released by CIX in January. It contains the meaning of simply resolving a difficult relationship into one of two ways. CIX's second concert 'Save me, Kill me', held in December 2022, was a name that spoiled the title song of the 6th mini album released in May 2023. On the other hand, '0 or 1' held this time made us look back on our single album activities.

CIX, who held a solo concert for the first time in 1 year and 4 months, gave fans a choice between the following: "Hurry up and embrace me, or become my enemy," "Either kill me or heal me," or "Either stay by my side forever, or face tragedy." suggested to do so. Fans who have been with CIX for 5 years promised to continue to "hug, heal, and live forever" for the five members through this performance '0 or 1'.

'0 or 1' is CIX's third solo concert following 'REBEL' and 'Save me, Kill me'. As CIX gained more years of experience, they confidently appeared in front of their fans with a more professional appearance than before. They scheduled a tour of eight cities in North America this month, including Chicago, New York, Montreal, San Juan, Atlanta, Dallas, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.

When CIX released its single album '0 or 1', it attracted attention among fans by revealing the members' transformation into AI through posters and teaser videos. The members' humanoid visuals, which seemed to have been created with special makeup and CG, and their individual code numbers and barcodes were a novel concept that could not be seen anywhere else. The opening of the concert '0 or 1' held this month attracted attention as the members appeared with an AI concept that directly implemented the single album poster. The members chose ‘Move My Body’ as their first song. This song is the first song included in CIX's 3rd mini album 'HELLO Chapter 3. Hello, Strange Time' released in 2020. Even though it is not the title song, it is a song that received a lot of love from fans for its addictive beat and powerful performance.

Immediately after, they performed 'Bend the Rules' and 'Change Me'. CIX, who performed three songs in a row, greeted their fans with a sweaty appearance. The members' faces were full of joy as they met their fans for the first time in a long time since '2023 CIX FAN MEETING'. While talking about the significantly warmer spring weather, Hyunseok recommended a dinner menu, saying, "I'm sure I'll be hungry, so it would be nice to eat pork belly after the performance." Bae Jin-young communicated comfortably with fans, saying, "It's also suitable to go to the Han River and eat chicken. Beer is bad for your health, so I hope you only eat chicken." Seunghoon lightened the mood by joking, "I feel like the fans are shy since I haven't seen them in a long time."

BX shouted loudly, saying, "The location is the same as the 'Save me, Kill me' concert and fan meeting held in the past. I came back after 1 year and 4 months, and I missed you so much." Seunghoon explained, “I had a lot of concerns about the opening song. I chose this song because I wanted to convey something new to the fans.” 'Bend the Rules', which was performed for the second time at the concert, is a song included in 'CIX 5th EP Album 'OK' Episode 1: OK Not', released by CIX in August 2022. Choreographer Youngjun Choi's unique movements were loved by fans, but performances were rare. This stage felt even more valuable to fans. Bae Jin-young laughed, saying, “It was hard to remember the choreography because it’s been a while since I did it.”

Bae Jin-young was thrilled, saying, "I missed my fans so much. I've been practicing until dawn every day to prepare for the concert. I'm happy to be out in the open air and face the fans like this." Hyunsuk raised expectations for the next song, saying, "We have to repay the fans as they have waited for a long time. We did our best to prepare." Seunghoon said, “It’s been a long time since I danced in front of my fans,” and said he felt new. Last year, due to a leg injury, he was unable to choreograph with the members and performed alone during the fan meeting. Seunghoon boasted of his high tension, saying, “I’m excited because I like it.” BX hinted at performing 'BAD DREAM' and performed on stage, saying, "I hope fans don't have good dreams every day."

CIX seems to have put their all into continuous performances up to 'Save me, Kill me'. Hyunseok, out of breath, joked, “It’s not like ‘Save me, Kill me’, it’s like ‘Kill me, Kill me’.” BX emphasized, "There were a lot of songs I wanted to show to the fans, but it was unfortunate that the circumstances were limited. This is a song that I carefully thought out with the fans in mind as much as possible." Hyunseok pointed to the jewelry on the costume and laughed, saying, “This outfit weighs 5kg.” CIX wore a white jacket full of cubic decorations and shone brightly on stage. BX elicited a positive response, saying, “It may be heavy, but it will be fun for fans to see you wearing cool clothes like this.” Seunghoon also praised the staff, saying, “The stylists handcrafted each cubic piece one by one.” He then picked up the fallen cubic, saying, “The decorations may fall while dancing.”

Fans in the audience shouted at CIX that they wanted to see the performances of 'Without You', 'TESSERACT (Prod. Hui, Minit)', and 'Numb'. The members raised expectations for the stage, saying, "Unfortunately, there are none. This time, we did not make up the set list with obvious songs." Yonghee said, “Our music has been talking about youth. What on earth is youth really?” He then said, “I don’t know exactly, but I really like this feeling that changes every moment,” and enjoyed the warm atmosphere of the concert. BX also introduced fans to the label's junior group, Ephex, who came to play.

