VANNER’s Resilience Through a Career Revival, EP Release, and Unbreakable Brotherhood

“When times are hard, you are harder.” These are words that the K-pop boy group VANNER can relate to. After debuting in 2019, they faced many setbacks but eventually found their way after competing on a popular South Korean survival reality TV show. Winning the show provided them with a platform to pursue their music careers. VANNER is a five-member group consisting of Taehwan, Gon, Hyesung, Sungkook, and Yeonggwang; however, they are currently promoting themselves as a four-member group while Sungkook serves in the Korean military. 

Taehwan recalls their time being on a reality TV show, noting, “We did not expect to win at all, but the program gave us the opportunity to take a good look at our strengths and weaknesses. The things we learned about ourselves by being on reality TV became the basis for our growth.”

Competing in a survival show brought the members together closer than ever. “Our desire to keep the team together was stronger than any thoughts about giving up our goals or running away from them,” says Hyesung. This translates to the group’s message for their 3rd mini album, BURN.

The EP also speaks about the members’ experiences overcoming challenges and their hopes for the future. “The songs are definitely autobiographical,” says Gon. “They reflect our identity and direction as a group. Rather than making up a fictional character, we wanted to express ourselves as purely and truly as possible.”

“Automatic” serves as the group’s title track for this EP. Inspired by electro-funk and disco sounds, Taehwan mentions these are genres they had never tried their hands at before. “We didn’t really listen to other artists for reference or anything, but rather focused more on making sure our own colors shine through the song.”

Hyesung praised his fellow member Gon for guiding them throughout the process. “He gave us a lot of feedback on how to express our emotions through this song,” he says. “[He] told us what he was feeling, which helped give ‘Automatic’ a sense of unity.”

Yeonggwang proudly says “Blossom” is another of the songs on the EP the members relate to emotionally.

Taehwan notes that releasing a cover of “I Don’t Think I Like Her” is as important as the EP release “because we want to nurture our relationship with global fans as well.”

Understanding each other’s lifestyles and personalities is required to build a healthy working relationship. It’s common for music groups to express their emotions in their work, in both the good times and bad. Hyesung states, “It’s important to feel those emotions when we are saddest or happiest, but equally important and necessary are the staff who help us transform those emotions into music and timing. [The] most important are VVS [VANNER’s fandom’s name], who support us and listen to our music.”

VANNER often find themselves shocked by how far they’ve come. Before appearing on South Korean reality TV, they were the definition of struggling artists. Working part-time jobs to fund their dreams and juggling multiple roles to promote their group was no easy feat.

Remarkably, they practiced together an incredible amount, even in other countries. “Before our debut, we did over 200 performances together in Japan,” Hyesung notes. “Having spent that much time together, it is actually quite difficult to separate the working relationship from the personal friendship we have with each other. Each member has a lot of ideas, as well as a deep yearning and passion for the stage.”

The members are grateful to their long-time supporters for being with them at every milestone. Gon happily says, “Our fans believed in us and waited for us for such a long time, but we have been able to achieve our goals. And, of course, our families’ support helped us get where we are now.”

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