IVE (Photo Credit=Starship Entertainment)

Group IVE celebrates its 1st anniversary of debut.

 

IVE, who appeared splendidly in the music industry with their debut album ‘ELEVEN’ on December 1st last year, made 2022 the year of IVE, showing incredible performance that’s hard to believe for a rookie who is in their first year.

 

IVE, who are in the spotlight as a living legend and a K-pop star even beyond Korea, and who has surpassed the record of a rookie, has released QnA to celebrate the first anniversary of its debut.

 

Q. You marked the first anniversary of your debut on December 1st, 2022, and you’re facing the end of the year. How do you feel about this year?

 

An Yujin : I think a lot of things happened to IVE in the past year. It was a year in which I was able to receive the Rookie Award as IVE, and even received the grand prize, which was like a dream. Now that we are celebrating our 1st anniversary, I can only think that I have to repay you with better music and performances as IVE in the future because you gave us so much love. So I'm looking forward to 2023 more, and I hope it comes as soon as possible.

 

Gaeul : At the first music show after our debut, I remember telling DIVE (fandom name) that “We hope you continue to make good memories with us.” I’m glad that it’s been a year since I was able to keep that promise. I’m always thankful to our members who always cry and laugh together and depend on each other. I hope to make good memories with DIVE also next year by having fun and lively activities like now.

 

Rei : Starting with ‘ELEVEN’ to ‘After LIKE,’ I think IVE was able to grow as this much thanks to DIVE who gave us steady love for a year. After debuting, I was nicknamed ‘Kongsuni,’ and I was amazed at how my posing on taking pictures became popular, so I think it was a year filled with gratitude and unforgettable memories.

 

Jang Wonyoung : When I made a comeback with ‘LOVE DIVE’ in April this year, I remember saying, “When I look back on this year, I hope it will be a year I am proud of,” and I am very proud and happy that the wish has come true. When we think of that, it’s only our 1st anniversary since our debut, it may still be a small number of years, but it was a happy year because it seemed that there were so many happy moments and things we achieved together with our members and DIVE during that time. I want to show you how I improve day by day to repay your love.

 

LIZ : First of all, I’m so thankful to DIVE who have been together with IVE for one year. I think I realized the newness of having stage performances with fans through the music program by having promotion activities of ‘After LIKE’ this year. It was the most precious year since it was the year 2022 when we got our first opportunity to be with fans in person.

 

Leeseo : I remember having an interview at the end of last year, saying, “If I enjoy our activities like now, it seems like the 1st anniversary will come soon,” and it feels like the 1st anniversary is just around the corner. I think it’s because this year was filled with happy and precious memories for me. I want to show you a more mature and improved side of me next year.

 

Q. In 2022, you also showed good performance as a group IVE, but it is also the year when you all showed off your individual charms, such as in entertainment programs and MCs. What do you think about it?

 

An Yujin : First of all, it was a meaningful year for me because I was able to meet the viewers through tvN's entertainment show ‘Earth Arcade.’ The fact that I was able to show myself in entertainment programs and the fun games that I played are still vividly remembered as good memories. I also really like the nickname I got, ‘clear-eyed madman.’ I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the production crew and viewers who looked after me nicely! And through SBS ‘Gayo Daejeon’ at the end of this year, I was able to show MC An Yujin for the first time in a while, and if I get a chance in the future, I would like to show my fans a different charm than on stage through more variety programs and as an MC.

 

Jang Wonyoung : It’s already been over a year since I became the MC of KBS 2TV’s ‘Music Bank.’ I was excited to meet the artists and the fans who love K-pop every week, and it was a time when I learned a lot. It is an honor to be able to perform as an MC at the ‘2022 AAA’ as well as the ‘2022 KBS Song Festival,’ and I will prepare a lot to finish the year in 2022 happily.

 

Q. Among various appearances on entertainment shows, you guys have appeared on tvN’s entertainment show ‘The Game Caterers2 X Starship: Fall Outing,’ which aired in November and became a hot topic for your cute and unique appearance as the youngest artist among your agency celebrities. How do you feel about the filming?

 

Rei : The seniors I met for the first time took good care of me and said I was cute, so I was really thankful and I was able to film in a comfortable atmosphere. Especially, when I played the ‘talking continuously’ game for a late-night snack, many people were surprised that I played an unexpected role. I’ll keep continuing to learn Korean and show you better performances on variety shows. (laughs)

 

LIZ : I think the show was more fun because all the seniors and production staff, including the seniors in the MEAN team who teamed with me, took good care of me and our IVE! I was nervous because it was my first time to be on an entertainment show with so many people, but I was happy to make good memories with the Starship family. It was even better because the viewers enjoyed it. I think it was a time that I will remember for a long time. I hope there will be more opportunities to be with the seniors in the future!