Bae Jin-young raised the tension by saying, "Youth is CIX itself. The youth of fans is full of CIX." Hyunsuk expressed his wish, "It's already been 6 years since our debut. Thanks to our fans, we are having a special 20s. I hope our fans will have many happy memories with us." After concluding the conversation with fans for about 7 minutes, CIX performed 'Jungle'. During the intense choreography, Bae Jin-young took off his colorful jacket, which was estimated to weigh 5 kg, and danced in only a black sleeveless outfit, drawing a passionate response from fans. CIX then performed ‘Off My Mind’. Unlike previous stages, the members exchanged glances with fans with comfortable movements without intense choreography.

After finishing the stage, the VCR started playing. In the video, the members showed off their beauty in a colorful flower field, and the individual stage began with Yonghee. Yonghee gave off a cozy look in a pastel-toned knit with a combination of mint and yellow. He even wore glasses, which he didn't normally wear, and drew positive responses from fans. Like Yonghee, who always boasts a unique sense of stability, the song he sang ‘Dandelion (single ver.)’ exuded warmth. Seunghoon showed off his tough and sexy performance of 'Youngblood' while wearing a rider jacket and choker. He was selected as a debut member of Mnet's 'Build Up: Vocal Boy Group Survival' (hereinafter referred to as 'Build Up') on the 29th of last month and showed off his luxury vocals in excellent condition at this concert.

BX, who has producing capabilities, once again presented his own song following the last concert. The music titled 'Cold Wind' is about saying goodbye to your last love, and its hopeful lyrics and melody stand out. Hyunsuk showed off his naughty, free, hip genre of dance to 'Like This' and then showed off his high-level dance skills to the melodic and soft music of 'Pillowtalk'. Lastly, Bae Jin-young stimulated the emotions of fans by selecting ‘Lucky.’ Bae Jin-young, who has been showing off his dance moves on solo stages, showed off his unique charm by choosing a song.

BX expressed his sincerity, saying, “I was moved to tears thinking about the fans while performing on stage.” Yonghee said, "I feel very proud every time I perform solo, but it is also an opportunity to realize the importance of my members. I always feel lonely when I am alone after performing together. However, thanks to the fans who support me, I am able to perform happily on stage." Seunghoon expressed his disappointment to the fans, saying, "During the last US tour, I wanted to sing 'Youngblood', but I felt it wasn't enough, so I couldn't sing it. This time, I chose it because I felt I had grown, but I think it was too short."

Yonghee said, “When I listen to music, I focus on the lyrics. I sang the song with sincerity because I wanted to be with my fans forever.” Bae Jin-young said in a huskier voice, perhaps because of the heavy emotions, "The lyrics of 'Lucky' reminded me of the idol life I have led so far. I got teary-eyed in the middle of the performance." BX honestly expressed his feelings, saying, "There are probably fans who heard it in advance through Sound Cloud. I didn't get emotional during rehearsals, but when I saw the fans on stage, I almost shed tears." Hyunseok was upset, saying, “I wanted to show both a hip and sexy mood. The first part of the performance was so intense that it didn’t have as much power as I expected.”

CIX performed a medley of 'Switch It Up', 'Imagine', and 'WAVE'. CIX's unique musical style was generally dark and sexy, but as a group that sings about 'youth', each album also contained songs that exuded refreshing energy. These three songs were much loved by fans as they were songs with a dreamy and bright mood rather than charisma. As previously mentioned, the members put a lot of effort into selecting songs with the fans in mind, and each performance met the fans' high expectations.

After the stage, entertainment content called ‘10 Minute Discussion’ was released through VCR. The members who discussed the topic of AI drew laughter from viewers through CIX's natural tiki-taka instead of a script. It is reminiscent of 'CIX-tory', which was released on the official YouTube channel before debut, and Mnet's '6 Million Dollar CIX', which aired in 2021, and recalled the freshness of the time.

The members, who changed into suits, captured the hearts of fans with performances of ‘Movie Star’ and ‘458’. BX expressed his gratitude, saying, “The performance was difficult, but thanks to the support of the fans, I was able to do my best until the end.” Seunghoon expressed his motivation, saying, "I often perform the title songs on stage, and every time I perform, I have the desire to do well. I want to show even a little bit of improvement every time." Bae Jin-young expressed his gratitude to the fans, saying, “It’s amazing that they watch our every moment.”

During the 'Lovers or Enemies' stage, the fans' cheering style attracted attention. As it is the title song of CIX's most recent activity, fans showed a more enthusiastic approach to cheering compared to other songs. After finishing the performance of 'Everything' with a lovely and harmonious atmosphere, the members briefly expressed their thoughts about the concert. Yonghee said, "I'm always grateful. At first, I was very nervous. But it gradually became more fun and I'm enjoying the atmosphere to the fullest. I love you." Bae Jin-young smiled and said, "The weather was unusually sunny and I felt good. Thank you so much. The fans will know my true feelings even if I complain."

