| This article, EPHEMERA, is property of X Shingeki no Kyojin x |
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EPHEMERA is the Featured Group of September 2023
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| EPHEMERA |
| Members Profiles |
| Gallery |
| Lore |
| “ | Take my hand! Let's stay together forever, alright? Hello, we are EPHEMERA! (내 손을 잡아요! 영원히 함께해요, 알겠죠? 안녕하세요, 우리는 에피메라입니다!) |
” |
| ━ EPHEMERA | ||
EPHEMERA (에페메라) is a six-member boy group under Origin Music. As the second boy group to debut under their respective label, and the second idol group formed through the agency's training program, the group debuted on August 31, 2023, with their first full-length album, MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL. The group currently consists of six members: Donghyuck, Byeonghwi, Hyuk, Yong, Xiao, and Seojun who all originate from diverse and unique backgrounds, spanning from being former idols to being new faces in the entertainment industry.
Despite only being active for quite some time, the group has grown to become a force within the industry, often being dubbed as a "monster rookie" group and frequently compared to their seniors, M.I.D.A.S for their early success. After garnering love for both their music and intriguing concept, they have managed to capture the gaze of the general public and fans all over the world. The boy group also managed to make quite an impression shortly after their debut in 2023, especially after winning several records at numerous awards shows; most notably for earning "Album Of The Year" at the Hangang Artistry Awards only three months after the album's release. Following their successful debut, their concept continued to receive praise for its individuality and detailed storytelling, as well as their music for its unique "ephemeral" touch and sound. Along with their work together as a group, each member has continued to solidify their place in the group, showcasing their wide array of individual talents and skills within their idol expertise. Their success from their debut continued in their first full year throughout 2024 when they continued earning nominations for their comeback album, even winning "Album Of The Year" this time at the Shining Groove Awards, further marking the group's rookie success in their coveted artistry.
Although they have exceeded many expectations since their debut, the boy group has continued to voice how they will always make sure to stay true to their original roots within their identity.
Origin[]
Name[]
| “ | Even if it's only for a little while, we want to be memorable. | ” |
| ━ ??? | ||
The group's name, EPHEMERA comes from the word “Ephemera” meaning “things that exist or are used or enjoyed for only a short time" but instead, with their talents, music, and charms, they hope to achieve the opposite and become memorable to the public eye by leaving a long-lasting impression. As the group's goal is to leave a legacy within the entertainment industry, their name takes a spin on a word that sort of represents an idol group's lifespan in the competitive industry. The word also means "a work of art that only occurs once" so this represents how they want to prove that they are indeed a "once-in-a-lifetime" group by creating "one-of-a-kind" music that can not only showcase their individuality as a group but also be enjoyed by their fans and the world.
Concept[]
The group's concept is described as utilizing both modern and fantasy elements to create a special story that symbolizes the member's journey to achieve and explore the unremarkable. Taking inspiration from their own experiences and stories, the group hopes to tie those factors into their rather whimsical concept of theirs to present an intricate tale solely unique to themselves. Furthermore, as part of their concept, the group incorporates the use of time heavily into their story which can be seen in both their discography and filmography. During the initial announcement of the group, fans were invited to enter the WORLD OF EPHEMERA alongside the group; with the members being the first to enter the world. Due to the lack of lore present in their first release, many still fail to speculate what is truly going on in the group's story and concept as a whole. Noted by the members themselves, an important aspect within their story is to always convey the "ephemeral" experience whether it's in their music, storytelling, videography, or concept itself.
Roles[]
Along with their fantasy-like concept, the member's individual roles within their otherworld were introduced. through their debut album. Depicted within their individual solo releases from MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL, each of them hold a pivotal role within their lore.
| Subject | Title | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Dong-hyuck (동혁) | "The Wandering Protagonist" | ♟️ |
| Byeonghwi (병휘) | "The Late Detective" | 🔎 |
| Hyuk (혁) | "The Two-Faced Coin" | 🎬 |
| Yong (용) | "The Crown Prince" | 👑 |
| Xiao (샤오) | "The Final Obstacle" | 🏁 |
| Seojun (서준) | "The Shooting Star" | ☄️ |
History[]
In 2021, Origin Music announced that they would be holding auditions in search of potential trainees to debut in their future new group.
Pre-debut[]
Due to the company's history with managing their own groups, many were curious about what would come to be with this new group especially since M.I.D.A.S, the last boy group to debut under the label debuted over a decade ago back in 2011. With all eyes on this supposed new group, the company began to scramble looking for trainees in hopes of finding the perfect combination.
Before the group's formation, several members were already active in the entertainment industry. Donghyuck is a former member of the boy group ORCHID. The group was formed through the reality survival show Turbo Max and debuted on September 25, 2022, before its disbandment in early 2023 following the end of the group's special contract. Byeonghwi is a former member of the boy group LAVA.B. He took his first steps into the entertainment industry as an idol with the boy group on April 15, 2019, before the group's disbandment in 2021. He later competed as a contestant on the following survival programs SOL PUZZLE in 2021 and Star Maker X 101 in 2022 but ultimately failed to debut in both project groups. Hyuk is known for participating as a contestant in the reality survival show Project Euphoria in the first of half 2022. Yong is a former member of the boy group Tasakaal which was formed through the survival show IdolPaint. The boy group debuted on August 27, 2019 under BrightPalette Entertainment before their inevitable disbandment in 2022. Xiao is a former member of the pre-debut boy group, Aster8 formed in 2022 under Rose Water Entertainment before its disbandment the same year. During his time in the group, he debuted as a solo singer on March 7, 2022, with the single, "The Grey Area" as part of the group's concept. Seojun is the only member without any experience in the entertainment industry before EPHEMERA but was a part of the batch of trainees under POINT 0 that was revealed to the public back in 2022.
Furthermore, before the group's debut and reveal of the members, all six members were congratulated as the second generation of graduates from the agency's pre-debut training team, POINT 0. While each member began the program at different times, the final formation of the new boy group began after months of planning and evaluations of all the trainees.
