Meet V01D: The New Band Set to Revolutionize the Asian Music Scene in 2026

[Sports Today reporter Yoon Hye-young] \"I want to turn 'the band boom is coming' into 'the band boom is really here now,'\" Song Yuchan said.

A \"hexagonal\" band has arrived. V01D—a group defined by imposing heights (each member reportedly over 180 cm) and by musicianship that foregrounds the essence of band performance—aims to fuse music, visuals and stagecraft into a single, cohesive narrative as it steps into the mainstream music scene.

V01D is made up of Jo Ju-yeon (vocals), Kevin Park (keyboard, vocals), Song Yuchan (drums), Jeong Jiseop (guitar, vocals) and Shinnosuke (bass). Drummer Song assembled the lineup: after deciding to gather members, he brought in Jeong, a former fashion model and ex-member of 2Z. The group later added Jo and Kevin—both familiar to viewers of Mnet's Steel Heart Club—and rounded out the team with Shinnosuke, chosen through an audition process.

Song said he’d wanted to be in a band since childhood but hadn’t found the right opportunity. \"I was even thinking about opening a music academy,\" he recalled. Then I met the company CEO, who suggested, 'Let’s try putting together a band.' That’s when we started searching for members. Jiseop was the next to join.

Jeong—who began as a fashion model and previously performed with 2Z—re-debuts with V01D. He traced his musical start to third grade: \"I picked up a guitar then. I wanted to be popular, so I impulsively enrolled in a contemporary music academy and decided I wanted to be a guitarist.\" He auditioned ambitiously for the practical music department at Hannam Arts High School and failed. People then suggested, \"You’re tall—why not try fashion modeling?\" He found a new passion there, won awards in various contests, and grew into a modeling career. He even joined a project to form a visual band. Later he returned to music, playing in bands for five or six years, and eventually landed the opportunity to join V01D with the members he’s now working with.

Kevin Park, raised in the U.S., began in classical music as a pianist and won competitions, but family opposition temporarily derailed that path. He majored in philosophy in college, and his parents gave him one year to pursue music. \"I wanted to get onstage and be a singer no matter what,\" he said. Kevin auditioned widely during that year; his final audition was for Mnet's Boyz2Planet. After passing the first round, a casting agent introduced him to this company. They suggested he try a band survival show because of his piano skills. He had never played in a band before and wondered if it would suit him, but he moved to Korea, rehearsed with the group, and learned a great deal. \"After appearing on the show, I fell in love with being in a band and performing in front of an audience,\" he said. He laughed that his parents now support him—his mother even came to Korea to see his debut showcase.

Shinnosuke played bass in his university orchestra and jazz clubs before coming to Korea. \"My mom suggested I try the company’s band audition in Japan,\" he said. \"I wanted the experience, auditioned, and was given this opportunity to join.\"

Jo Ju-yeon had been an acting student with eyes on a theatrical career. A writer from Steel Heart Club spotted her on campus and invited her to appear on the program. That exposure introduced her to band life. After the show aired, the company reached out and she committed to the band path. \"I studied acting and performed in musicals, so I already had experience with both music and acting,\" she added.

Coming from different backgrounds, the members coalesced as V01D and finally realized their debut dream. \"We still can’t believe it,\" they said. \"This opportunity feels like a miracle. We’re so grateful and excited.\" Practicing around the clock, they keep saying, \"We want to perform as soon as possible.\" Having all experienced live shows, they’re hungry to connect with audiences. \"Once we debut, we’ll make up for that hunger,\" they vowed.

The band’s debut album is titled 01, taken from their name V01D and evoking both \"number one\" and a beginning. They issued a double title: the upbeat \"락락 (ROCK ROCK, 樂樂)\" and the more intense \"Tug Of War.\"

\"ROCK ROCK\" is a bright, refreshing pop-punk track built for live performance; the members contributed to the lyrics, composition and arrangement. Jeong said the song was one they’d been working on during practice. \"We debated the title and wanted something rock-related, so it became 'ROCK ROCK.' We also played with the phrase 즐길 락 to give it a double meaning—enjoy rock. I guarantee if you hear this live you won’t be able to stand still. It’s a fast track centered on performance and energy.\"

Song emphasized that \"ROCK ROCK\" is a festival-ready tune everyone can enjoy, and Jeong said he hopes it lands on summer rock playlists on streaming services.

\"Tug Of War\" pairs lyrical, melodic passages with raw, intense emotion—an example of rock that balances melody and grit. The members co-wrote the lyrics and worked on the arrangement with composer B-rock. \"This song centers on its lyrical and emotional cues,\" Jeong said. \"I think it’s best experienced while following the lyrics and the emotional arc.\"

V01D said they will chase their goal of becoming number one. They aim to win music-show first-place trophies, take rookie band awards at year-end ceremonies and secure many festival slots.

Kevin said he’s watched countless music-show first-place moments on YouTube and imagined V01D in that position. \"Festivals are incredible,\" he added. \"In the U.S. there’s Lollapalooza and Coachella—headlining those would be amazing. Korean award shows are huge concerts with massive audiences, mostly idol acts. I want V01D to go on those stages as a band, deliver a massive, unforgettable performance and win over idol fans.\"

\"I hope V01D feels like a friend to everyone,\" Jeong said. \"When we film our own content, we try to be down-to-earth—like the friend sitting next to you. That raw, rough quality is in this album. If someone’s having a hard time, I want them to think, 'Hey, let’s go see V01D perform'—to feel they can turn to us.\"

[Sports Today reporter Yoon Hye-young ent@stoo.com]
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