K-Pop group WHIB thrills fans in Manila with 'Kick It' Fan Meet-Up Tour
“Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and to Friday. We're keeping them, keeping them vibes. We're riding, riding the high!”
This new summer bop has been on a loop ever since the track “Kick It” dropped in May and has since spread across various K-pop communities and streaming services. The song exudes a youthful and vibrant vibe with upbeat instrumentals and excellent vocals that are sure to make the sun shine through even on the cloudiest of days.
Paired with impressive dance choreography performed by a group teeming with visual power? We might as well have met K-Pop’s next sensational act.
Meet WHIB: The new K-Pop group kicking their way into your summer playlists. The eight-member boy group debuted in November 2023 under CJeS Entertainment, which is known to manage Hallyu stars like Ryu Jun Yeol (“Reply 1988”) and Moon So Ri (“On the Verge of Insanity”).
The group recently made their rounds in the metro as part of their first fan meet event in Asia.
WHIB, which is a combination of the terms “White” and “Black” consists of Jayder, Haseung, Jinbeom, Ugeon, Leejeong, Jaeha, Inhong, and Wonjun. The members’ ages range from 18 to 24 years old, and all exude a variety of charms that will surely capture hearts left and right; from their good looks to impressive dance skills.
As per their name, the group promises to display a range of charms and colors as white and black are at opposing extremes of the color spectrum. Their debut album “Cut-Out” showcased a badass image with double tracks “Bang” and “Dizzy,” which we thought surely lived up to their names with how the group entered the K-pop scene with a bang, making fan girls and boys dizzy with excitement.
Only after half a year, the group unveiled their second single album, “Eternal Youth: Kick It,” which portrays the members’ fateful journeys united by a single dream. The rising 5th generation K-Pop stars displayed a more youthful and wholesome image with their latest title track, “Kick It,” which features a rhythmic sound with a catchy appeal filled with WHIB’s energy guaranteed to make you hit repeat. Currently, the music video has over 12 million views on YouTube, demonstrating the group’s rapid growth.
WHIB further extends their promotions by stepping onto the global stage with their first-ever fan meeting tour, “WHIB First Asia Fan Meet-up: Eternal Youth: Kick It” — which began on June 28 in Bangkok, Thailand.
On July 6, WHIB official greeted the media and their fans (endearingly called ‘AnD’ as they connect Black and White; and upon closer look means: ‘All fans are WHIB’s number one Dream’) in Manila. The exclusive media conference organized by iMe Entertainment Group at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila was both a culmination and celebration of their touring activities in the country. The group also appeared in local TV programs such as “Good Morning Kapatid,” and has performed in several free mall shows around the metro.
The members entered the stage with lively energy and introduced themselves in unison, easily commanding the room with their dashing visuals and personalities. They raised the event’s energy higher by performing “Dizzy” from their debut album and their latest single “Kick It.” During the media Q&A, eldest member Haseung explained the concept behind their first release, and how they were inspired by their group's name and intended to “make listeners understand” who they are as a group. WHIB seemed to be staying true to their identity, having shown two different concepts in their last two releases.
Although this is their first promotion in the country, this isn’t the first time the group has visited Manila. The group’s leader, Jayder, explained that they were part of the lineup for the Asia Artist Awards held at the Philippine Arena last December 14, and shared the stage with global artists like NewJeans, Stray Kids, and SB19. They also admitted that performing at AAA has been a significant challenge in their career as a group having only debuted a few weeks before the big show.
When asked about their impressions of Manila and what it was like performing in front of a Filipino crowd, member Ugeon expressed that they were “pleasantly surprised” by the support and cheers of Filipino fans and have enjoyed performing for them at their recent mall shows. The group’s youngest member, Wonjun, added that they intend to “work and strive harder to show better performances in the future.”
More than their visuals and killer performances, WHIB is also known to actively engage with their fans, keeping in touch through online interactions via SNS, fan communities, and fan signings. They’re also transparent with their fandom and post regular behind-the-scenes clips, as well as music covers and live stage performance footage on their official YouTube channel. When asked about the song they would dedicate to their AnDs in the Philippines, they instantly answered “Kick It” as it highlights their vibrant colors and spirited personalities.
With a burning desire to live up to their group name, WHIB aims to explore more genres in the future and emphasize their dualities through new songs and performances. Having only debuted recently, we can definitely see their potential to rise to new heights and believe in their ability to bring inspiring new sounds and exhilarating stages onto the global K-pop scene.
“There’s a lot more tours coming, so keep an eye on us. Thank you!” Jaeha teased fans with the possibility of upcoming projects in 2024. Meanwhile, Ugeon promised, “We will do our best to spread our charms and multiply our supporters.”
The group is set to continue touring in Asia, with Hong Kong, Jakarta, and Taipei next on their list.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Can’t get enough of WHIB? Follow them on Instagram for more!
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