2023: Debut with MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL[]
Teaser hinting at the group's debut
On May 20, the company's official SNS accounts suddenly posted a teaser titled "_ENTER THE WORLD?". The teaser posting hinted that a new group was in the works. The mysterious post left netizens and fans intrigued by what was to come but no other information about the group was given after. But with the limited information given, the new group was confirmed to be a boy group but there was still speculation over how many members would present in the lineup.
The following month on June 19, it was confirmed by Origin Music that their new boy group would be preparing to debut in the summer of 2023 and they revealed that the final preparations were coming to a close. On June 20, a video named "A NEW EXISTENCE" was posted on the company's YouTube channel. It showcased an uncanny montage before revealing that the lineup would have six members at the end of the video where six boys could be seen. The same day, Origin Music posted and began a 10-day countdown on their official website, the same title could be seen on the page. Fans were left speculating about what the countdown was supposed to be. On June 30, the countdown ended and the name of the group was revealed to be EPHEMERA standing for the group's motto to prove that they are a truly "one-of-a-kind" group.
Following the reveal of the group's name, Origin Music also revealed that their new six-member boy group would be composed of a few "familiar faces" who were already previously active in the entertainment industry leaving fans to speculate who those may be. The group's official SNS accounts on various social media platforms were opened the same day.
On July 1, the group's introduction project "A NEW EXISTENCE" was launched. It was revealed for the month of July the group would come to life starting with the reveals of the six members and future releases of content to allow fans to get to know the group more better. The same day the group's special web application, EPH.M was officially launched. The application was described to be "specially made just for the group" as a way to let fans know each member individually along with the several other available features in the app.
The following day, on July 2, Byeonghwi was revealed as the group's first member, followed by Hyuk on July 3, Seojun on July 4, Xiao on July 5, Yong on July 6, and lastly Donghyuck on July 7 was revealed as the group's sixth and final member. On July 8 and July 9 respectively, the videos "EPHEMERA: WHO AM I?" and "EPHEMERA: NEW COLLECTIONS" which featured the full six-piece lineup for the first time were posted on the group's official YouTube Channel. The videos served the purpose of introducing the members to the public as a whole containing individual interviews and the members' thoughts on making their debut.
After each member in the six-piece lineup was officially unveiled to the public, Origin Music released more information about the group stating that each member put in immense work to earn the chance to make their debut. The company also stated how the group will all work hard to showcase their talents and charms to the world through their vocals, dance, and music. Each member was also individually given a shout-out for their talents such as Donghyuck for his rookie yet growing skills in music production that left an impression on many already, Byeonghwi for his heavenly vocals that always warm people's hearts, Hyuk for his dancing abilities that allow him to command the stage beneath him, Yong for his "star aura" that contributes to his ability to stand out immediately in any crowd, Xiao for his talented expertise in rapping that help showcase his determination as an artist, and Seojun despite being a "new face" for his charms and immense potential which gives him room to grow yet to prove himself. The group's official reveal together received praise for the most part but following the reveals, fans of the company were a bit annoyed at the fact that the group mostly consisted of well-known trainees and even former idols, stating how it was unfair to other trainees who were already under the label.
Full lineup of EPHEMERA
On July 30, Origin Music released an official statement confirming that the group would be debuting on August 31, 2023, with their first full-length album titled MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL. The CEO of Origin Music, Oh Jun-young described the group's long-awaited arrival in the K-pop scene as a "grand debut like never before" filled with high expectations and high hopes for the future. On August 5, the group's comeback schedule was released which unveiled the long adventure the group and fans would go on together until they arrived at their destination. Following the reveal, a mini variety show series with a total of 16 episodes titled "ADVENTURES WITH EPHEMERA" was released each day which gave fans access to see their pre-debut content and behind-the-scenes of the group's journey to debut.
On August 9, the group's debut trailer "The Bane Of My Existence" was released which gained attention for its confusing and eerie vibes. The trailer was described to be an introduction to the charms of the members and the group's meticulous story as a whole. From August 13 to August 19, the member's individual solo music videos were released each day and gained a lot of attention for the intricate stories that had a distinctive vibe to each other. Each of the member's songs which were produced and written by themselves received much love. On August 26, the track list for the album was posted illustrating the hard work and skilled abilities of those who came together to work on the album's production which consisted of several idols and well-renowned producers.
The group officially made their debut on August 31, 2023, with their first full-length album, MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL. With a total of 16 tracks, all of the songs were given much praise for their high-quality and unique sound that captured the group's essence as a whole well enough. The official music video for the album's title track "Take My Hand" was also released, garnering 5.5 million views and 1.2 million likes in the first 24 hours of release. The music video received much praise for its storytelling which continued to confuse the viewers with the ever-so-random yet cohesive plot. Along with the compelling story, the captivating filmography gained praise along with the member's talents and acting skills. Due to numerous posts about the music video on TikTok, the group managed to receive further attention from those who also wanted to check the video out. Following the first day of release, 'Take My Hand" to the surprise of many managed to chart on several digital music charts such as Bugs, Genie, and FLO, and even claimed a spot at #35 on the Melon HOT 100. Fans of the group were surprised to see the boy group charting mildly good enough to their standards but were grateful anyway to witness the situation which was deemed as a miracle. The album also sold over 30,000 physical copies and gained over 150,000 streams on Spotify on its first day of release.
The group also had their first-ever music show performance on September 1 at Smile Groove Music Show where they were praised for their youthful and relaxed vibes on stage which surprised netizens as they seemed like "professional idols" already. On September 7, the group achieved their first win 8 days after their debut at Smile Groove Music Show. Being able to achieve such a huge milestone so early in their career further signified the group in the industry as a "monster rookie". A day later on September 8, "Take My Hand" managed to chart at #99 on Melon TOP 100 respectively and the group ended up becoming the talk of the town on Pannchoa that day due to their reaction (the members ended up bursting into tears after their staff interrupted their live to tell them the good news) of their song charting on the coveted chart. It went viral among netizens because they found it both admirable and sad at the same time to witness the group care so much about simply charting as the forum was later filled with talks about "how boy group songs barely get the attention they deserve". The song ended up receiving much more attention and slowly rose on the chart.
