[Exclusive Interview] Six months after debut! Visual vocal 6-member group ”WAKER” talks about the Japanese shows they'd like to appear on and the charms of the members

Korean boy band "WAKER", who debuted in January 2024 with the mini album "Mission of School", will hold a concert in Japan "2024 WAKER LIVE
During the "IN JAPAN Re Start of WAKER" event, the members were interviewed by wowKorea and spoke frankly about the charms of each member and their impressions of Japan.
Q. Hello! First, please tell us about the group "WAKER". Kohyun: The group "WAKER" is named after the word "awakener".
As the name "the one who awakens the masses" suggests, our group has the ambition to awaken the masses. Our group is made up of six members, each with their own unique charms, and we all share the same vibe.
I think we get along well because there are no other characters like me. We also have the advantage of being all good looking, so I hope you'll like us!
Q. More and more fans are supporting WAKER. What is the difference between WAKER and other groups?
Saebum: What I like about our group is that we have a wide range of ages, so I think we're a group that can be enjoyed by a wide variety of people.
Furthermore, I think a big advantage and attractive point about the group is that it is popular with a wide range of age groups, including people in their 20s.
Kwonhyup: I think the charm of WAKER is that there isn't much distance between the members and we all get along well.
Also, our fan name is "SLEEPER," and I think it's also appealing that we can communicate more closely with SLEEPER fans.
Q. You debuted in January this year with the song "ATLANTIS." Could you please introduce the song?
Lee Jun: "ATLANTIS" is the song that marks the beginning of our career. This song expresses the joy, sorrow, and sadness that we feel as teenagers and students.
This song contains our story of overcoming setbacks and disappointments, feeling good emotions, and growing up. You can listen to it on the plane when you're traveling, or while driving.
It's a nice song to listen to from time to time, so please feel free to listen to it as many times as you like. Q. This time, you will be performing at FC LIVE TOKYO. What is the new performance that you have prepared?
Rio: It's been a while since our last performance, so we've prepared a variety of songs. This time, we'll be performing not only group stages, but also solo songs and unit stages.
We have prepared various stages, so please look forward to them. Q. For those who are not yet familiar with "WAKER", please give us a chance to talk about it.
What is each of your MBTI types? If you were to compare your personality to an animal, what would it be? Saetbyul: I'm an INTP. If I were an animal, I'd be like a bear.
They usually look very quiet and peaceful, and I think this is what makes them resemble bears.
Gohyun: I'm an ENFP. I've heard that ENFPs have a retriever-like personality.
I think that's right. Cuteness like a dog? Kwonhyub: I'm an INFP, but I think I have a personality like a puppy. I'm very cute. I get sulky easily.
So I think I'm similar to a dog. Saebum: I'm an ENFJ. My power is E, so I'm 98 out of 100. I'm a bit like a noisy dog, but I also like to set the mood in the team.
I think I'm more of an energetic dog because I'm in charge of the dog-cart. I'm an INTJ. If I were an animal, I'd be a cat. I think first impressions and appearances are a little
I may seem cold, but I'm actually a very kind person. I think that's one of the charms of my personality.
：I am an ISTJ. People often say that I am like a giraffe because I have a very long neck. If I had to compare my personality to something, I would say I am like a meerkat.
I guess I could be likened to a meerkat because I stand still, quietly and staring blankly, which is similar to how meerkats are.
Q. Are there any artists that you consider to be your role models?
Saetbyul: I'm with BIGBANG. They started out with nothing and are now very successful.
They don't just give off the vibe of idols, but also give off a strong impression as artists, and we at WAKER look up to them as our role models and aspire to be like BIGBANG.
Saebum: My role model is EXO. I especially like BAEK HYUN. The reason is that when I think of idols, the first person I like is the one who is most idol-like.
Q. When I look at the "WAKER Log", it seems like all the members like anime and figures. What anime did you find particularly interesting?
Can you tell us about your favorite characters? Lee Joon: Saebom, Rio and I especially like anime, so let's start with Saebom and talk about your favorite anime and characters.
Saebom: I like "Demon Slayer". In it, my favorite characters are Kamado Tanjiro and Agatsuma Zenitsu. Also, I like Midoriya Izuku and Todoroki from the anime "My Hero Academia".
IJun: Actually, I love anime too. "Neon Genesis Evangelion" and "The Seven Deadly Sins"! "Tokyo Ghoul", "To Your Eternity", "Fullmetal Alchemist"...
That's all I can think of right now, but there are a lot of works I really like. Rio: I like Gojo Satoru from "Jujutsu Kaisen"! I also like the soccer anime "Blue Lock".
Q. Do you watch Japanese TV programs? Is there a Japanese program you would like to appear on? (If there is no specific program name, please tell us the genre, such as a music program or a variety program.)
Sai) Ijun: I don't know the name of the show, but I'd like to appear on one where they suddenly interview me while I'm walking around town. And "IPPON Grand Prix"?
I would like to try that once. I can't say I'm confident in variety shows, but when I saw it on YouTube, it looked really interesting, so I definitely wanted to try it once.
I think the pranks in Japan are much more exciting than the ones in Korea, and I feel like I would probably cry if I were the target of one, but I would like to try it at least once.
Kwon Hyup: I want to appear on a show hosted by Sanma Akashiya.
I want to understand what Sanma-san is saying in Kansai dialect, and when I hear how other celebrities talk, I want to do the same thing.
(laughs) Q. Are there any scenes or episodes that left an impression on you during your time in Japan? Saetbyul: Compared to Korea, Japan doesn't have many skyscrapers, so the scenery looks much more beautiful.
Also, in Korea we drive on the right side of the road, but in Japan we drive on the left side of the road, which was strange and like something out of a comic book. Rio: I went to Disneyland with Saebom once.
I've always been afraid of scary things and I don't really like amusement parks. But this time, I went with my friend and tried out a lot of the rides, and my impression of what scary is has changed a lot.
I think that's what left the biggest impression on me. I'd like to go to other places too. I'd like to go to Fuji-Q Land someday... I'd like to go to Disney Sea and Universal Studios soon.
Q. Please tell us the direction you want WAKER to go in from now on. Gohyun: From now on, we, the group WAKER, want to grow big in a short space of time.
Rather than having such greed, I want the group to continue to move forward. I hope the members can continue to work happily together for a long time to come.
"WAKER" answered each question with shining eyes and seemed to enjoy it. On the 30th of this month, at TIAT in Haneda Airport's Terminal 3,
They also have a fan concert coming up at SKY HALL, so we hope they will awaken many people.