Go away with ... WHIB
Since their November 2023 debut, the K-pop group, WHIB, has won over international fans with their precise showmanship, infectiously catchy songs that transcend languages, and sharp wit. Their second mini-album “Cherry Pie” – out August 5 – continues to showcase their fluid blend of sweet vocals with intense rapping. “Since our start, our music style has changed a little,” said Jae-ha, who was a competitive figure skater for eight years before he quit to concentrate on his music. “We’ve matured and grown as artists and performers, which is to be expected. But it still feels huge to us.”
WHIB is active on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/whib_official/), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WHIBOfficial) and X (https://x.com/whib_official). This interview was conducted in Korean and English with the Seoul septet over Zoom, and has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What type of music are you listening to these days?
Ha Seung: I like South American Latin music. Baile funk. And I love [guitar] band music like Xdinary Heroes.
Jae-ha: I like to hear K-pop music a lot.
Jin Beom: R&B music.
Won Jun: Jazz!
Kim Jun-min: I like hip-hop.
Lee Jung: I love indie rock.
U Geon: I like pop-punk or band sounds.
Q: Have any of you been to the United States yet?
Jae-ha: The other guys haven’t. But I've been to Kansas, because my sister lives there. I don’t remember all the cities I’ve been to, but I’ve been there.
Q: Jae-ha, how did you become fluent in English?
Jae-ha: My mom, sister and I lived in Canada for a year when I was in second grade. My dad remained in Korea because his job was there. My school was kind of like an international school, so there were other Koreans, Chinese people, Japanese people, and lots of other people [from different backgrounds]. So I didn’t stick out.
Q: What are you looking forward to seeing when you get to visit the U.S. in the future?
Ha Seung: I want to go to In-N-Out Burger.
Jae-ha: The Chicago Theatre. I saw that place in a lot of movies and a lot of videos and I want to go there.
Lee Jung: Our fans. And city views.
Q: When you are in other countries, do you try the local food?
Jae-ha: Of course. But we also have to eat Korean food eventually.
Q: Out of the seven of you, who is consistently the biggest over packer?
[Jae-ha pointing to U Geon:]: Him.
Lee Jung: He takes a lot of clothes.
Jae-ha: We go away for maybe three days and he packs for 12 days. He’s prepared for everything!
Q: What are some memorable concerts you’ve attended?
Jae-ha: Ha Seung and I went to the Stray Kids concert in Korea. That was a big hit.
Lee Jung: When I was a trainee, I went to a Seventeen concert.
Won Jun: I’ve never attended someone else’s concert.
Kim Jun-min: I never went to one either.
Q: What do you bring on the road?
[All of them talking at once]: Notebooks, cologne, cameras and laptops.
Q: What was a memorable childhood trip?
Won Jun: Mongolia. When I was young, I went there. The sky was so beautiful and blue, so I remember that.
Lee Jung: I went to Guam.
Jae-ha: Yeah, like I mentioned, I went to Canada in my second grade.
Q: Which destinations are still on your travel bucket list?
Jin Beom: Spain, Paris, Italy.
Ha Seung: United States in general.
Jae-ha: New York and Chicago.
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(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)
©2026 Jae-Ha Kim. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c) 2026 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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