NCHIVE Interview: “Without SAVE, There Would Be No NCHIVE”

Their first time in Berlin, a new album in town and big plans ahead: NCHIVE × About group NCHIVE NCHIVE is a six-member South Korean boy group under AUBEMOON STUDIO. The current lineup consists of HA.L, E.aN, Kangsan, Yuchan, Juyoung, and N. NCHIVE officially debuted on April 9, 2024, with the single album DRIVE and its title track RACER. Their debut release also included the tracks Dive In and Fireworks. Released special single “Never Give Up,” the second single album “Believe” (3 tracks), and 2 Christmas carol songs. The group is known for its energetic performances, hip-hop-influenced sound, strong choreography, and youthful musical identity. NCHIVE has continued developing its discography through releases such as First NChristmAs!, NEVER GIVE UP, BELIEVE, and Love in Christmas. Their official fandom name is SAVE. Tap again to view profile → Close sat down with us to talk about “ACHIEVE”, the songs they wrote themselves, German beer and their dream of Coachella. A conversation with HA.L × Artist bio HA.L Real name: Kim Young-hoonPosition: Leader, Lead VocalistNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 2001-04-10Birthplace: South Korea Leader and lead vocalist of NCHIVE. Responsible, warm, dependable, and leadership-focused. Tap again to view profile → Close , N × Artist bio N Real name: Kim Do-hunPosition: Lead Vocalist, MaknaeNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 2006-11-02Birthplace: Daegu, South Korea Youngest member of NCHIVE. Playful, youthful, friendly, and energetic. Tap again to view profile → Close , Kangsan × Artist bio Kangsan Real name: Park Ji-yongPosition: Main Rapper, ProducerNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 2002-03-12Birthplace: South Korea Main rapper and producer of NCHIVE. Kangsan also released a solo single titled “불씨 (Ember/Spark). Creative, ambitious, expressive, and performance-focused. Tap again to view profile → Close , Juyoung × Artist bio Juyoung Real name: Lee Ju-youngPosition: Rapper, VocalistNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 2005-03-30Birthplace: South Korea Vocalist of NCHIVE. Bright, youthful, friendly, and enthusiastic. Tap again to view profile → Close , E.aN × Artist bio E.aN Real name: Lee Gyu-hyunPosition: Main VocalistNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 2000-05-06Birthplace: South Korea Main Vocalist Calm, dependable, mature, and supportive. Tap again to view profile → Close and Yuchan × Artist bio Yuchan Real name: Son Gwang-hunPosition: Main Dancer, RapperNationality: South KoreanBirthday: 2003-05-30Birthplace: South Korea Main dancer of NCHIVE. Energetic, focused, disciplined, and performance-oriented. Tap again to view profile → Close .

We met NCHIVE at MEX Berlin on Saturday – the day after their fansign and just before their performance at the convention. Berlin marks a stop of their current world tour. At the heart of it all is their new album “ACHIEVE”, which the members had a big hand in writing. And one thing becomes clear very quickly: their fandom SAVE always comes first.

ACHIEVE completes the V series, following DRIVE and BELIEVE. How would you describe each chapter in one word?

HA.L: NCHIVE, start!

N: Believe? Trust us and keep watching us.

Kangsan: Build up …

Juyoung: … and please trust me and follow me!

E.aN: What’s our album called this time? “ACHIEVE” – as in, to accomplish. And that’s exactly what we’re going to do this time.

Yuchan: We will achieve it!

There are two title tracks, “INCEPTION” and “EXPLODE”. Why did you choose a double title, and what does each song show about NCHIVE?

Kangsan: “Inception” is something we’ve never done before. “EXPLODE” is a song I think will spark huge sing-alongs. So the two feel really different – and because we love both of them so much, we made both title tracks.

Every member has a credit on at least one song on ACHIEVE. Could each of you tell us in a sentence or two what you wanted to express through your song?

HA.L: I think we can each talk about the songs we made. N and I made “FOREVER NOW”, and it’s a fan song. We wanted to capture our feelings for SAVE in it.

N: That’s right. I worked really hard to capture the story we share – from our very first meeting with the fans to now and into the future.

Kangsan: I worked on “Inception” and “Love Wave”. “Inception” is a really powerful song, while “Love Wave” is full of love and perfect for a drive. Just like our name – “mijisu”, the unknown – I wanted to show that we can nail any kind of song.

Juyoung: I made “EXPLODE” together with Yuchan-hyung. It’s about letting our ambitions explode – and making this song blow up together with SAVE.

E.aN: I worked on “GO & STOP”. We wanted to try a genre we’d never done before, so we made a wistful song about youth.

