CRAVITY were preceded in their company STARSHIP Entertainment by iconic K-Pop groups such as Monsta X, SISTAR, and WJSN. They’ve been creeping into the Korean public’s consciousness since their debut, showing their versatility and ability to adapt throughout the years. They have built a stable fanbase and have desires to reach farther, putting themselves out there with every release. In 2024, they were yet again put to work, holding concerts, starring on a competition show, and releasing two new albums. We caught up with the nine-member group in Seoul to discuss their strengths and how they made it to where they are today.
CRAVITY has had a wild year. From grabbing your first win with Love or Die, hosting sold out concerts here in Seoul, and winning the newest edition of Road to Kingdom. Have there been any particularly special moments?
Allen: You know, all those moments are so special to us and they’re like the highlights of this year, I would say. I guess just every moment that we spent with our fans, LUVITY, is very special to all of us, for sure. Especially this comeback as well, because we worked so hard on Road to Kingdom to show everyone who we are, what CRAVITY is all about. We know a lot of eyes are on us and a lot of attention will be focused on this comeback. We started the year off strong– we want to finish off stronger.
CRAVITY has been somewhat of a concept chameleon. You have always been able to mold yourselves to a new vibe and new concepts that still fit the CRAVITY name. How do you think that has been an advantage for you?
Woobin: Because we’re so versatile in experimenting with a wide variety of genres, that kind of makes us a group with no limits. So that’s definitely an advantage that we have.
What was your favorite performance that you revealed on Road to Kingdom?
Seongmin, Taeyoung: “Sugar Rush Ride”
Serim, Wonjin, Allen, Hyeongjun, Woobin: “Love Or Die”
Minhee: “Overdose”
Jungmo: “Historia”
What was the process like when you all got cast [to be in the group]? Did you all meet each other immediately and then began training together? Or was there kind of a moment where you didn’t know what was happening?
Allen: So with the K-Pop training system, basically the company just scouts or casts trainees through auditions. So there’s no, like, specific moment when we all nine met. Basically at first it was like Minhee, Woobin, Wonjin, they were the longest trainees under Starship. And then there came Hyeongjun, there came Jungmo, and then came Serim and Seongmin, then I came along and then Taeyoung came on last. From there, from then on, I think [we trained] for like one year after. There were more than just nine of us. Fortunately, the nine of us all made it to the last moment. And then around I think December or January of 2020, that’s when we officially were a fixed [group], then it was confirmed, “Oh, you guys are going to debut all together.”
What were your impressions of each other back then versus now? Did you all get along immediately or was it kind of a little bit of a shock to be put in a group?
Allen: We were like…kind of shy? Some of us are really shy and some of us take a long time to open up and to really get close. I took a while, but yeah…as we’ve aged, a lot of members sort of became more mature and we just learned to, you know, be more considerate. We learned to coexist with each other and we always have each other’s backs. We’re like one big family.
How was your experience participating in the documentary K-Pop Idols for Apple TV?
Allen: The reactions that we got were like, “Oh, CRAVITY is such a close-knit group. They’re so family-like.” We were really able to show [audiences] our off-camera sides, we were able to show the audience our genuine interactions and stuff. So I feel like [it was] a really new, really fresh kind of side to K-Pop. I guess we were able to break away from the prejudice that people usually have about K-Pop idols.
Speaking of your real selves, who CRAVITY really is– your variety series on YouTube, CRAVITY Park is a huge stan attractor. What are your favorite moments from recording the series? Do you all have any favorite episodes?
Jungmo: There’s one moment where I have a bit of trauma when I got hit by the raw egg, when Serim tried to break it with his biceps. That’s the moment I just can’t forget.
Taeyoung: We actually film for content, but we also really enjoy the moments when we’re filming because it’s like the nine members are all gathering together and playing. Having fun is the main theme. So I think CRAVITY Park should keep going.
Are there any of your songs that you feel deserve more attention? Any gems in the discography that you’d urge people to listen to?
Allen: There’s a lot of hidden gems.
Hyeongjun: Honestly, “My Turn”.
Allen: It has a lot of attention already, but I guess it deserves more.
Jungmo: “Breathing”– more ballad kind of type.
Hyeongjun (to Allen): “Over and Over”!
Allen: Ahh! “Over and Over”, my self composed song.
Seongmin: “Ooh Ahh”!!
Wonjin: For me, “Love Fire”.
Jungmo (to Woobin): “Colorful”!
Minhee: “Jumper”, “Jumper”!!
Taeyoung: “Jumper” is not hidden!
Minhee: More, more, more attention please.
Taeyoung: “Worst Thriller” is my personal favorite.
Jungmo: “Baddie”, too!
As performance icons, what are some of your favorite songs to perform live?
Wonjin: I think “Party Rock”.
Taeyoung: I think my favorite performance is maybe “Jumper” because of the vibe and how it sounds live. In a concert, it’s really a vibe. It’s fire.
Allen: For me it’s got to be “POW!” As a song to listen to, I don’t know about that but definitely when you watch the performance and as performers doing the song on stage, it’s so hype. It’s so fun.
Serim: “My Turn”!
What is one way that LUVITY support you that actually makes a big difference to you?
Taeyoung: I know there’s a kind of fan culture? LUVITY Selca Day, on Twitter (X). I watch fans, LUVITY, imitating our pictures and celebrating the day. It’s really like, very, very touching. I like to look at them all. I really love that content.
Allen: Seriously, I don’t think we’ve talked about this before.
Hyeongjun: When they dance to our TikTok challenges. I love that.
Pop Crave is all about pop culture. So I want to hear from you– what are your current pop culture obsessions?
Wonjin: For me, these days, do you know, Arcane? On Netflix.
Allen: For me, I was a choir boy, so I grew up like singing in church choir and singing in the school choir. And recently the movie Wicked came out. I watched it and it brought back so many memories from back then.
Seongmin: I really want to see Wicked too, I’m really interested in seeing it soon.
Serim: I have always been into, like watching dramas a lot. But then since we were busy doing Road to Kingdom, I have been binge watching it since the show ended. Because we were so busy. The one I’ve been watching the most is Family by Choice.
Jungmo: These days I’m watching a lot of animations.
Minhee: Me too, me too!
Hyeongjun: I listen to a lot of pop songs. Especially Billie Eilish- “Birds of a Feather” and the album, “Hit Me Hard And Soft”.