Following the successful first week of debut promotions, the group continued to add to their list of achievements. In the first week, the group managed to sell over 162,000 physical copies of their album. Online on YouTube, the music video gained 12 million views, along with 1.9 million likes in total. Moreover, "Take My Hand" managed to peak at its highest charting position on a digital music chart with #24 on Bugs and ended up with over 653,000 streams on Spotify. The group later achieved their second win for "Take My Hand" on MBS Rankdown on September 9, 2023, and the huge goal of 'Byeonghwi handing out a trophy to his beloved group' was ultimately achieved which sparked joy in the group and fandom. They also managed to achieve a "double-crown" on MBS Rankdown after achieving their second win on the music show on October 13, 2023, following the song's significant rise on digital music charts.
EPHEMERA at the 2023 MBS Artist Awards
On December 9, the group celebrated 100 days after their debut following the conclusion of their successful debut promotions. With December serving as the month where the annual end-of-the-year award show season begins, EPHEMERA showcased their prowess as a group despite debuting only a few months ago by being nominated and even winning several accolades. The group as a whole received nominations as rookies and even went on to win 'Best New Artist' at the 2023 MBS Artist Awards showcasing their promising future and continuous growth as newly-arrived artists in the industry. The loved eldest of the group, Donghyuck was nominated in the 'Idol Fan Choice Award' category at the Etoile's Asian Music Awards and rap-eccentric member, Xiao was also nominated for 'Best Hip Hop' at the MBS Artist Awards. Furthermore, "Take My Hand" was also nominated and won 'Rookie Song Of The Year' at the Shining Groove Awards. Lastly, the group's debut album MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL garnered much love for its diverse musicality and themes ever since its initial release and even went on to also be nominated for a Daesang at the MBS Artist Awards. As the cherry on top to conclude the group's successful debut era, the group unexpectedly won 'Album Of The Year' with their debut album; ultimately making history by becoming the first rookie boy group to win a Daesang at the award show.
2024 (1): First comeback with RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT[]
On December 22, popular media group Star News reported that EPHEMERA would be making their comeback by the end of December but Origin Music released a statement soon after and quickly shut down the rumor, confirming that the information was false. Though all eyes were set on when the boy group would be making their comeback, especially after such a successful debut, many wondered if they would be able to exceed their initial popularity. On December 26, a teaser was released which confirmed the group's next release. The album itself which was described as being like a special gift "...packed with the perfect amount of sweetness" wrapped with love especially for their fans, and the album's release was officially confirmed when it was announced by their company that the group would be making their first comeback on January 28, 2024, with the release of their first mini album titled RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT. Origin Music's CEO, Oh Jun-young released further additional information about the group's comeback hinting that the group hopes to "come back stronger than before" and that fans should look forward to their next release which was also stated to be very distinct from their previous release. The comeback was also very special to the group because the release date marked the group's 150th day together since their debut back in August of last year. Taking homage to their debut, the group had high hopes of conveying continuous good music through this new album.
Teaser confirming the group's comeback
Not even a week into the new year, the group's comeback process began through the announcement of the group's comeback scheduler on January 6. The scheduler served as the recipe for fans to follow until their masterpiece of a sweet treat was finally complete. Furthermore, the aesthetic or vibe of the comeback based on visuals was perceived by fans as being more cuter or softer which was a contrasting difference from their previous release. Along with the scheduler, the group's second special mini variety show series titled "BAKING WITH EPHEMERA" was released which consisted of nine episodes in total that showed off the group's expertise with baking. The show also allowed for the collaboration of several idols and figures with the group throughout each episode; along with the promotion of the group's comeback as it honored the album's respective baking concept.
On January 8, the group's album trailer for the comeback was released titled "The Object Of My Desire" which was a ten-minute long trailer that dived deeper into the group's lore. The cinematography of the trailer was highly praised by fans and well-received among netizens as the trailer harnessed the element of surprise and thrilling elements to its prestige. To the surprise of fans, the song "Sweet Treat" ended up being pre-released as a single, along with a music video on January 12 which caught the eyes of many while also seemingly confirming the collaboration between EPHEMERA and Cookie Run: Kingdom. The CEO confirmed the news and talked about how It was in celebration of the game's third anniversary. The music video captured the building of a bridge between the worlds of EPHEMERA and the video game, connecting the two in a humorous yet entertaining tale in the video. Throughout the remainder of January, visuals teasers and concept photos of the members were released from January 14 to January 22 which garnered attention for its creativity and unique design standards. Continuing on, the track list for the mini album was released on January 23 which once again showcased the group's star potential through helping out figuratively in the album's production but the beautiful collaboration between artists and producers even outside the company who came together to create a special tune for the world. With the so-called mini album containing a total of nine songs and a runtime of over 30 minutes, it received mixed opinions because it most certainly was a full album at that point but fans of the group and netizens affiliated on Twitter bashed the hate because they argued how this rule breaker was acceptable since they could listen to more songs for a lower price.
Finally on January 28, 2024, the group officially made their first comeback with their first mini album, RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT. The group's release was once again deemed as a "hit" for the lovable title track through "With Love" and the high quality b-sides that highlighted the group's duality and talents as a whole. The music video for "With Love" managed to achieve over 7.3 million views and 1.6 million likes in its 24 hours of release which showed off the group's growth compared to their debut. The group went viral among the "nugu group stan" community because of the location of the group's music video which had been filmed at Paradise Diner, a prominent location that was already widely known among the K-pop community due to its presence in countless music videos. Many also enjoyed the use of the diner as a storytelling device rather than just utilized for "beauty shots" and aesthetic because the diner was used as the home of "BOULANGERIE D'EPHEMERA". The group also continued to dig their place as "digital monsters" as the album's title track managed to once again chart on various music charts such as Bugs, Genie, and FLO. The song also garnered a total of over 394,000 streams on Spotify and the album sold over 90,000 copies on its first day of release which was a significant increase for the group.