Yuchan: Juyoung already said it: “EXPLODE” is the song the two of us made together. Honestly, we’ve been ignored at times and went through a lot of sad moments. This song is about blowing all of that up. Don’t ignore us – or it explodes again!

You performed in Cologne in 2025, and now you’re in Berlin ahead of your next concerts. What do you remember most about Germany, and what would you like to see or eat in Berlin?

HA.L: It’s our first time in Berlin, and personally, I really want to try the bread here. I’ve already had a lot, but I’ll go find more.

N: I’d love to go to a café in Berlin with a really nice vibe.

Kangsan: For me: Schweinshaxe, sausages and especially Bier – I want to try it all.

Juyoung: I’d also love to have a beer together with the members and just enjoy it.

Kangsan: Beer?

Juyoung: Beer.

E.aN: What’s spicy?

Juyoung: Bier!

E.aN: After Berlin, we’re heading to Azerbaijan, then Brazil, and after our promotions in Korea we have tours in many more countries ahead of us. We want to take the best memories home from Berlin.

Yuchan: We’ll give it our all on stage – and then have a nice cold beer!

Your recent releases each include a song just for SAVE – “Love Me” on BELIEVE, and “FOREVER NOW” on ACHIEVE. Why is that important to you?

HA.L: For us as NCHIVE, the most important thing is SAVE. Without SAVE, there would be no NCHIVE. That’s why the album includes songs for SAVE. “FOREVER NOW” feels different from anything before – a little grander, something that really stirs the heart. I hope SAVE feels that too when they listen. Danke!

What memories do you want to leave SAVE with?

HA.L: I think you’re asking what first memory we want to leave you with. Well, with ACHIEVE … “achieve” itself means to accomplish, right? There’s definitely happiness and energy in what we’ve achieved – and I hope SAVE can feel that energy. Yeah.

What would you do if you were a SAVE for a day?

N: Whenever we have schedules like this, my personal goal is to have a happy time together with SAVE. I’d love to experience it from SAVE’s point of view myself – to see whether that goal was really reached and whether it was really that much fun.

Kangsan: I’ve never once in my life seen myself perform live. Of course I never will, but I’d love to see it just once – to know how it feels.

Juyoung: I’d love to go on a date with SAVE: walking through the streets together, enjoying the views, taking pictures – moments you’ll never forget.

E.aN: Seeing SAVE’s reactions makes me the happiest. So if I were a SAVE, I’d be shouting with the other SAVEs, “Whoa, isn’t NCHIVE insane?!” – with a bit of slang thrown in.

Yuchan: I’d love to go to a fansign and just hang out. I want to know what it feels like as an attendee.

HA.L: I’d go to a concert and do the fanchants really loud. I’m pretty good at screaming, so I’d give the fanchants my all!

What differences do you feel between European and Asian fans?

N: There’s definitely a difference. The huge energy of European fans – you feel it the moment we step on stage. But of course, Korean and Asian fans are amazing too.

Kangsan: In my opinion, Asian fans kind of grow together with us and watch us that way – a bit like my parents looking at me. European fans, on the other hand, enjoy the stage with us: “Get up, let’s go!” – Wait, is it okay to say that? Yeah? Okay. That’s how I felt, everyone.

E.aN: Exactly.

You all have really different positions. If you swapped roles, which member would surprise you most?

HA.L: If Yuchan became main vocalist, I’d be so shocked I don’t know if I could even watch.

N: If HA.L-hyung took the main rapper position – wow, that would be so funny.

Kangsan: Nothing. Our team can do it all. Okay?

Juyoung: If E.aN-hyung became the maknae, I think that would be pretty surprising – cuteness aside, I mean.

E.aN: The other way around: what if Juyoung became leader? I’m curious what would happen to the team.

Yuchan: And I want to be leader. I’ll take over this team!

Kangsan: If you become leader, there’s no team left.

Yuchan: Exactly, I’ll try destroying this team.

This year you even won two awards, and the V series is now complete. What are the next goals you want to achieve together?

N: As the next step, I’d love to win first place on a music show.

Kangsan: 100 million dollars? Sounds good.

Juyoung: For NCHIVE: standing on big stages and putting on great performances. What comes to mind right away is Coachella. Go to Coachella!

E.aN: When we look back at the end of a good year in Korea, my wish is to perform on an award show stage once.

Yuchan: Honestly, I’ve got a goal now: 100 million Instagram followers! It’s totally possible. And for each member to become an ambassador or muse for a brand of their own.

HA.L: For me: step by step. We hope lots of people listen to our music – on Spotify and many other platforms – and that our streams take us onto the charts.

Shortly after our conversation, NCHIVE took to the main stage of MEX Berlin and gave SAVE a first Berlin memory to take home, just as they had hoped.