NAZE: The K-Pop Rookies Who Already Act Like Veterans

Seven young men from South Korea, Japan, and Thailand walked onto Korean music stages for the first time on May 4, 2026 — and acted like they had been doing it for years. Meet NAZE, C9 Entertainment's newest boy group, and the most unconventional rookie act of the year.

NAZE (네이즈) debuted with their first mini album, also titled NAZE, and its lead single "People Talk" — a dance-pop track built around one liberating message: stop worrying about what others say and just be happy. Within a week, the album had sold 130,427 copies, ranking NAZE third among all domestic K-pop groups debuting in 2026. The numbers were striking. The response was even more so.

But perhaps what made the biggest impression wasn't the sales figure — it was how composed the group seemed for people technically making their Korean debut. The answer, as NAZE would explain, lies in everything they did before this moment.

Experienced Rookies: The Japan Chapter That Changed Everything

Before NAZE ever performed on a Korean music show, they had already starred in a Japanese prime-time drama. All seven members appeared as main cast in TBS's DREAM STAGE, a Japanese terrestrial broadcast that aired during prime time slots. They followed that up with appearances on TBS variety programs and music shows — all before their official Korean debut.

The group describes their unusual trajectory with a phrase that's already becoming part of their identity: "경력직 신인" — which roughly translates to "experienced rookies." It's a paradox that perfectly captures who they are.

"Because of the drama and variety show experience, each of us developed our own know-how," said member Kim Geon. "Even though we're rookies, we can show a more adjusted side compared to groups starting completely from scratch in Korea."

Member Yunki, who joined the group as one of its more experienced figures in Japanese media, reflected on what that pre-debut period gave them beyond just performance skills. "In Japan, I was able to learn how to handle unexpected situations on stage and how to communicate with fans," he said. "That time was a huge foundation for preparing for our Korean debut — and I think it's what gave us our current confidence."

That confidence shows. For a group in their second week of activity, NAZE carries themselves with an ease that takes most K-pop acts years to develop.

Seven Members, Three Countries, One Language

NAZE is C9 Entertainment's first multinational group — and the company's first new boy group in five years. The seven members come from South Korea, Japan (Yuya and Kaisei), and Thailand (Turn), making the group a genuine reflection of the diverse fanbase that K-pop now draws from across Asia.

Communicating across three nationalities could have been a challenge, but the members say it has only made them closer. "We primarily speak Korean, but Yunki and Turn speak English well, so when we need to we use a mix of languages," explained Ato. "Honestly, we care so much about each other that sometimes we wonder why we never fight. Waiting for each other and understanding each other — that's our team's greatest strength."

Each member arrived at K-pop from a different path. Turn, NAZE's Thai member, grew up watching SHINee — his parents' favorite group — and dreamed of becoming a singer. Japanese member Kaisei was drawn to Korea after watching BTS's performances. Yuya, also Japanese, fell in love with break dancing before discovering he wanted the broader stage that K-pop could offer.

Kaisei described his early days in Korea with characteristic warmth: "When I first came to Korea, there were times when the language and culture felt unfamiliar and difficult. But training together with the members, Seoul has started to feel like my second home."

"People Talk": A Debut Single That Doesn't Care What You Think

The group's name, NAZE (나제 in Korean), refers to the geographical term for the place where the ocean meets land — a liminal space of infinite possibility, a place of beginnings. It's a fitting metaphor for a group that refuses to be boxed in.

"People Talk" embodies that philosophy. The dance-pop track features an instantly memorable chorus and addictive vocal chops, with the core message sitting right at the surface: other people's words don't define your happiness. It's an anthem for self-determination wrapped in something you can't stop humming.

Turn recalled hearing the track for the first time: "I honestly loved it. The addictive vocals filled my ears and kept coming back to me. It was in my head from morning to night for a whole week. I thought — this has to be the title track. And I wasn't the only one who felt that way."

Yunki added: "As soon as I heard the song, I could picture ourselves on stage. I felt like we could freely express ourselves through it. The lyrics honestly capture a lot about who we are, and the melody just sticks."

The full debut mini album consists of four tracks, all designed to present NAZE exactly as they are — no elaborate fictional universe, no fantasy concept. "Rather than forcing a world-building concept or telling fantasy stories, we thought it would be more natural and cooler to just show the seven of us as we really are," Ato explained. "All four tracks have our real selves in them."

The Numbers Behind the Debut

Album sales are one of K-pop's most closely watched metrics, and NAZE's debut numbers have drawn significant attention in industry circles. The 130,427 first-week sales figure places them third among 2026 domestic K-pop debuts, behind only Alpha Drive One and Modifice — two groups that themselves generated considerable buzz earlier this year.

For a group from a mid-tier label making its first major Korean release, that result signals real market traction. C9 Entertainment, home to established acts like CIX, EPEX, vocalist Yoonha, and Lee Seok-hoon, has been waiting five years since its last new boy group launch. The wait appears to have paid off.

NAZE also became the inaugural act featured in the Golden Disc Awards' original content series "Golden Choice" — an early signal of institutional recognition from one of Korea's most prestigious music award bodies.

Kim Geon, reflecting on the response so far, was confident but measured: "We want to show our most natural and coolest selves. The seven of us are always looking to show something new. Our average age is around 20. This is probably when we have the most new challenges, the most walls to break through. We want to show everything that only we can show right now."

Rookie Awards, World Stages, and Late-Night Fried Chicken

Ask NAZE about their goals and the answers come quickly and without hesitation. Rookie awards. Music show number ones. A solo concert where they can look their fans in the eyes. And eventually, a world tour carrying NAZE's music to audiences everywhere.

"I want to get a rookie award and achieve a music show number one," Kaisei said plainly. "And I want everyone who listens to our music to become happy."

Dohyeok went further: "We have goals like rookie awards and a music show number one, but more than anything, I want to hold a solo concert filled with our own music — and make eye contact with every single fan."

Yuya and Kaisei both voiced a longer-term ambition: "Someday we want to tour the world and bring comfort and happiness to everyone through NAZE's music."

Off stage, the seven members bond the old-fashioned way: over food. The group's unofficial team-building ritual is late-night meals together after evaluations or rest days, spreading out their respective favorite dishes and talking over everything. The current rotation — affectionately nicknamed "엽치피요" in Korean — covers spicy rice cakes, fried chicken, pizza, and frozen yogurt with toppings. Beef barbecue has been requested with increasing frequency.

Ato, asked about advice from C9 label seniors, mentioned receiving guidance from vocalist Yoonha: "She always said to stay humble. She also said she genuinely hopes we'll be happy wherever we go."

The dream Ato holds for NAZE? To be described as masters of everything — a group that handles any genre, any format, and any moment with equal skill. "I want people to say 'they're great at everything they do,'" he said. "And I want the world to recognize that seven different personalities came together and became one natural team. I want that to be our reputation."

NAZE is only two weeks into their Korean career. But between the debut sales, the Japan foundation, and the kind of relaxed, genuine energy that's hard to manufacture — they already look like a group that plans to be here for a long time.