The group began to promote on several music shows for "With Love" and continued to gain praise for the comforting and soothing concept that illustrated the immense love from the group. Now in the month of love, the group managed to achieve their first win for the comeback and fourth win overall together at Smile Groove Music Show on February 2. The group also achieved a record of their own through achieving a triple crown on a music show for the first time for "With Love" after garnering more wins at Smile Groove Music Show on February 9 and February 16 respectively. Because the album which was based on the concept of love through baking was released near the season of love and Valentine's Day, it quite notably captured the hearts of the hopeless romantics and even non-fans which began the song's rising explosion in streaming platforms when "With Love" somehow randomly entered the Melon TOP 100 at #91 on February 11. From then on, the song continued to rise steadily on a track to break the TOP 10 which had been unseen before. Along with the rise, the song's viral boom on social media platform, TikTok helped boost its popularity as a TikTok sensation when the challenge of baking a "sweet treat" for your significant other or loved one went viral among the community since it was perfect for Valentine's Day. The members were shocked themselves to see that their song had gone viral but they happily joined the challenge by surprising each other in a series of cute baking TikToks. Throughout the month of February, the song continued to rise swiftly on all music charts and the song's success was granted when the group broke into the TOP 10 on the Melon Chart achieving their peak at #3 on the chart for "With Love".
The comeback continued to collect success as the group managed to break records of their own and make new achievements. The group achieved their highest peaks yet on music streaming charts with Bugs at #2, FLO at #6, Genie at #14, and Melon at #3, the group also achieved a new record of 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and "With Love" ended up with over 9 million streams by the end of comeback promotions, the music video garnered a total of 15 million views and 2.3 million likes, and the album also managed to sell over 253,000 copies in it first week which was a significant increase compared to their debut release. In the ending of their promotions, the members went on live to repeatedly thank their fans and the general public for their massive support for their comeback, talking about how it was a "magical experience" and how they will be forever grateful to have been given all this love. From their viral early success, the group's album continued to trend even after promotions after the album's design went viral amongst locals and the baking community on TikTok. It was said by one user that the group had "cooked" on their newest album and how they hope for more sweet treats to be released by the group.
2024 (2): First anniversary, fandom name, group hiatus[]
Following the group's successful promotions throughout the beginning of the new year, it was announced on February 29, 2024, by Origin Music that the boy group would be taking a small hiatus together through the first half of 2024. Due to the member's opinions and after discussion, the agency released a statement on how they all came to an agreement that "the members mentally and physically needed a break..." especially after having such a jam-packed debut and comeback in the past few months.
After the statement's official release on the group's social media and the company publicly announcing their compromise, it caused a debate within the fans of the group. Many sparked fear that this would lead to the agency "abandoning" them or the group falling out of the trend while many also voiced how the group had already been working so hard with content and high quality releases in just a span of five months. In the end, the debate between fans of the group continued even throughout the group's mystical hiatus away from the public eye. But within the months of silence between the spring months, numerous vlogs were uploaded to the group's official YouTube and Naver channel through a special series titled: "ADVENTURES WITH EPHEMERA PART 2". The countless vlogs consisting of twenty videos highlighted many special moments such as: Donghyuck humorously finally touching grass after so long and getting out of the recording studio for once, Byeonghwi getting to act and film in his special film created by him and his non-idol friends, Hyuk achieving his longtime goals of starting a mukbang and skincare channel, Yong traveling back to the United States in Oklahoma after many years and also hopping on the several TikTok trends he missed out on, Xiao bursting into tears after getting to embrace his family again and along with hanging out with his little sister everyday, and lastly, Seojun also getting to travel back to the Philippines in which he's often seen frequently snacking on Dairy Queen dessert products. During this time, the members also made sure to communicate frequently through their specialized app, EPH.M.
Though during the group's hiatus and two hundred days after the group's initial debut, the group's official fandom name and colors was finally revealed on March 28, 2024 as "EPHEAFTER". With the fandom name being voted on unanimously by the group, the members stated how they wanted to reflect their wishes to live "happily ever after" with their fans and how they deemed it was the perfect name to represent the backbone of EPHEMERA. As seen through the group's social media and following the name's announcement, it received numerous reactions with frequent users naming it as one of the most "flop era" fandom names they have ever seen to others praising the group for continuing to immerse in their core identity. Amid the chaos erupting throughout their social media scope, the group surprisingly came back together to go on live and celebrate their fans' lovely new name.
As the group continued their hiatus through the year, there was no news of any comeback or releases which caused fans of the group to begin voicing their criticisms towards the agency for making the group "disappear" from the industry after having such a strong debut. After months of radio silence and rare social media posts by the members online, along with immense hatred for the group's company from fans, Origin Music released a statement in mid-September, following the group's first anniversary to reassure fans that the group was alright and how "the members themselves stated they needed a break, following recurrent and serious health issues after the group's comeback promotions". Despite the persuasion, fans of the group did not back down and continued criticizing the company, sparking rumors of sabotage and abandonment that gained support from users online during the end of 2024.
EPHEMERA at the 2024 Shining Groove Awards
During the end of November, it was announced by the company that the group would be pausing their hiatus in order to participate in the upcoming end-of-the-year awards shows. Throughout the annual season in December, EPHEMERA once again showcased their impact. with their promising achievements. Receiving numerous nominations such as 'Best Male Group Dance Performance' for "With Love" at the Seoul Music Performance Awards and 'Album Of The Year' for their comeback, the group went on to win 'Seoul General Arts Album Of The Year' at the 2024 Shining Groove Awards, highlighting their continued artist potential with their music. Furthermore, the group's praised concept received its flowers after winning 'Best Album Packaging Design' at the 2024 Hangang Artistry Awards, something the group was very proud to have earned as it had solidified their efforts to evolve their concept. To end off the season, the group continued to receive love for their performances at the various awards shows for their explosive stage presence and ability to really capture the audience. Although following the conclusion of the year, the group officially resumed their hiatus.
2025 (1): Group controversy, end of group hiatus[]
Once the group's "small" hiatus had later turned into the group being missing for over a year and now through the beginning of 2025, officially marking almost a year since their first comeback, rumors and gossip online begin to tarnish and condemn the boy group. Soon, following the group's continued hiatus and start of the new year, various posts accusing the boy group of "laziness" and deceiving their fans began to scour numerous social media platforms, with the latter being posted by an anonymous user named @kilweom.