BX expressed warmth by saying, "Thank you for giving us your precious time. Our fans are our driving force. We want to continue to exchange positive influence." Hyunsuk said, "I've built a lot of memories with my fans, and I'm happy that I made another one with this concert. I still get nervous before going on stage. It's thanks to the fans. I will visit my fans with great moisturizing every time." Lastly, Seunghoon said, "I felt nervous and pressured during the concert, but I felt comfortable and like at home. When I stood on the 'Build Up' stage recently, I was so nervous that I had to take a Cheongsimhwan, but when I stood on stage as CIX, I felt like I was in front of the fans who have been with me for 6 years. “Thanks to the members, I am comfortable and happy,” he said, looking at him affectionately.

CIX sweetly expressed youth with fans in a space filled with blue lighting and smog, including 'Summer Sea' and 'Shadow'. Then, while the decadent appearance of the members wrapped in ropes was shown on a VCR, CIX appeared on stage wearing matching black short-sleeved T-shirts. CIX, who was singing '20 Years Old', went down to the audience and exchanged glances with fans more closely. CIX has performed at Blue Square Mastercard Hall four times so far, but this is the first time they have come down to the audience and made eye contact. Fans of the surprise event they prepared cheered even louder.

CIX's first refreshing concept, 'Cinema', was introduced to add a cozy atmosphere to the scene, and time was taken to take group photos with fans. Holding the slogan 'Can't we just stay like this forever?' prepared before the performance, the members exchanged words of love with their fans and took commemorative photos. Then, fans asked Seunghoon to rap. Previously, Seunghoon, who is the group's main vocalist, appeared on 'Build Up' and received favorable reviews by trying out for the rap position for the first time since his debut. Although he seemed taken aback by the sudden request, Seunghoon also showed off his skills while singing the rap song of BX's 'Prayer (I'll Be Your Man)' and received cheers.

BX revealed their current status to fans, saying, “After the Korean concert on the 7th, a US tour is scheduled.” Hyunseok said, “I’m listening to ‘Transit Love 3’.” Seung-hoon, who revealed that he is a big fan of Son Heung-min, said, "I still enjoy watching Son Heung-min's soccer games these days," and Bae Jin-young said, "I am enjoying golf," and showed off his golf skills. Yonghee, who is said to be into exercise, pulled up his top to show off his stomach muscles. After saying goodbye, CIX enjoyed the last stage with fans. They sang 'The One' in unison, which was a perfect ending, and after singing 'Color', they warmly sent off the fans on their way. It then left a lasting impression with an ending that was somewhat related to the opening.

CIX, an abbreviation for 'Complete In Bae Jin-young, who was selected as the final debut member in Mnet's 'Produce 101 Season 2' that aired in 2017, chose to pursue a new group when he was at the crossroads of choosing the direction of his entertainment career after ending his activities with Wanna One in 2019. Bae Jin-young, who felt the charm of group activities through Wanna One, said, "I wanted to create one dream with the CIX members," and did his best on every stage as promised. In the early days of CIX's debut, Bae Jin-young raised awareness, but the stories of other members are so deep that they cannot be overlooked. They were selected as the final debut group of 'Mix Nine' in 2017, but the team's debut was canceled and BX, who appeared on 'YG Jewel Box' in 2019, took on the role of leader of CIX. He leads the group's harmony with a style that is more humorous than heavy.

Seunghoon, who appeared together in 'YG Jewel Box', is a member who has been a rigorous trainee for about 9 years since the 4th grade of elementary school. As the main vocalist of CIX, he had a difficult debut, but he shows his sincerity on every stage and shows unwavering love for his fans over the past 6 years. Yonghee, who graduated from an autonomous private high school with excellent grades, created a buzz after his debut with content that solves difficult problems of the CSAT. Hyunsuk, the youngest member, has a history of working as a shopping mall model and has gained a fan base with his all-round skills in vocals, rap, and dance. CIX, which shows growth as a group with five unique members, has been steadily active by releasing six mini albums and one full-length album so far. After debut, he experienced difficulties due to the aftermath of COVID-19, but overcame the crisis by doing his best in the given position.

From the beginning of their debut, CIX was nicknamed 'Seed' by fans. If you pronounce CIX quickly, it is similar to the word seed. It also implied that it would grow lushly. The current appearance of CIX is not like a seed buried in the dirt, but like a green tree reaching close to the sky. Although their improved skills and mature appearance on stage proved to be an upgrade from when they first debuted, their love for fans remained unchanged from 2019. CIX and fans created another special memory through this concert.

Ten Asia Reporter Lee So-jeong forusojung@tenasia.co.kr