After the successful release of their debut EP, “ROCK THE NATION”, in January this year, WHIB have returned with their second EP, “CHERRY PIE”. The five-track release captures the sweetest, hottest moments of youth, building on the bold energy of “ROCK THE NATION” as WHIB move beyond a black-and-white world to discover their own unique color. Led by the title track “CHERRY PIE”, the EP blends refreshing summer energy with fiery passion, showcasing the group’s growth, contrasting charms, and powerful synergy.

In our exclusive interview, WHIB look back on their debut promotions, share some of their favorite memories from preparing “CHERRY PIE,” and talk about the growth they have experienced since their debut.

Q. Hello, WHIB! For readers who may be discovering WHIB for the first time, could each member briefly introduce yourselves and share one word that best describes you?

KIMJUNMIN: Hello, I’m KIMJUNMIN, the leader of WHIB. If I had to choose one word that best describes me, I would say “neatness.” HASEUNG: Hello, I’m HASEUNG from WHIB. I would describe myself as someone who keeps working hard until I achieve my goals. JINBEOM: Hello, I’m JINBEOM from WHIB. I would describe myself as a “guardian angel,” because I like looking out for and taking care of the people around me. UGEON: Hello, I’m UGEON. The one word that best describes me is “dedication.” LEEJEONG: Hello, I’m LEEJEONG from WHIB. If I had to choose one word that best represents me, I would choose “romance.” JAEHA: Hello, I’m JAEHA from WHIB. I think the word that best describes me is “comfort.” I want to be someone who makes the people around me feel comfortable and at ease. WONJUN: Hello, I’m WONJUN, WHIB’s youngest member and sub-vocalist. I think the word that best describes me is “confidence.”

Q. You previously promoted with “ROCK THE NATION”. Looking back, what is one moment from those promotions that you still remember clearly?

KIMJUNMIN: I think it would have to be the moment we completed the recording for the first time. I remember being really excited and wanting to share the song with the world as soon as possible. HASEUNG: I remember the atmosphere in the recording studio with the members the most. We were able to genuinely enjoy the process while paying attention to every little detail and putting our hearts into the recording. Seeing everyone enjoy the process together was especially memorable. JINBEOM: For me, it was the Nibiru Festival in Romania, right before our CHERRY PIE” promotions. It was our first performance in Europe, so I was really excited, and the incredible energy of the audience made it even more memorable. UGEON: I remember our very first stage for “ROCK THE NATION”. From the moment we started preparing for the song, I was really looking forward to showing it to our fans and the public. So finally being able to perform it on stage for the first time is something I still remember clearly. LEEJEONG: The Nibiru Festival in Romania stands out the most. It was our first stage in Europe, so I was really excited, and I’ll never forget how enthusiastically the audience responded to our performance. JAEHA: I remember meeting many other artists while filming challenges. In particular, I filmed a challenge with our seniors ATEEZ, and they were incredibly kind and supportive and helped me a lot. It made me think that I also wanted to become an artist who could make others feel as welcomed and supported as they did. WONJUN: The first thing that comes to mind is filming the music video. Some of the members were dealing with injuries at the time, so I remember how meaningful it was that we all pushed through and completed the shoot together until the very end.

Q. The title track “CHERRY PIE” has a bright summer sound and strong energy. What was the most fun or memorable part of preparing for this song?

KIMJUNMIN: I think the most memorable part was learning from the members about the mood and energy that suit a refreshing song like this. It was fun to discover a different side of ourselves in the process. HASEUNG: The music video shoot was especially memorable because it happened to be on my birthday. I was really happy and touched to receive birthday wishes from everyone on set, so that’s definitely a moment I won’t forget. JINBEOM: When we first learned the choreography, the finger choreography was so difficult that all of us completely froze for a moment! It was really funny to see all of us experience the same “brain freeze,” and it became one of my favorite memories from preparing for the song. UGEON: I especially remember the first time we recorded “CHERRY PIE” and the first time we learned the choreography. During both the recording and choreography sessions, everyone around us kept saying things like, “Whatever you do, it already looks hip and cool,” and that “CHERRY PIE” absolutely shouldn’t be performed that way. That made the process even more memorable and fun. LEEJEONG: When we first learned the choreography, choosing the point choreography was quite difficult. We looked through several different ideas and versions before making our final decision, so that process was especially memorable for me. JAEHA: We had a lot of outdoor shoots, so it was extremely hot. But having the members there made it much easier to get through everything together. I think we were able to overcome the heat because we were all in it together. WONJUN: I think every moment of preparing for “CHERRY PIE” was filled with happiness and fun because we enjoyed the process together. I also feel like our teamwork became even stronger through this album.