Through the entire month of January, the user continued to make posts containing an array of photos which were supposedly "leaked" messages between the company and members from KakaoTalk, in which the conversations exposed the idea that "the group didn't want to do anything anymore..." and that they were all too "lazy" to have a comeback. While each post revealed new images of messages each time, the same cryptic caption of "EPHEMERA will soon become ephemeral~" was used in every post which was perceived by fans as a threat, leading to frequent alerts directed towards the company. The posts even reached the unfamiliar netizens who also began to grow their suspicions over the user's actions.
No one knew who this user was; besides their identity being masked behind the mysterious edited profile picture of Donghyuck doing a cute pose, which was dubbed as creepy by fans who also bashed the user in the comments of every post. With even more posts continuously appearing, and as the posts continued to bring down the group's reputation on social media, the company quickly posted an announcement stating how they would be suing the user for defamation and the harmful threats targeted towards the group. But despite the legal remarks from the company, these mysterious posts continued to pop up on social media and the general public began to garner their suspicions against the boy group especially after another post was made regarding the group's year-long hiatus. The caption of the post read as: "Do you ever wonder WHY they were gone for so long? What a joke," along with a picture of the group blemished in a dark shade of red. Weird, right?
Following the last post from the user, the mysterious user soon disappeared without a trace; with the posts being the only reminder of their sudden new existence. As the group's scandal appeared as a hot topic on various news articles and channels, an article on @pannchoa went viral after another user listed their analysis of the messages and the strain of it all. Soon enough, many began to voice how "crucial" it is to stay relevant in the entertainment industry, and to stay relevant, a group should and must be active all the time. After seeing how comfortable the group seemed with disappearing from the public eye, the boy group started to seem "controversial" in the eyes of netizens, and even fans of the group themselves. While some fans remained neutral on the situation, the supposed leaked messages and posts started to overturn the original situation of how the company was "abandoning" the group to the group ultimately "abandoning" their fans. Many who were on the infamous user's side argued how the group's hiatus, the lack of accountability and activity, and the sheer credibility of the posts highlighted why the boy group was at fault while many who defended the group argued how it isn't their responsibility to control everything the group does whether it's what music they release or the things they do as idols especially because they aren't even the artists themselves. In the end, the damage had already been done, even creating a rift in the group's fandom.
The group's controversy continued throughout the first few months of the year, only stopping once it was announced on May 28, 2025 by Origin Music that the group's hiatus had officially come to an end and to expect more "ephemeral" experiences to come soon.
2025 (2): Second comeback with TALES FROM THE UNHEARD[]
A mysterious teaser has appeared~ 🐇
On June 22, 2025, it was revealed on several popular social media accounts that the group would be making their comeback sometime in July, but there was no response released on the unofficial announcements by Origin Music. Of course, fans of the group rejoiced at the sudden news and the hashtag: "#ISURVIVEDTHE2024EPHEMERAHIATUS" began trending on Twitter the next day as many were relieved to see that both them and the group had survived throughout it all. But along with the tears of joy came the mixed opinions and questions online, with many netizens questioning whether or not the group's comeback would be able to do well or even be received positively by the general public since it had been so long since their first comeback last year. Frankly, this debate even caused the realists within their fandom to place bets over the comeback's overall success.
On June 25, 2025, a mysterious teaser was released which finally confirmed the group's long-awaited comeback. The group's newest release was described to be like a whimsical fairytale that would capture the eyes of fans and beautifully exceed the limits of imagination. The following day, it was announced by their company that the group would be making their first comeback on July 24, 2025, with the release of their second full-length album titled TALES FROM THE UNHEARD. Origin Music's CEO, Oh Jun-young released further additional information about the group's comeback, even confidently arguing his side on how the the group's upcoming "ephemeral" experience would top their past releases by far and that the fans were in for something truly special. Now, all eyes were on the group and it seemed it was finally just the right time to unveil their everlasting fairytale. While the confirmation of the comeback caught many by surprise and caused the fandom to reunite, the group themselves also took the time to shower their appreciation towards their fans through an Instagram live where Donghyuck and surprisingly Xiao later sobbed together, stating how thankful they were that they all waited for them. Through this album, the group's hopes were to bring a world of fantasy to life for their beloved fandom.
Following the official announcement, the comeback's scheduler was later posted on June 29, 2025, which further set the precedent among fans on how the upcoming release was giving a rather "uncanny" concept. With the incorporation of several fantastical elements in the schedule's design, and even a cryptic message, it signified that the group has indeed a new story to tell after all. Moreover, the group's variety show tradition continued, through the release of their third special mini variety show series titled "TALES OF EPHEMERA" which consisted of thirteen episodes in total that had the members reading different traditional children's stories and fairytales for the viewers. Although the overall premise of the show was built to relate to their upcoming comeback, it also became a way for viewers to connect to the group, for both new fans and returning fans as well. Furthermore, one of the more popular episodes also gained immediate traction online, for the group's lighthearted and wholesome dynamic, and of course, their interesting reactions to each tale since the members had to read each other various horror stories from both online and their own experience.
Artistry[]
Artist reputation[]
Throughout their time as rookie idols, the group has worked to earn a name for themselves in the industry. With their creative artistry and discography continuing to gain praise ever since their debut, the group has been able to receive attention not only in South Korea but worldwide. From their concept trailers to their particular musical sound, their first impression on the world did not go unnoticed, and they have continued to receive widespread attention for their works of art.
Along with their rising success as artists together, the members have also worked individually to make a name for themselves. Starting with the eldest member, Donghyuck, the idol has made a name for himself through his work as the group's main producer. From producing their top title tracks during their debut with "Take My Hand" and first comeback with "With Love", he has also utilized his creativity in music production in releases from other groups and artists in the industry as well. In unison with his top-notch producing skills, the latter has garnered immense love for his "famed heartbreaker" center visuals and vocals as a lead vocalist. Moving onto Byeonghwi, the idol has erupted in popularity ever since his survival show days where he has gone on to gain praise for his awkward but adorable persona and strong vocals that quite literally erase the fact that he's a shy introvert during performances. As the "most known" member of the group, he has continued to sort of magnetize people to stan the group with his attractive exterior and interior qualities. For the esteemed pretty boy of the group, Hyuk has become viral for of course, his fairy-like visuals that's dubbed to put anyone in a trance, especially when paired with his strong dance skills in krumping. With his heavenly looks, his rich personality filled with both sassiness and silliness has made him become known as a big variety show king. He has also received lots of support from the queer community for always showing his support and love for everyone.
