ENHYPEN's Australian Debut: K-Pop Stars Headline Hello Melbourne Festival
K-pop supergroup ENHYPEN is bringing its global phenomenon to Australia for the very first time, with the seven-member band set to headline the inaugural Hello Melbourne festival this weekend. This marks a historic moment for the group and their fans down under.
Excitement Builds Ahead of First Australian Performance
Members Jake and Jay joined The Morning Show on Thursday, speaking candidly about their first-ever Australian performance and the thrill of finally meeting local fans. Formed through the global music competition show I-LAND, ENHYPEN exploded onto the K-pop scene in 2020 with their debut track "Given-Taken". The group quickly made history, becoming the fastest K-pop boy group to reach one million album sales.
Since then, their popularity has surged worldwide. Known for their precise synchronised performances, the band has amassed more than 6 billion streams and over 100 million followers, while selling out arena tours across the globe.
Jake's Surreal Return to Australia
Jake, who grew up in Brisbane before moving to South Korea to pursue music, said returning to Australia as part of a global K-pop act still feels surreal. "I grew up in Brisbane, had a dream to be a K-pop star, moved to Korea, but after 6 years, I’m very happy to be able to perform in Melbourne," he shared. "It feels so surreal. I feel like Australia, especially Brisbane, wasn’t that big with K-pop when I was living there. It feels very unreal to go perform in Australia with the members."
Jay's Anticipation and Australian Adventures
Jay said he is also looking forward to exploring a little while the group is in Melbourne. "I really love koalas, so if I have a chance, I want to see," he revealed. A Formula One fan, he added he had been following the Australian Grand Prix last weekend and hopes to visit Albert Park while in the city. "Jake always told me about the energy he had from Australia, so I’m also really looking forward to our Aussie fans and for our very first show in Australia."
ENHYPEN's Unique "No Positions" Rule
A key part of ENHYPEN’s identity is their unusual "no positions" rule, meaning members are not locked into fixed roles such as main vocalist or dancer. Instead, the group performs with a fluid structure that allows each member to showcase different strengths. Jay explained that the approach developed naturally as the group grew together. "We each have something to offer, we know what we’re good at, but we didn’t want our growth to be limited to a fixed role," he said. "We’re getting better, we’ll get better and better every day in every way."
Song Recommendations and Intense Rehearsals
For those discovering ENHYPEN for the first time, Jay recommends starting with two songs in particular: "Knife" and "Sleep Tight". Behind the scenes, the group has been spending hours preparing for the festival performance. Jake revealed rehearsals have been especially intense ahead of the show. "We’ve been rehearsing a lot today due to some last-minute changes in the choreography and formations," he noted.
ENHYPEN will headline the Hello Melbourne K-pop festival on Saturday, marking their first performance in Australia as a group. This event is set to be a landmark moment in the band's career and a treat for Australian K-pop enthusiasts.
