On June 15th, the K-pop group TIOT visited Paris as part of their first European tour. It was at the New Morning that the 5 members – Kim Minseong, Kim Junhyeon, Hong Keonhee, Choi Woojin, and Shin Yechan – shared an exclusive, intimate moment with their French LOTI fans.
Who Are TIOT ?
But who exactly is TIOT ? The group made its official debut in April 2024 with the mini-album « Kick-START« , asserting a dynamic musical identity. Minseong, Junhyeon, Keonhee, and Woojin were already known to some fans for having participated in the show Boys Planet, which helped draw attention to their official first steps. Since then, the group has continued to release music, including their latest EP « FLEX LINE« .
To extend this special moment with TIOT, I had the opportunity to meet them for an exclusive interview just before their Parisian concert.
Minseong : Hello, my name is Minseong, I am the leader of TIOT.
Keonhee : My name is Keonhee, I am the rapper of TIOT. Have a good day !
Junhyeon : Hello, I am Kum Junhyeon, a prince and a nice guy from TIOT.
Woojin : Hello, I am Choi Woojin, the boy with the red hair and the most important member of TIOT.
Yechan : Hello, my name is Shin Yechan, I am a vocalist and the youngest member (maknae) of TIOT.
Léane : Is there a song on this EP that has a particular meaning for you?
Yechan : Yes, I have one (laughs). I really like the song « Birthday » from our latest mini-album. We wrote the lyrics together, and I think it’s a song that fans will love just as much as we do.
Léane : How would you describe TIOT in only 3 words?
Junhyeon: The first word I think of is « naembi » (a type of pot used in Korea that heats up quickly, editor’s note) because… when we meet our fans, we can see how much energy they are overflowing with. As for me, I grab hold of that energy, and it’s like I immediately catch fire, which is why I think of « naembi. »
Keonhee : I will also say one and then I will pass the floor to another member. The word I think of is « external battery. » It’s an object without which we cannot live in current society. There is, in my opinion, a direct link between this object and our group.
Minseong : Hmm… « Internet« ?
Junhyeon : Why?
Minseong : The Internet transmits information very quickly. Thanks to our constant evolutions and our new releases, we ourselves become news on the Internet.
Léane : How does it feel to meet your international fans in person?
Minseong: We have often traveled to Asia, especially Japan and other Asian countries. This is our first visit to Europe. So we were half worried and half excited about coming. We had our concert in London yesterday, and we received a very warm welcome; the fans were truly incredible. We originally intended to give energy to the fans, but it was actually us who received it. During the soundcheck today, the fans encouraged us a lot, notably through cheering songs. What was it again? Poooooo po-po-popo poo pooooo. It was really impressive to hear them encourage us in such an energetic way. It was also much more fun to test our mics and sound feedback in that atmosphere.
Léane : Do you remember a fan message or a moment that touched your heart?
Yechan : Yes, I have many, really many. I often thank the fans for giving me so much energy. Moreover, wherever we perform and no matter which side of our personality we show them, LOTI tell us that we brighten their daily lives and thank us for being part of their lives. That’s what I find most touching and what gives me the most strength.
Keonhee : When I chatted with our fans, they told me that they could feel the love we have for them. For me, our fans’ love is not something innate. I gathered that it was the same for LOTI: they don’t think our love for them is natural, and that this love is therefore precious. Through these conversations, I was able to understand that this entire relationship with our fans was most special.
Minseong : It’s often when I find myself on stage that I am proud of the work I do, while realizing that it is indeed my job. Seeing that the fans are having fun and that we are on the same wavelength fills me with joy and warms my heart.
Léane : A message for the French LOTI?
Junhyeon: Our first concert took place yesterday in London. There were far more people than I had imagined, and that touched me. Several months have passed since our pre-debut. Thank you for waiting for us for so long. I promise you that even after this tour, we will come back in an even better light. Fighting !
Woojin : Our first concert in Europe yesterday was very fun. I was able to recharge my batteries, and I hope we can enjoy it even more during our next concerts and other events scheduled for this tour.
Yechan : We received a lot of energy from you yesterday and again today. I am very grateful to you. When we thought about this European tour, we managed to establish a list and prepared several things to show you all our different charms. I hope you’re looking forward to it! Thank you!
Minseong : I’ve always wanted to visit Paris. This tour allowed me to come to France for the first time and see the Parisian architecture. I am very happy to have had the chance to meet our French fans. I don’t know if we will have time at the end of this concert, but I would really like to discover more about French culture, especially by walking around. I am certainly here for the concert, but I also wish to interact with our fans. I hope we can have a lot of fun together during our concert.
Keonhee : It took us about nineteen hours to get to Europe, and the journey was tiring. But since I arrived, I’ve been on cloud nine, and I’ve also received a lot of energy. I think those nineteen hours are nothing compared to what I have the chance to experience now. Even if we are exhausted, I hope that all the fans will receive the messages we sought to communicate to them during our events. After this tour, even when we are back on the other side of the continent, we will continue to give incredible performances for our fans. Thank you!
Thank you to TIOT for accepting this interview
* French version available on Blender BookMagazine
Interview translated from Korean by Johanna Clausse