 

Q. In a year, IVE has been loved, especially by teenagers, to the extent that you were called the ‘president of elementary school students.’ ‘LOVE DIVE’ is followed by many children fans to the extent that it is called a ‘playground challenge,’ and singing along continues at offline events. As such, IVE’s challenges are receiving a lot of love, and raising the topic of conversation, and I wonder how you feel about it.

 

Gaeul : I’ve heard a lot about the ‘playground chart.’ They say it means that it’s the most popular song among children these days, and I’m so grateful. I’m proud of the fact that we showed the public a song that anyone can sing along to and enjoy.  And I heard that not only the IVE challenge but also the many challenges that we've done are receiving a lot of attention. Among the challenges I did, I heard that people especially loved the ‘New Thing’ (Original singer: ZICO) challenge, but I think they liked it a lot because it was something we couldn’t show on stage normally. In the future, I will try to show you a lot of new and different sides of me in various ways.

 

Jang Wonyoung : Honestly, I watched a lot of the ‘LOVE DIVE’ challenges that our fans posted. (Laughs) Children are dancing cutely while following the point choreography, and I feel so good. I’ve heard the nickname ‘president of elementary school students’ well. Thank you so much for liking us so much. I am always determined to show a more positive and exemplary image so that I can live up to those expectations in the future.

 

Q. In addition to sweeping the Rookie awards and Main awards at various awards ceremonies, you showed your potential by winning the Grand Prizes at ‘MMA 2022’ and ‘2022 MAMA.’ How do you feel about receiving so much love that it is hard to see it as an achievement achieved for the rookie on their first year?

 

An Yujin : It’s an honor to be on stage in the name of IVE at the awards ceremony, but I still can’t believe that I was named in the Grand Prize at ‘2022 MAMA’ following ‘MMA 2022.’ I think I cried at the time because I didn’t expect to win the grand prize as IVE in such a short time. I still have a lot to show you and a lot to do, so I won’t settle for the current status, and I’ll promise to become IVE who continues to work harder in the future.

 

Leeseo : We know very well that we were able to win the award because of DIVE’s attention and love. So, I want to dedicate all the glory moments to our fans from the beginning of our debut to now, and to be happy together. Let’s meet more often next year than this year! Once again, thank you very much.

 

Q. What is the year 2022 to IVE? Or if you were to express what you want to say in five letters.

 

An Yujin : I’d say it was the ‘Best Year.’

 

Gaeul : I’ll go with ‘Thank you so much,’ filling with lots of love to our DIVE!

 

Rei : I will say, ‘Also together next year,’ in the sense that I will be grateful if you continue to give us love also in 2023.

 

Jang Wonyoung : I’ll go with ‘as always’ in the sense of not losing our hearts and thoughts in the beginning and always showing only the good sides of myself!

 

LIZ : I’ll do with ‘Let’s meet soon,’ in the sense of me willing to meet with DIVE in concerts or fan meetings as soon as possible!

 

Leeseo : As we were happy thanks to DIVE in the year 2022, I’ll go with ‘Happy new year,’ in the sense of DIVE always being happy in the next year!

 

Q. Lastly, please say one word to DIVE, who have sent lots of cheers and love to IVE for a year.

 

An Yujin : Thank you so much to our DIVE, who always cheer for us without changing. Time and season flow and change, but if there’s one thing that does not change within it, I think it would be the hearts of caring and loving between IVE and DIVE. We’ll become better artists who can repay the love DIVE gave us with good qualities of music. Thank you.

 

Gaeul : I think it’s huge luck in my life to debut as IVE and be with DIVE. I’m always sincerely thankful for your love and attention, and we’ll become IVE who can have much cooler stage performances that you can be proud of being DIVE. Thank you!

 

Rei : I’m so amazed that there are this much of people who have loved us for the past year. I’ll become IVE and Rei who will always put in great effort and show better appearances to repay the attention and cheers you all send for us. Take care during the cold weather, and always be happy! Thank you.

 

Jang Wonyoung : Thank you so much to our DIVE who made us an unforgettable year the past year. I met you all through three Single Albums, starting with ELEVEN’ until ‘After LIKE,’ and in the future, I promise to show you a great image that only IVE can show more often and with good music and performances. See you more often in the future! Love you all.

 

LIZ : We’re still in our 1st year since debut, but there were always DIVE in every path we passed. And I believe it will be like that also in the future. Therefore we want to move forward as being proud without being exhausted. Hope you have a good completion of the year, and let’s meet with better appearances and more often in the year 2023. 

 

Leeseo : It’s already been a year since we’ve been together, thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me a lot of precious and happy experiences, thanks to DIVE. Let’s be together also in the future! Hope you end the year 2022 well, and I hope that the new year will be filled with only happy things with us, IVE.