The multinational quartet VVUP has kicked off a sweeping rebrand built around characters from Korean folklore ― mischievous dokkaebi (goblins) and tigers ― and dropped the pre-release single "House Party" to set the tone.
The group unveiled its revamped identity at a "House Party" showcase on Oct. 22 at Blue Square SOL Travel Hall in Seoul’s Yongsan district.
Opening the door to VVUP’s first mini album due in November, "House Party" is a sleek electronic cut that blends polished synths with buoyant house beats. Framing a surreal bash where the line between virtual and IRL blurs behind playful “filters,” the track winks at the shape-shifting chaos of the dokkaebi from Korean lore.
The members highlighted three must-watch hooks. SUYEON pointed to “an addictive looping refrain,” “a try-it-once-and-you’re-hooked shuffle dance,” and “trippy, filter-driven visuals,” promising a feast for both the ears and eyes.
At the heart of VVUP’s refresh is a pledge to make East Asian folklore feel current and kitschy-cool. “With members from Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand, we wanted to reinterpret traditional stories through our own East Asian lens,” SUYEON said.
JIYOON also name-checked "KPop Demon Hunters," a recent Billboard-topping sensation. “We wanted to bottle Korean tradition and culture, too. Please look for those Korean elements in our music video,” she added. The "House Party" video was filmed at Gyeongbokgung Palace with the members in hanbok, punctuated by bold imagery of dokkaebi and tigers.
Indonesia’s KIM noted, “Like Korea’s dokkaebi, there are similar figures in Thai and Indonesian folklore. We even did homework on the dokkaebi myth to deepen our understanding of the album.” Each member reportedly penned around 20 pages to study the character.
True to their global makeup, VVUP is eyeing closer ties with international fans. “We’ll work even harder to repay the support from afar,” KIM said to Indonesian fans, while PANN, who hails from Thailand, added, “We’d love to hold fan meetings and connect with fans across countries.”
Asked about role models, the group chose BLACKPINK. “Watching BLACKPINK made me dream of K-pop,” PANN shared. “We admire their unmistakable aura and how they excel both as a group and individually. We hope to follow in their global footsteps.”
“Our goal is to hit No. 1 on the domestic charts,” SUYEON said, adding that the group also wants to meet and engage fans around the world.
"House Party" arrives today (Oct. 22) at 6 p.m. KST on major streaming platforms.
Photos: Baik Seung-Chul
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)