A great concept can help a K-pop group stand out in the crowd, and some concepts are more defined than others. Aespa, for example, was essentially the first K-pop group to directly tie its concept into the “metaverse.” Meanwhile, Red Velvet’s concept is kind of that they can do any concept. However, the K-pop boy group Boynextdoor from Zico’s KOZ Entertainment and HYBE has a concept that fully and strongly embodies their name. They are, quite genuinely, the boys next door in promotional materials for their debut. Here, we will discuss when exactly Boynextdoor made their debut and with what songs, in addition to their debut concept.
Boynextdoor Debuted on May 30, 2023 with the Single Album WHO!
Sungho, Riwoo, Jaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, and Woonhak debuted as Boynextdoor on May 30, 2023 with the single album WHO!, which contains a whopping three lead singles: “돌아버리겠다 (But I Like You),” “One and Only,” and “Serenade.” All three songs were produced by Pop Time and Zico, and “One and Only” was also written by them. “돌아버리겠다 (But I Like You)” composition is credited to Pop Time, Kako, Jaehyun, Taesan, Woonhak, and Nmore. “Serenade” composition is credited to Pop Time, Kako, Daily, Likey, Jaehyun, Taesan, and Woonhak. For those wondering, “돌아버리겠다” translates in this case to, “You’re Driving Me Crazy.”
Promotional predebut videos for Boynextdoor were filmed in a retro style that seemed to evoke the energy of ’90s sitcoms, and photos and videos often place the members at their homes, as literal boys next door preparing for a party or showing up to someone else’s home. It’s quite charming and lighthearted, feeling warm and inviting to viewers of all ages.
The first Boynextdoor music video was published on YouTube prior to their debut, on May 23 KST, for “돌아버리겠다 (But I Like You).” The second video was published on May 26 KST, for “One and Only.” The third and final music video, for “Serenade,” arrived on the day of debut, May 30. On the day of debut, Boynextdoor also conducted a debut showcase stylized like a late-night talk show, [BOYNEXTDOOR TONIGHT], to introduce themselves. This included a self-interview session, an outdoor prank segment, a studio game, and prerecorded performances of all three debut songs. (The prank segment also provided a demonstration of who can speak English in the group.)
Besides [BOYNEXTDOOR TONIGHT], the first time that Boynextdoor performed together was on June 1, 2023 on M Countdown, where they performed “돌아버리겠다” and “One and Only.”
Months later, in September 2023, Boynextdoor would release its first mini-album, WHY.., and Sungho would reveal that the group had been planning this album since before they even debuted. That is why there is such a cohesive narrative between WHO! (about first love) and WHY.. (about breaking up).
To summarize, Boynextdoor made their debut on May 30, 2023 with three songs, “돌아버리겠다 (But I Like You),” “One and Only,” and “Serenade,” on the single album WHO!, and each song has its own music video. For more about the group, check out how old the Boynextdoor members are and who the leader is, or check out our comprehensive Boynextdoor members profile page that has in-depth information on all six members!