Continuing with the visual center, Yong, his gentle prince-like personality and character has garnered him many admirers within the fandom and public. His star quality can be seen at any moment, whether it's in singing or especially dancing and it's often said by fans that it seems as if the idol helps complete the group in a way. His catchphrase, "STAY YONG!" has also become a staple of use amongst idols for its catchy and cute meaning. Now for the member with most swag and charisma, Xiao has grown as a frequent top bias-wrecker among fans of the group for harnessing all the qualities of an idol. With his skills as a rapper, cool persona, and hardworking efforts, he has earned the respect of many for being an example of someone that didn't give up on their dreams. Lastly, for the energy youngest, Seojun, despite being the only new face in the group, his efforts to catch up to his hyungs have continuously been recognized by fans. But his work as a maknae has earned him much love, especially his cheeky smile that's known to brighten anyone's day and brighten the atmosphere in any room.
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Legacy[]
Although the members all share the same hopes and dreams of one day leaving a legacy in the entertainment industry together, when the topic is brought up, the group has frequently voiced how they all believe it is too soon for them to have a "legacy" already and that they are still working to achieve such goals in the future.
Though even now, the group has been recognized as role models and favorites by several trainees and idols such as SPECTER's Athrun Jeon, CELOSIA's Aaron, and past Star Maker X 101 contestant, Jo Eunseop. The group's music especially their debut song, "Take My Hand" has also grown to be a popular audition song amongst trainees for its intricate dance movements and vocal showcase, as well as being covered by various artists and groups such as ANGELUS in their debut show, and it was even featured in survival shows when the song was used in the third round of MAGNET RISE for the dance performance skill teams.
Musicality[]
The group's sound is described to be rather whimsical, in which their core musical identity is often catered to the individual genre and concept of the given album itself. Incorporating sounds such as new jack swing, funk, electro-pop, synth-pop, and more in their discography has allowed the group's musicality to flourish. An important aspect of their music is to leave a fresh but timeless mark on their listeners, whether it's pulling them in through mysterious instrumentals or uplifting the listener with upbeat mixes, the group wants their sound to fulfill a resonant legacy to the ears. Their music also holds a special connection as each track either contains a beautiful deeper message or a representation of a members' story and what they want to convey.
So while the group's musicality cannot be determined through a set sound, the group's goal is to explore a variety of genres and further themselves in their musical direction. Furthermore, through the uniqueness of each song, Donghyuck also revealed how each individual track on their albums are "intricately" and "carefully" chosen; with the highest importance going to the selection of the album's centerpiece which is the title track.
Lifestyle[]
As idols, each member has grown accustomed to their new-found life. With the day-long schedules and countless music performances, while it may be tiring, all of them voice how truly grateful they all are for the opportunities they've been given as a group.
EPHEMERA's first ever music show stage (230901)
One of their favorite moments experienced together as idols, as described by Xiao was when they had their first music show performance at Smile Groove Music Show on September 1, 2023 where they were touched to hear the loud fan-chants coming from the audience. The special moment ended up in the group tearing up together while embraced in a group hug shortly after their debut stage was over.
Another significant moment for the group was when they won their first Daesang for their debut album despite only being a four-month old group at the 2023 Hangang Artistry Awards. Hyuk remembers the moment truly being both shocking and magical the minute their group name was called, and when the six of them were all walking up to receive their award, along with some of them even crying hysterically from this historical achievement.
The current dorm arrangements for the group (as of May 2025) consist of:
In a recent interview, it was revealed that the roommate pairings in their dorm were determined through a random number generator and a coin-flip.
The members also described their way of living within the dorms as something unexpected and humorously a little bit different from each other. Member Yong stated, "Well... living with them all has been an interesting experience to say the least. I'm just glad none of us have died yet," and the second-eldest member Byeonghwi expressed with a large sigh, "I've sadly become an extrovert because of those two rascals pffft... jinjja michin," Xiao stating that "...I always have to hide in the bathroom whenever I want to write lyrics haha-", roomies Donghyuck and Hyuk expressing how "...they've practically become parents," and lastly with youngest member Seojun expressing how "extremely grateful he is for Donghyuck's home-cooking~"
In numerous variety shows when the topic of their "dorm life" was brought up, it was stated how their company gave them all the choice whether to live in separate rooms or shared rooms in the dorm; and in the end, having shared rooms was unanimously voted (to poor introvert Byeonghwi's demise). Though, the members felt it was necessary to get to know each other more better in order to harness a stronger bond amongst each other. They also described how living together in the dorms has led to many sleepless late nights and midnight mukbang occurrences, along with their manager stressing over the countless noise complaints they receive.
With their never-ending midnight snack runs or late night karaoke, the atmosphere of their dorm was also said to have never been down, besides the one instance when Xiao caused the death of their hamburger buns by accidentally leaving them in the toaster for eternity. This led to the group hosting an emotional funeral for their supposed-to-be homemade kimchi burgers and Xiao having to dramatically order takeout over the phone. It was also exposed by a certain member that Donghyuck and Xiao are the members that wake up the most early while Yong and Hyuk take the longest to wake up, as well as take the longest to get ready for the day. Lastly, in their dorm: The Republic of V.D.R sleep on the first floor while Pamilyaz sleep on the second floor.
In the daily lives of the ephemeral rookie idols, each member during their debut showcase and throughout their social media activity revealed their unique favorites, dislikes, talents, hobbies, and more to allow for their fans to get to know them more.
- Donghyuck:
- His favorite thing to do besides producing is trying different flavors of tea.
- His hidden talent is that he can actually do a good Goofy impression.
