Inside Close Your Eyes’ journey: 7 members, 3 mini-albums, global acclaim

Close Your Eyes, a seven-member K-pop boy band formed through the 2024 survival show Project 7, held their debut solo concert at Seoul’s Olympic Hall on January 31, 2026. For a group barely a year old, performing 20 songs in front of thousands of fans marked a milestone that showcased both their talent and hard work.

In an exclusive interview for CNN by Rebecca Cairns and Erica Hwang, the band rehearsed extensively in a Gangnam basement studio in the week prior, fine-tuning choreography and stage movements under the supervision of managers and coaches. Despite their quick rise, the members emphasised that dedication behind the scenes is what sets them apart. Leader Min-wook Jeon said, “We practice every single day, until past 3 a.m. We’re not those kinds of people who rely on talent alone; we spend a lot of time on it.”

Formed from global audience votes, the final lineup includes members with diverse personalities and skillsets: dancers and vocalists like Yeo-jun Jang, Chinese member Jingxiang Ma, youngest member Kyungbae Seo, rappers Seung Ho Song and Kenshin Sakurada from Japan, and Sung Min Kim as a positive bridge between older and younger members. Their shared commitment has created a strong group dynamic.

Since debuting in April 2025 with the mini-album ETERNALT, Close Your Eyes has released three mini-albums, selling over 1.2 million copies and winning seven industry awards. Their November release, blackout, showed a bolder, experimental sound with house-inspired production, selling over half a million copies in four days. The band also collaborated with Grammy-winning Kazakh DJ Imanbek, expanding their musical range.

The debut concert concluded with their international tour, with performances in Japan, Canada, Malaysia, and Russia planned. Some dates sparked fan controversy due to political sensitivities and local events, but the band’s management stressed the performances are cultural, not political.

Looking ahead, Close Your Eyes plan to release their first full-length album in 2026, including tracks premiered during their concert. Jeon said, “We’ve explored a variety of sounds, so our next album will also be something incredibly new and unexpected.” Despite their rapid rise, the members remain focused on practicing, recording, and performing, demonstrating the dedication behind their early success.