Just over a year since their debut, NouerA (GIHYEON, JUNPYO, HYUNJUN, YUSEOP, LIN, FAN, and MIRAKU) has been rapidly proving their potential, solidifying their status as one of the standout rising groups of their generation.
After debuting in February 2025 with the mini-album ‘New is Now’—which signaled the arrival of a new era through their versatile musicality—the group has maintained their momentum through to their latest release, the third mini-album ‘POP IT LIKE.’
Executive produced by LAY, ‘POP IT LIKE’ serves as a spin-off project following their June 2025 release, ‘n: number of cases.’ Spanning genres from hip-hop to pop-rock, the tracklist—featuring “POP IT LIKE,” “Silhouette,” “A-LIST,” and “We are young”—is their most personal and reflective work to date, with the members infusing their distinct individualities into every song.
Notably, NouerA reached a new career high with this release, pulling in impressive numbers for a rookie group. ‘POP IT LIKE’ sold over 240,000 copies in its first week on Hanteo, a testament to their growth as they continue to break their own records with every comeback.
From their origins on the survival program ‘MAKE MATE 1’ to the recording studio and music show stages, the seven-member group is finally stepping onto the global stage. This May, NouerA will embark on their ‘CATCH THE WAVE’ world tour with stops across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Following their latest comeback, allkpop sat down with NouerA to discuss the creative process behind ‘POP IT LIKE,’ their favorite moments from preparations, and what they hope to achieve next.
Check out our exclusive interview with NouerA below!
allkpop: Before we start, please introduce yourselves and give us a TMI or one or two fun facts about each one of you.
YUSEOP: I’m YUSEOP. My TMI is that I changed to a short hairstyle.
FAN: My name is FAN, and I’m Chinese. Actually, I don’t really have any TMI. Maybe it must be my red hair?
JUNPYO: I’m JUNPYO. I’m someone who loves hamburgers.
HYUNJUN: I’m HYUNJUN, and I’m the leader. I like Pho (noodles).
LIN: My name is LIN, and I’m from China, too. I’m good at rapping and dancing. And lately, I’ve fallen in love with Greek yogurt.
MIRAKU: I’m MIRAKU from Japan. I like chocolate—milk chocolate.
GIHYEON: I’m GIHYEON, and I’m the oldest member of NouerA. Recently, I cut my hair.
allkpop: Tell us what it feels like to be releasing your third mini-album after just debuting last year. What has the experience been like as an idol so far, from being in a reality show to now releasing your third mini-album?
YUSEOP: We’re so honored. We want to say thank you to our NovA (fandom name) for continuously supporting us.
GIHYEON: It was our dream to become idols, and it came true. I’m also very grateful to have achieved this profession.
allkpop: What is ‘POP IT LIKE’ all about, and how does it differ from your previous mini-albums?
HYUNJUN: So, ‘POP IT LIKE’ is our spin-off album. We worked hard to show a concept that is a bit different from our previous ones. Rather than the structured “Agent” concept we did before, we infused a lot of our individual personalities. We made it so that each member can stand out well. I think it turned out really fun and quite unique.
allkpop: What was the process like preparing for ‘POP IT LIKE’? Were there any memorable moments you can share while preparing, recording, or filming?
LIN: For me, the music video filming left a deep impression. Compared to the filming for the second album, this music video shoot felt much more like a movie set. There were many times when acting was required, and we finished the shoot enjoying ourselves very much.
MIRAKU: We did the recording for the title song “POP IT LIKE” with LAY. Unlike the recordings we’ve done until now, there were many parts to add to the demo, and he gave very detailed directions. It was really helpful, and the members learned a lot. It was also a recording session that really boosted my passion afterward. It was impressive.
allkpop: Since it’s only been over a year since your debut, what were your first impressions of each other, and how have those changed over time?
HYUNJUN: When we first met each other, our personalities and characteristics were very different. We worried a lot about how we could appear as “one” as a team. But after the survival program ended, and having spent over a year together since debuting, we’ve become so much like a team and a family. I think that’s why this third album turned out even better. Now, I think we fit together really well.
LIN: Well, first of all, I’m a foreigner. I came to Korea to join the survival program. So, living with all these members in Korea was a first for me. Especially since this started right after the survival audition ended, at first, it felt like that survival program vibe hadn’t disappeared yet. It felt like we were still a bit wary of each other. But as we practiced together every day, we gradually became like family. We are growing so well, and I’ve had such a happy time. Now, everyone definitely gets along perfectly. Since we are all staying together as a team for a year, I feel like we are a family. I feel happy.
allkpop: There might be times when you misunderstand each other. How do you approach that kind of situation despite the differences?
FAN: I think, usually, when a misunderstanding occurs, we all apologize to each other quickly and explain things quickly before it gets bigger. It’s not about who was “truly wrong”; we just talk to each other and resolve the misunderstanding.
allkpop: You've worked with notable names in the industry, including LAY. What’s the biggest lesson you took home from them? Any advice they gave you that still sticks today?
FAN: I think it’s about attitude. You have to stay aware of your own shortcomings, and you have to know well where you need to put in more effort. He always taught us to know our weaknesses and how to improve them. And among the things he said to us, the words that still stick in my memory are: “You guys have to become the top of the team.” That was our motivation.
MIRAKU: Putting in effort is a given, but I think I learned to set a clear goal and run toward it. Before, we tried [achieving our goals] in many various ways, but to have an aim and run for it is quite different.
allkpop: Lastly, please share with us your short- and long-term goals for your group!
YUSEOP: Since we prepared this album for a long time, we are very confident in it because we practiced a lot. Our goal is to include our fans—NovA—we hope many people, who are also interested in K-pop, will listen to our album and get interested in NouerA. Also, we will show you how we continue to grow, so please look forward to our future albums as well.
JUNPYO: Regarding goals, for now, we are preparing for cool performances. But later on, as our influence grows over K-pop and people, we want to become a group that can move people and spread messages that can help them.
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