ENHYPEN Gears Up for 2026 with New Album 'THE SIN: VANISH'

"2026 is the Year of the Horse, and we have three members born in the Year of the Horse. We believe this will bring us good results this year." (Jake)

ENHYPEN, the group that clinched three grand prizes last year, is sharpening their skills and ready to charge into the new year with a fresh album.

ENHYPEN (Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki) held an interview at a café in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 14th to commemorate the release of their 7th mini-album, 'THE SIN: VANISH'.

The mini-album 'THE SIN: VANISH' tells the story of a couple defying societal taboos in a world where humans and vampires coexist. This marks ENHYPEN's first album of 2026 and the beginning of a new series inspired by sin.

The title track 'Knife' is a hip-hop song that expresses a couple's confidence to face any threat, featuring a striking trap beat and sharp synth sounds. Jay mentioned, "We've prepared for this comeback for a long time, sharpening our skills for the title track," raising expectations. Ni-ki added, "From the moment I heard the demo, I knew this album was it. We've been preparing diligently."

ENHYPEN employs an investigative journalism format, 'Mystery Show', to structure the album, offering immersive storytelling. Jake recommended listening to the tracks in order, saying, "Each of the six songs has a different vibe. We've embedded the messages we wanted to convey in various genres. If you listen closely, you'll feel the connected flow."

The first track features narration by actor Park Jeong-min, who lends weight to the album's narrative with his calm and composed tone. Sunghoon expressed satisfaction, saying, "He's an actor I admire for his subtle expressiveness. When I heard he was narrating, I knew he'd convey our story well, and he did." He added, "Park Jeong-min's narration makes the complex story more accessible, like a fairy tale."

ENHYPEN is also making new attempts in various areas. Known for their steadfast vampire concept since debut, they are collaborating with the Korean Red Cross for a blood donation campaign. Jungwon stated, "It's an honor to collaborate on such a meaningful campaign. Although I haven't donated yet due to travel restrictions, I hope to do so. It's a great opportunity to positively influence not just our fans but the public."

ENHYPEN enjoys immense popularity both domestically and internationally. The members attribute their success to the vampire concept. Sunghoon said, "We're thinking about how to make this narrative more accessible to more people." Ni-ki added, "It was challenging at first, but now we have our own color. Our distinct concept allows us to explore various genres, making storytelling fun."

Their performance at Coachella last year was a turning point for ENHYPEN. Ni-ki commented, "The stage reflected our input and sincerity, which I believe resonated well." Jake added, "We had to capture the attention of those unfamiliar with us or K-pop. Preparing for the stage taught us a lot. We aim to deliver great music and albums to those who don't know ENHYPEN or K-pop." He confidently stated, "This album is of high quality and will appeal to the public."

Debuting in November 2020, ENHYPEN is now in their sixth year. As they approach the time to discuss contract renewals, attention is on their decision. Leader Jungwon said, "Nothing has been discussed yet," but assured, "We'll strive for good results for our fans."

ENHYPEN won three grand prizes at the '2025 MAMA AWARDS', solidifying their status as a 'grand prize group'. Heeseung revealed, "We set a goal to win a grand prize by 2025 shortly after debuting. It was a significant goal for us." Jungwon recalled, "Before debuting, our team leader wrote '2025' and '1' on a board, symbolizing our aim to be number one. Winning the grand prize brought back that memory."

The members shed tears of joy upon receiving the grand prize. Jungwon explained, "Memories of our activities flashed by. It was a 'Fan's Choice' award, so we felt immense gratitude towards our fans. Memories of not being able to meet fans during the pandemic overwhelmed us."

Having achieved their goal, ENHYPEN is now aiming for even greater dreams. Heeseung stated, "Achieving this dream is a major turning point in our careers. We won't rest on our laurels but will strive for better work and results." Jay, who gained attention for his expression 'Wonbunsoo' (resentment, anger, shame) during the 'I-LAND' survival show, smiled and said, "There's no 'Wonbunsoo' after becoming a grand prize artist. I'm happy, proud, and excited for the future."

ENHYPEN's 7th mini-album 'THE SIN: VANISH' will be released on the 16th at 2 PM.

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