From Rest To Rise: 82MAJOR’s Wake-Up Call

While the rest of Seoul sleeps, 82MAJOR is already wide awake and busy turning a quiet morning into a statement. In a Shilla Hotel suite full of morning sunlight, the six members of 82MAJOR– CHO SEONG IL, NAM SEONG MO, YOON YE CHAN, PARK SEOK JOON, HWANG SEONG BIN, and KIM DO GYUN– slip into white poplin robes. Styled in this soft and sleepy home attire, 82MAJOR looks less like the charismatic K-Pop idol group that makes crowds go wild at concerts with their dynamic performances, and more like six boys ready for a sleepover.

Leaning into the sleepover vibes, the photoshoot proceeds to capture members as they take turns lounging on the king size bed, crouching inside the closet, and resting on the sofa. Underneath the peace and quiet, however, runs a tingle of 82MAJOR’s signature carefree and playful energy, which finally breaks loose with the climax of the shoot: a furious, chaotic pillowfight scene that is much more their style and pace. The resulting series of photos captures 82MAJOR’s ability to express their most authentic and honest selves, no matter the setting or the wardrobe. Whether it's on stage or in a five-star hotel, 82MAJOR knows exactly who they are and doesn’t feel the need to overdo it.

There’s something distinctly Gen Z about the way 82MAJOR reinterprets luxury in the photos. Rather than impressing the viewers with status or wealth, the group invites them to come play, be silly, and share a laugh. The label on the robes becomes a tool for storytelling, and the story that 82MAJOR is here to tell is that while their path to the global stage may be studded in gold and diamonds, they’re not giving up their down-to-earth style and confidence, or their sense of humor.

Wrapped In Confidence

The choice of relaxed items over other styles was no coincidence for 82MAJOR. The group has had plenty of opportunities to show off their intense sides through dynamic stage performances, unconventional visual concepts, and cinematic music videos. This time, 82MAJOR explored a softer, more intimate side of themselves. According to HWANG SEONG BIN, “The comfortable feel of the robes fit 82MAJOR really well. Our style is pretty comfortable and free, which I think worked well with the robes.”

Trying on the robes themselves was a delightful moment for the members. NAM SEONG MO, for one, was impressed by the texture of the robe. “When I first put it on, the first thing I noticed was how high-quality the fabric felt,” he shares. Meanwhile, CHO SEONG IL was pleasantly surprised by how naturally the outfit suited him: “I felt like I could wear it anywhere, anytime. And I didn’t expect to look so good in a robe, but I pulled it off better than I thought!”

The setting of the hotel played a role in the special feel of the photoshoot as well. KIM DO GYUN points to the overall atmosphere as a defining part of the experience, saying, “Filming in a special place like a hotel, wearing robes and trying out different poses, felt very fresh and new to me.” In the same vein, NAM SEONG MO recalls how mesmerized he was looking out the windows from the hotel room: “It was my first time visiting Hotel Shilla, and I was struck by the amazing view from the suite.”

Pillows Up, Guard Down

It isn’t every day that 82MAJOR gets to slip into fluffy bathrobes and flop down on a hotel bed. The group has been very busy for the past few months with their comeback with their 3rd mini album [SILENCE SYNDROME], and then getting ready for their first North America tour from June to July. Despite the exhaustion that must come from their busy schedule, 82MAJOR members jump at the chance to beat each other up with pillows on camera. Though the photos are silent, one can almost hear their hysterical laughter and desperate cries for mercy filling the room.

In fact, CHO SEONG IL’s favorite moment from the entire photoshoot is the pillow fight. “It was very easy! The pillow fight scene in particular was great because we got to show off the chemistry between 82MAJOR members in an honest way,” he shares. HWANG SEONG BIN agrees, stating that the moment felt more like real life than anything else: “It was so fun doing the pillow fight with the members, we almost forgot that we were shooting! It felt just like how we goof around with each other in our daily lives.”

Even for 82MAJOR, a group that is the opposite of shy when coming to show their truest selves on stage or camera, the vulnerability of posing in sleepwear comes with challenges. NAM SEONG MO credits the staff and the clothes themselves for helping the group present their honest sides: “A lot of people helped us relax during the shoot, so we were able to show ourselves naturally. And the robes felt really nice as well, which helped the shoot feel even cozier.”

Looking back on their first luxury brand photoshoot, the members share lasting impressions of the experience. PARK SEOK JOON sums it up in one word: “Clean. I think the overall white mood of the photoshoot delivers a clean, fresh feel really well.” For YOON YE CHAN, three words come to mind: “Lounge, Comfort, Luxury.” He explains, “I think of ‘Lounge’ to represent the loungewear, and ‘Comfort’ is what you feel from the kind of clothes we wore. And ‘Luxury’ to represent the robes. Even if you can’t see any logos on the robes, I think they naturally look very luxurious!”

Unfolding Tomorrow

Now that their first photoshoot featuring a luxury brand is done and over, 82MAJOR has their sights on stepping into the fashion industry with more purpose and confidence than ever before. The robes have inspired several members to design their own line of homewear. NAM SEONG MO has ideas for something bold and sleek, befitting the group’s signature style: “Maybe we could capture 82MAJOR’s intense image through an all-black style.” And YOON YE CHAN is revving to take on the challenge with his own vision. “I’d make it look totally unique. There are a lot of different types of robes, and I want to try designing a distinctive style using asymmetrical shapes!”

With a sharp sense of identity and a creative curiosity that fits perfectly with their generation, 82MAJOR is headed toward a broader stage not just as musicians, but as fashion figures and cultural voices. CHO SEONG IL voices his wishes to attend a major fashion event in the near future: “I would love to attend a Fashion Week. I want to see cool outfits with my own eyes and experience the vibrant atmosphere firsthand.” And KIM DO GYUN is determined to keep more fashion collaborations and projects headed their way. “I’d like to do anything if the opportunity arises. We will continue to show our cool sides so that there will be more great opportunities,” he shares.

82MAJOR’s total confidence in themselves gives them a soft power, the kind of power that never needs to shout to be heard. It’s the same energy they bring to stages across major cities in the U.S. and Canada this summer, connecting with fans in new cities and sharing their story on a bigger scale than ever before. Between the elegance of this photoshoot and the momentum of their tour, the group stands at a turning point where performance meets personality, and style meets substance. 82MAJOR may be wrapped in robes and laughing on hotel beds, but this is a group wide awake to their moment, and ready to take over.

BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.