Group FLARE U has officially announced the birth of a refreshing high-teen duo!
A media showcase for FLARE U’s first mini album, ‘YOUTH ERROR,’ was held on the 13th at the Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
FLARE U is a duo consisting of Choi Lip-woo and Kang Woo-jin, who met through ‘Boys Planet.’ Their team name represents the moment two sparkles meet to create a single light.
During the event, Choi Lip-woo and Kang Woo-jin introduced themselves as the “Baby Prince” and “Giant Baby,” respectively, before performing their title track, ‘WAY 2 U.’
The new album opens the first page of FLARE U’s journey, capturing the brilliant moment two sparkles become one light. It features six tracks, including the title song ‘WAY 2 U,’ the drum and bass track ‘Hyper,’ the pop house song ‘Don’t Cry,’ their first fan song ‘MIRACLE,’ the funk track ‘WOO-HOO,’ and ‘Playground.’
Choi Lip-woo highlighted the album’s visual appeal, saying, “Our album jacket is really pretty. It’s very cute, and since we were just playing around in a comfortable space during the shoot, you can feel the fresh vibe of a rookie.” Kang Woo-jin added confidently, “The cute performance is a key feature of our album. Each song has its own story, so you’ll be able to enjoy it.”
The title track ‘WAY 2 U’ is a hybrid pop song that combines a bouncy pluck riff and upbeat rhythm with the glitchy sounds of hyper pop and the rhythmic groove of plug and b. It captures the fluttering excitement of realizing feelings for a friend and running toward them without hesitation, like a sudden phone vibration.
The duo already made an impression on global fans during their performance at ‘KCON Japan 2026′ on the 9th. Choi Lip-woo shared, “I’m so happy and honored to stand on such a big stage even before our official debut. I thought the seniors’ performances were amazing, and it was a special memory to perform with friends from the show and meet them backstage.”
Kang Woo-jin also expressed his gratitude, saying, “It was an honor to perform on a large stage before our official debut. One thing I learned is that even with hard preparation, there’s always some regret after the performance. I’ll work harder to do even better next time.”
Naming AKMU as their role models, FLARE U dreams of becoming artists who provide healing.
Choi Lip-woo shared his cute ambition, saying, “I want to be called a ‘vitamin vending machine.’ Just as vitamins have become a daily essential for people, we want to be that kind of presence. Please take our energy whenever you need it.” Kang Woo-jin expressed his respect for their seniors, stating, “AKMU sunbaenims have a vibe similar to what we pursue. When I see them, they truly enjoy the stage and sing their own songs. They’ve been someone I’ve wanted to emulate for a long time.”
Since it’s rare for idol groups to debut as duos these days, Kang Woo-jin shared the perks of their setup, sparking laughter by saying, “Coordinating opinions is quick and easy. We also spend less time in hair and makeup than other groups, and we get more lines in our songs.” Choi Lip-woo added, “Because we have more parts, we can better showcase our individual colors. We have different characters, but when we meet, we complement and complete each other.”
However, they admitted to feeling some pressure. Choi Lip-woo confessed, “Since debuting as a duo is uncommon, I worried a lot about whether we could do well. But because I want to repay the fans and Woo-jin, I worked hard to make up for it.” Kang Woo-jin added, “Since we shared the ups and downs of ‘Boys Planet’ and have our own narrative, I thought it would be interesting, and now that we’re doing it, I feel it was the right decision.”
Both members emphasized that their music captures the essence of an imperfect youth.
Choi Lip-woo stated, “I believe the image of not needing to be perfect is our own unique color. On ‘Boys Planet,’ I once said, ‘I am Choi Lip-woo, who finds light day by day without fear.’ I’ll do my best to show our efforts in line with that concept.”
Kang Woo-jin also mentioned their distinctiveness, saying, “We are a group that wants to keep the narrative of creating light by adding our fans to our imperfect selves.” He also revealed, “Since I also help make the music, I love singing my own stories. I’m currently composing songs in the dorm with my hyung, asking, ‘How about we write it like this and release it?'”
Finally, Kang Woo-jin made a bold promise, saying, “Even if we aren’t perfect, we will be a sincere FLARE U.”
FLARE U’s first mini album ‘YOUTH ERROR’ will be released today at 6 PM.
