New Boy Bands Emerge from Survival Shows: Close Your Eyes and AHOF Set to Debut

The world of K-pop is abuzz as new boy bands formed through survival audition programs gear up for their debuts. ZEROBASEONE, which debuted through Mnet's 'Boys Planet,' has successfully established itself in the music industry, sparking interest in the fate of other similarly formed groups.

On the 2nd, the boy group Close Your Eyes (CYE) made their first foray into the music scene. They released their debut mini-album 'ETERNALT' at 6 PM. CYE is a seven-member multinational group formed through JTBC's boy group audition program 'Project 7,' consisting of Jeon Min-wook, Ma Jingxiang, Jang Yeo-jun, Kim Sung-min, Song Seung-ho, Kenshin, and Seo Kyung-bae.

The group's executive producer is Lee Hae-in, who previously directed the girl group Kiss of Life. Given Kiss of Life's success as a 'miracle of a small company,' expectations are high for Lee's new project, especially since this is her first time working with a boy group.

Another boy group, AHOF, born from SBS's survival program 'Universe League,' is also preparing for their debut in the first half of this year. AHOF includes Cha Woong-ki and Zhang Shuai-bo, who advanced to the later stages of 'Boys Planet.' Notably, Cha Woong-ki debuted with the group TO1 in 2020, which disbanded after three years, and has since participated in various survival programs. His inclusion in the debut lineup has drawn attention.

Both 'Project 7' and 'Universe League' had relatively low viewership ratings, with 'Project 7' ending at 0.2% and 'Universe League' at 0.5%. However, industry insiders believe that the success of the groups formed post-show is promising. An industry insider stated, "The potential success of groups from audition programs cannot be judged solely by the show's ratings."

The final episode of 'Boys Planet,' which produced ZEROBASEONE, had a viewership rating of just over 1%. Despite this, ZEROBASEONE has become one of the leading representatives of the 5th generation boy groups, thanks to a solid fan base. Similarly, Mnet's 'I-LAND' concluded with a 0.8% rating, yet the group ENHYPEN, formed through the show, has made a significant impact in the global market, demonstrating the potential for survival program groups to succeed both domestically and internationally.

The strength of groups from survival shows lies in their pre-existing fan base. Both CYE and AHOF are expected to continue their activities with strong fan support. All eyes are on how these groups will make their mark in the global market.

By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter one@tenasia.co.kr