[OSENWORLD] BigHit Music’s new boy group CORTIS (Martin, James, Juhoon, Seonghyeon, Geonho) is stepping into the K-pop scene with a clear message — their greatest strength is teamwork.
Unveiled at their debut showcase in Seoul on August 18, the group declared themselves a “young creative crew” who do everything together, from music and choreography to video production. Seonghyeon emphasized:
“At first, we worked separately and the songs didn’t come out right. But when the five of us sat down together, we created something we truly loved. That’s when I felt certain about our collaborative identity.”
Collective Creativity at the Core
True to that spirit, all five members hold credits on their debut album COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES, including their title track What You Want. The song was chosen after a grueling process — over 300 tracks reviewed in two years — and became the track that finally captured who they are as a group.
James highlighted, “Every one of us had a hand in the music, performance, and music video. Even the ending scene reflects our vision.” Geonho added, “Producers once told us, ‘Even the demo feels complete.’ That’s when we knew our teamwork was paying off.”
From Treadmills to Deserts
CORTIS also made waves with their treadmill-based choreography — 11 treadmills on stage, 35 in the music video shot in the U.S. desert. Despite motion sickness and sandstorms, the members embraced the challenge.
“It was tough, but dancing together under the sun made me feel free,” said Seonghyeon.
A Group of Creators, Not Just Idols
For CORTIS, “together” doesn’t end with performances. They co-directed their music video, pitched storyboards, and even debated concepts for hours with their director. Martin explained, “We call ourselves YCC — Young Creative Crew. It’s natural for us to make beats, shoot videos, and build culture together.”
Each member brings a different strength, from James’ endless ideas to Geonho’s film-inspired creativity. “Like bibimbap,” Geonho joked. “Different ingredients blending into one dish.”
Ready to Be “Sensational”
Debuting under the same label as BTS and TXT comes with pressure, but CORTIS sees it as motivation.
“We feel responsibility, but also gratitude for the freedom we’ve been given,” said Juhoon.
BTS’ J-Hope even gave them personal advice: “Never take what you have for granted.”
Looking ahead, CORTIS has one goal: to be remembered for their unity.
“We want people to say, ‘That’s so CORTIS,’” they said. “If we could earn one title, we’d want it to be ‘Sensational.’”
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