Q. How do you think WHIB has grown since your debut, and how does this growth show in “CHERRY PIE”?

KIMJUNMIN: I think we’ve proven that we’re capable of taking on and expressing a variety of different songs and styles. I believe that ability has continued to grow with each release. HASEUNG: I think our perspective has broadened a lot. Before our debut, I tended to focus on one thing at a time, but now I’ve learned to look at things from many different angles and think more broadly. JINBEOM: Personally, I think I’ve grown quite a lot as a vocalist. I’ve become more confident in my vocals, and I feel that growth has naturally come through in our music. UGEON: I think we’ve continued to grow in our ability to take on and express different concepts. Because of that, I think we were able to fully understand the concept of “CHERRY PIE” and express it well through our promotions. LEEJEONG: I think our live performance skills have grown, especially when it comes to performing on stage. We’ve become more comfortable with live performances while being able to maintain the energy of our choreography. JAEHA: I think we’ve grown a lot, and each of us has been able to show more of our individual strengths on stage. I feel like we were able to show our best sides through “CHERRY PIE”. WONJUN: For me, I think the biggest growth has been the sense of ease I feel on stage with every album. With each comeback, I feel more comfortable and confident on stage, and I think that growth was reflected well in our “CHERRY PIE” promotions.

Q. “CHERRY PIE” is the name of your new EP, but what dessert would each member choose as their favorite, and why?

KIMJUNMIN: I would choose coffee. I honestly can’t live without it! HASEUNG: I love chocolate brownies the most. I’ve always liked bread and baked goods, but among them, I especially love brownies because they’re sweet and delicious. JINBEOM: These days, I’ve been really into olive, cheese, and dried ham. I don’t usually like sweet flavors, so I tend to prefer savory foods and snacks. UGEON: I would choose a slice of cake. It’s easy to enjoy, and there are so many different flavors that I never get tired of trying them. LEEJEONG: I love tiramisu. I think the combination of its sweetness and slightly bitter flavor is really appealing. JAEHA: I don’t usually eat dessert at all, but I do have snacks from time to time. So I guess I would choose snacks! WONJUN: I would choose macarons. I tend to have a sweet tooth, so I’ve always liked sweet things!

Q. If you could recommend only one WHIB song for our followers to listen to, which song would you choose and why?

KIMJUNMIN: I would recommend “ROCK THE NATION” because I think it represents WHIB’s identity. If I could recommend one more, I would choose “ELEVATE,” which is actually my personal favorite. HASEUNG: I would recommend “Who’s the Next.” It’s a song that expresses our strong ambition, and I think it’s a great song for showing WHIB’s powerful image and energy. JINBEOM: I would recommend “ROCK THE NATION.” I think it captures WHIB’s color really well, and it allows us to express our energy directly through our performance. UGEON: I would choose “ROCK THE NATION” because I think it showcases the strengths and abilities we have as a group. It’s a song that really allows us to show what WHIB is capable of. LEEJEONG: I would recommend “First Love Never Die.” It’s a song that everyone can enjoy together with a lot of positive energy and excitement. I think you’ll really feel its charm if you get the chance to see us perform it live. JAEHA: I think I would recommend “ROCK THE NATION.” It’s also a song that we created together as members, and we had a lot of fun preparing the performance together. That makes me want to recommend it even more. WONJUN: I would recommend “BANG,” our debut song! Since it’s the song that marked the very beginning of WHIB, I’d love for anyone discovering us for the first time to start with “BANG.”

Q. Outside of music, is there one thing each member would like to try or achieve in 2026?

KIMJUNMIN: I’d like to release another album with a more conceptual approach. I want to explore a concept that allows us to show a different side of WHIB. HASEUNG: I’d love to perform at more festivals. I want to show our performances to as many people as possible and introduce WHIB to more audiences. JINBEOM: I’d like to create another special event that we can enjoy together with AnD. UGEON: My goal is to have fun performing on stage with the members without any major problems and to finish the year in good health. I think being able to enjoy the year together would be a great achievement in itself. LEEJEONG: I really enjoy doing photoshoots, so I’d love to have more opportunities to work on fashion editorials and explore different styles through photography. JAEHA: I want to perform on even bigger stages and enjoy those moments together with even more AnD. WONJUN: I want to visit as many hidden vintage shops around Korea as I can and search for some real treasures! I’d also like to learn more about video production and explore that side of my interests.

Q. Finally, what would you like to say to your fans in Singapore? Is there anything you hope to do or experience when you visit Singapore?

KIMJUNMIN: I can’t wait to meet our fans in Singapore. I hope we can have an exciting time performing together and share positive energy with one another. I’m really looking forward to creating great memories together. HASEUNG: I actually went to Singapore for a language program before, and I have such wonderful memories from that time. That’s why I really want to visit Singapore again and meet our fans there. I’d also love to visit Clarke Quay with the members! JINBEOM: I’m really looking forward to trying Singapore’s food. I’d also love to see Marina Bay Sands in person and enjoy the famous view. UGEON: I’d love to take a walk around Singapore and experience the atmosphere of the city for myself. LEEJEONG: I’m most excited to see the people of Singapore and experience the city’s streets and scenery. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the city feels like in person. JAEHA: I can’t wait to visit Singapore and experience as many new things as possible. I’m really looking forward to discovering a different side of the city and making new memories with our fans. WONJUN: I’m really curious about and excited to experience the energy of our Singaporean fans! I’ve heard that the weather is really nice there, so I’d love to enjoy it to the fullest while we’re there.

KAvenyou would like to thank Universal Music Singapore for making this interview possible!