- He dislikes being late, being tired, and getting angry.
- He hopes to pick up more hobbies such as solving Rubix cubes.
- He wants to become penpals with other idols in the industry.
- Byeonghwi:
- His favorite thing to do besides singing is painting, something he picked up during his trainee days.
- His hidden talent is that he can actually sing the infamous Mariah Carey whistle note.
- He dislikes wilted roses, having a sore throat, and feeling awkward.
- He hopes to expand his vocal range and successfully sing the high note in IU's Good Day.
- He wants to become an ESTP in the future, if possible.
- Hyuk:
- His favorite thing to do is strut anywhere to charli xcx's song,"365".
- His hidden talent is that his hair is supposedly invincible to hair damage after frequent hair dyeing.
- He dislikes losing his belongings, his phone having low battery, and having messy hair.
- He hopes to get into the fashion and modeling industry as a side gig in the future.
- He wants to become a successful idol-influencer on social media.
- Yong:
- His favorite thing to do is watch historical c-dramas.
- His hidden talent is that he can easily do the worm and coffee grinder.
- He dislikes being alone, having the birthday blues, his contact lenses becoming dry.
- He hopes to see and take a selfie with Taylor Swift in person one day.
- He really really really wants to own a Scottish Fold cat one day in the future and name it "Meowasaurus".
- Xiao:
- His favorite thing to do besides working on his rapping is knitting.
- His hidden talent is that he can recite 3,472 digits of pi.
- He dislikes wasting his time, taking long naps, and vampires.
- He hopes to become a role model for others, especially his younger sister.
- He wants to make an impact in the industry with his rapping, music, and for being himself.
- Seojun:
- His favorite thing to do is starting collections of his favorite things.
- His hidden talent is that he'd ace any K-Pop Random Play Dance thrown at him.
- He dislikes bugs, salmonella, and things having bad endings.
- He hopes to continue growing both as an idol and in height.
- He wants to become just as good as his hyungs in the far future.
Fandom[]
Fandom name logo (est. March 2024)
Name[]
The group's fandom name, EPHEAFTER (pronounced as "Everafter") comes from the idea of combining their group name (EPHE—) with the two-word phrase, Ever After to represent their hopes of forever living "happily ever after" with their fans. Although the group's name utilizes a word that symbolizes the short moments throughout time, the members wanted the fandom name to symbolize their eternal love and bond with their fans. The fandom name is also both a humorous and cute play on pronunciation, as it bridges together their group name and the phrase.
Fan reputation[]
Through their strong social media presence and loving support for the boy group, EPHEAFTERs have amassed a positive reputation within the K-pop scene. Described as being loyal and supportive of the group, fans have made a name for themselves for always supporting the group's identity no matter what. Moreover, due to the help of their fans, there were countless moments throughout the group's first year that went viral on several social media platforms. A longtime fan of Byeonghwi, even before the group made their initial debut, caused the idol to go viral throughout the Internet for a satire edit they had posted about the idol being "missing" which boosted his popularity even more. Another example of such moments caused by fans was the rise in popularity of the pairing between members Donghyuck and Hyuk known as HyuckHyukz; which went platinum amongst boy's love fans and the BL community for their adorable chemistry and the eldest member somehow becoming Hyuk's official "photographer". With the release of Yong's solo during their debut, the crown prince managed to capture even more hearts from the public after fans mass-spread the "Prince Yong" agenda throughout Twitter. Furthermore, Xiao ultimately became a meme amongst locals and the general public due to a fan editing his face on the popular Pixar character, Lightning McQueen. With Seojun, his loved personality and the fans always paralleling him with True Beauty's Han Seojun led to his virality amongst webtoon lovers.
Members[]
|
Name | Birthdate | Position(s) | Years active |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Donghyuck
(동혁) |
January 2, 1998
(age 27) |
Leader, Co-Center, Producer, Lead Vocalist, Visual | 2023-present |
|
Byeonghwi
(병휘) |
August 15, 1999
(age 25) |
Co-Leader, Main Vocalist, Face Of The Group | 2023-present |
|
Hyuk
(혁) |
April 14, 2002
(age 23) |
Lead Dancer, Sub Vocalist, Visual | 2023-present |
|
Yong
(용) |
December 31, 2002
(age 22) |
Main Dancer, Center, Sub Rapper | 2023-present |
|
Xiao
(샤오) |
October 29, 2003
(age 21) |
Main Rapper, Sub Vocalist | 2023-present |
|
Seojun
(서준) |
March 14, 2005
(age 20) |
Lead Rapper, Sub Vocalist, Maknae | 2023-present |
Lines[]
- Rap Line: Xiao, Yong, Hyuk
- Vocal Line: Byeonghwi, Donghyuck, Yong
- Dance Line: Yong, Hyuk, Seojun
- Visual Line: Hyuk, Donghyuck, Yong
- Hyung Line: Donghyuck (1998), Byeonghwi (1999), Hyuk (2002)
- Maknae Line: Yong (2002), Xiao (2003), Seojun (2005)
- Producer Line: Donghyuck, Byeonghwi, Hyuk, Yong, Xiao, Seojun
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
- MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL (2023)
- TALES FROM THE UNHEARD (2025)
Mini albums[]
- RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT (2024)
Releases[]
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL |
|
- |
|
| RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT |
|
- |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. | |||
Singles[]
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| "Take My Hand" | 2023 | 24 (Bugs) | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL |
| "Crown Prince" | — | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "Dead To Me" | — | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "Me, Myself, & You" | — | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "Scavenger Hunt" | — | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "Reach For The Stars" | — | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "Finish Line" | — | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "EMOTIONS 101" | 45 (Bugs) | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | |
| "Sweet Treat" | 2024 | 24 (Bugs) | RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT |
| "With Love" | 3 (MelOn) | RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||
Awards and nominations[]
Music show wins[]
| Song | Music show | Date |
|---|---|---|
