Sep 2, 202527

You’re not light, but you’re the one who brightens me

Written by 리스 from 아이돌레

In the situation where there is an overflow of idol groups, their different starting points attract the attention of the public. In addition, various activities help to maximize their strengths. In this way, new challenges make K-pop more interesting to the audience. Among them, there is another unique group that this article wants to focus on. Perhaps just by hearing the name, it might sound unfamiliar: Seunghan & Xoul (Xnghan & Xoul).

Seunghan and Sooul—some people might be hearing this for the first time. But how about just “Seunghan”? I think many people would recall memories of Rise’s former members. Then, what does “and Sooul” after Seunghan mean? Seunghan and Sooul is Seunghan’s artist brand, and to put it simply, “Sooul” refers to the companions who perform on stage together with Seunghan.

Seunghan and Sooul’s activities unfold in various forms across multiple fields such as music, performance, styling, and artwork, involving the creator group called “Sooul” and associated crews. Depending on the period, interest, and circumstances, Seunghan engages in diverse activities together with different Soouls. In other words, it seems that he works with the Soouls who fit the concept of each album. Seunghan calls them “the Soouls,” which is really cute, isn’t it?

In the debut song <Waste no time>, you can see two people next to Seunghan. They are both dancers, and this activity 'Sowl' was carried out in collaboration with the two dancers. The writer expected that the three of them together as a group would take up a similar proportion. However, in reality, Sowl's role did not feel that significant. Compared to group activities, it might have just seemed like filling in the broadcast. Looking at the stage composition, it was mainly Seunghan-centric, and Sowl remained as a presence for Seunghan. In interviews, only Seunghan answers questions, and Sowl just stands in the back, and all broadcasts or content featuring the three of them also flow centered around Seunghan. Simply put, it feels like Seunghan and the kids.

However, it is noteworthy that distinctive Sowl members are chosen by Seunghan. Going beyond attempting various genres alone, there are no restrictions on the number of members, so it is expected that more diverse music can be explored. Seunghan even mentioned bands that he wants to do together with the Sowl members next. The official way of writing Seunghan & Sowl is 'Xnghan&Xoul,' in which the original alphabet 'S' is replaced with 'X.' This is said to convey the meaning of infinite possibilities and wide crossovers using 'X.' Considering that Seunghan has completed himself through various challenges as a soloist, it gives the impression that he is an artist who harmonizes well with this letter 'X.' As it is a new beginning, it is hoped that this will be an opportunity to showcase genuine skills.

Before leaving a full review of the album, let’s look back at the process leading up to his solo debut. Seunghan was first revealed in 2022 as SR22B, a member of SM Rookies. After SR18B, which included members who later debuted in WayV such as Xiaojun, Yangyang, and Hendery, Seunghan returned to SM Rookies after four years, attracting a lot of attention. The rookies revealed alongside Seunghan at the time were Eunseok and Showhei.

<Welcome to NCT Universe> is a reality program featuring NCT members and SM Rookies. SR22B, including Seunghan, debuted in NCT at that time, but he was not included in an official unit. Participating in this show with Seongchan and Shotaro, it was expected that they would debut as a new official NCT unit. However, contrary to expectations, NCT WISH was announced as NCT’s new unit, and among SR22B, Seunghan and Eunseok debuted with Seongchan and Shotaro as members of the group RIIZE.

Although Seunghan's period after debuting with RIIZE was short, he showed an impactful presence. Even as a lower-ranking member, his dance on stage always stood out. If we were to choose a performance that showcases his dance skills, most would probably pick <Siren>. The part known as the “Simi Simi” section is highlighted as choreography that only Seunghan can bring to life, and it continues to be revisited often. Beyond this, he demonstrated his passion for dance by giving his all and using his entire body in his performances. The cute, round appearance he first showed on broadcasts, combined with his powerful and precise movements on stage, left a strong impression on the writer. Afterward, he left the team to pursue new challenges as a solo artist.

In his debut album Waste No Time, Seunghan is sharing his story while waiting and preparing for his stage. The title track Waste No Time captures the unembellished, true image of Seunghan and Sooul, and the two themselves are considered the concept. It’s a song that fits a refreshing summer and expresses the energy-filled youth well on stage. Seunghan mentioned that since his biggest interest is dancing, he wanted to focus on dance in his debut album. This aligns well with the message the song intends to convey, and choosing dance as the first performance was an excellent choice, which can be confirmed through the stage.

The title of this article, <You’re Not the Light, But You’re the One Who Brightens Me>, comes from the lyrics of the album track Heavenly Blue. This song was written by Seunghan himself for his fans. The lyrics contain a message that Seunghan loves most and wants to convey to his fans. Additionally, Seunghan and Sooul choreographed the entire dance together from start to finish, making it a song that is hard not to be fond of.

Seunghan is showing a more mature appearance that goes beyond his previous boyish image through various activities as a RIIZE member. At the same time, he also shows his efforts to find his true self. In interviews, Seunghan has also recommended the song "Long Time No See" by an icon to fans. This is a song with an emotional appeal that tells people who were once close about their current situation and hidden aspects, conveying the group's message to fans. In this way, he is giving fans more intimate emotions through sincere gestures and is approaching them with deeper feelings. He even said, "I want to get closer to you little by little as time goes by.

After his debut, Seunghan has been carrying out various activities as a RIIZE member. The most notable activity recently is the SM TOWN stage. Seunghan participated in SM TOWN, which was held in Tokyo shortly after leaving the dormitory at the beginning of his debut. The reason for leaving the dormitory was that Seunghan's agency initially wanted to secure a solo stage at a large concert hall. And during the approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes of live broadcast that followed, he was able to see a glimpse of his main vocals. He was also able to sing karaoke songs during this live broadcast, interacting with fans and communicating with them. In this way, he was able to see his freedom and authentic image with fans, and it was a precious time.

His stage presence has already been well-established since his debut as a member of the globally renowned group. Moreover, fans who have supported Seunghan's previous activities also support his current activities and are watching over his debut with interest. Through this, Seunghan has been able to achieve a successful solo debut. However, considering that this image is crucially important for idols, there's no denying the influence it has on many members. After spending several years as a trainee, once again approaching many fans can feel somewhat burdensome. However, his genuine attitude of loving his appearance and stage is something that makes many people interested in watching over his future endeavors and listening to his songs. Also, watching Seunghan's appearance as he strives to achieve various goals together with other members could become another major focal point. It seems his efforts support a challenge, and this awaits completion.