| "Take My Hand" | Smile Groove Music Show | September 8, 2023 |
| MBS Rankdown | September 9, 2023 | |
| October 13, 2023 | ||
| "With Love" | Smile Groove Music Show | February 2, 2024 |
| Hallyumak | February 4, 2024 | |
| Beat Bop | February 5, 2024 | |
| Smile Groove Music Show | February 2, 2024 | |
| February 9, 2024 | ||
| February 16, 2024 | ||
| Total wins | 9 | 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 |
Award show wins[]
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hangang Artistry Awards | Best New Artist | EPHEMERA | Won | |
| Best Hip Hop | "Finish Line" | Nominated | ||
| Best Music Video | "Crown Prince" | Nominated | ||
| Album Of The Year | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | Won | ||
| Shining Groove Awards | Rookie Song Of The Year | "Take My Hand" | Won | |
| Seoul Music Performance Awards | Best New Male Group Award | EPHEMERA | Nominated | |
| Rookie Song Of The Year Award | "Take My Hand" | Nominated | ||
| KCC Album Choice Award | MEMOIRS OF A ROOKIE IDOL | Won | ||
| Etoile's Asian Music Awards | Group Fan Choice Award | EPHEMERA | Nominated | |
| Idol Fan Choice Award | Donghyuck | Nominated | ||
| Best Music Video Award | "Take My Hand" | Nominated | ||
| Rookie Of The Year | EPHEMERA | Nominated | ||
| Hangang Artistry Awards | Album Of The Year | RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT | Nominated | |
| Best K-pop Duo/Group Vocal Album | RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT | Nominated | ||
| Best Album Packaging Design | RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT | Won | ||
| Shining Groove Awards | Seoul General Arts Album of the Year | RECIPES FOR A SWEET TREAT | Won | |
| Seoul Music Performance Awards | Best Male Group Dance Performance | "With Love" | Nominated |
Concerts[]
Showcases[]
| Title | Date | City | Country | Venue | Attendance | Set List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPHEMERA's DEBUT SHOWCASE | August 31, 2023 | Seoul | South Korea | Olympic Hall | 5,500 |
|
| EPHEMERA's COMEBACK SHOWCASE: SWEET TREAT | January 28, 2024 | Seoul | South Korea | Jangchung Arena | 9,000 |
|
Filmography[]
| Year | Title | Overview | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | EPHEMERA: WHO AM I? | A short 3-minute video that uses a cute scrap-booking animation that showcases each member and their individual charm. The design process of each section for each member was specifically designed by that member. It gave information to the viewer about who they were and the video ultimately served as the member's introduction to the public in a fun way. | YouTube |
| EPHEMERA: NEW COLLECTIONS | A video that featured the group's special event location <EPHEMERA'S BAZAAR> for the first time. The mysterious shop featured the new collections of each member and what they have to offer as a member of EPHEMERA. Each section helped showcase the talents and skills of a certain member. | YouTube | |
| ADVENTURES WITH EPHEMERA | A mini variety show series containing a total of 16 episodes that were released alongside the group's journey, leading to their long-awaited debut. It allowed fans to see special pre-debut content that helped them get to know the members more and was utilized to showcase behind-the-scenes content of their schedule. | YouTube | |
| 2024 | BAKING WITH EPHEMERA | A special series containing a total of 9 episodes that were released through a "vlogger" format which showed off the group's baking skills together and individually for the members. It was a sweet way of honoring the album's baking and cooking concept through baking sweet treats in each episode. | YouTube |
| 2025 | ADVENTURES WITH EPHEMERA PART 2 | A mini vlog series containing a total of 20 videos that showcased the members' lives during their hiatus, whether it was going on vacation or pursuing something new. The series served as a way for fans of the group to tune in on what goes on behind the scenes during the downtime of the rookie idols. | YouTube |
| 2025 | TALES OF EPHEMERA | A mini variety show series containing a total of 13 episodes that was released, in celebration of their return and their second comeback. The show allowed viewers to connect more with the members through their own personal storytelling and bright atmosphere together. | YouTube |
Trivia[]
- The group was hinted to contain a "few" familiar faces by Origin Music.
- In reality, 5/6 members of the group were already familiar to the public.
- Based on frequent user activity and fan polls from EPH.M, the top three countries the group is most popular in are: South Korea, China, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
- Yong, Xiao, and Seojun are the most popular globally, while Hyuk, Byeonghwi, and Donghyuck are the most popular back home.
- The group's favorite bonding activity together was stated to be either staying up late together or trying new restaurants every weekend.
- The group consists of five extroverts, and a singular introvert a.k.a main vocalist Byeonghwi.
- Byeonghwi confessed how he's afraid to retake the MBTI test as a result after being around them for so long.
- The group's hiatus lasted for approximately 454 days before their official return in 2025.
- The most loved pairings in the group are: HyuckHyukz (Donghyuck x Hyuk), Yongxiao (Yong x Xiao), JiJang (Byeonghwi x Donghyuck), and XiaoJun (Xiao x Seojun).
- They are the second boy group to ever debut under their label, following in the footsteps of M.I.D.A.S.
- Because of this, fans of the senior boy group have often found numerous parallels and uncanny "coincidences" between the two boy groups.
- All members except Xiao and Seojun have participated in at least one survival show.
- Donghyuck often jokes with his members that "survival show trauma" helped them all get closer.
- All members besides Donghyuck and Byeonghwi are born in the 21st century.
- The group frequently posts on their specialized app known as EPH.M with Donghyuck being the most active member.
- Check out their official Spotify account here~ @EPHEMERA
Miscellaneous[]
Official links[]
| Social Media Application | User | Totals |
|---|---|---|
| @EPHEMERA_official | 3.2 million followers | |
| ⌲ Twitter/X | @EPHEMERA_OFFICIAL | 978k followers |
| ⌲ Spotify | @EPHEMERA | 5.6 million monthly listeners |
| ⌲ TikTok | @ephemera_official | 4.3 million followers |
| @ephemera.official | 439k followers | |
| ⌲ YouTube | @EPHEMERA | 1.4 million subscribers |
PLAYLISTS OF A ROOKIE IDOL 🎧ྀི[]
| ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ.〝What have your EPHEMERAL BOYS been tuning into lately?~〞 ♫⋆｡♪ ₊˚♬ ﾟ. | ||
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