Eternal Guiding Light For The Concept Idols: Two Hong Kong ST★RLIGHT’s Enchanting Story With VIXX

2nd gen K-Pop boy group fans are truly blessed this year as many 2nd gen boy groups have made comebacks in summer. But this isn’t the end – the legendary concept idol group VIXX is going to make a long-awaited return on November 21 with their 5th mini album “CONTINUUM” as a trio including Leo, Ken and Hyuk. Not only will the members be releasing a new album in four years following the digital single ‘PARALLEL’ in 2019, they will also be performing in music shows.

In fact, VIXX has been resuming group activities since the start of this year. Leo, Ken and Hyuk dropped a special single ‘I‘m Gonna Be Alright’ to celebrate the group’s 10th anniversary back in January. After that, the three of them held fan concerts in Korea, Japan and Taiwan, and even put on a special performance in “M COUNTDOWN.” Now that VIXX is finally making a full-fledged comeback, ST★RLIGHT (their fandom) around the world are over the moon and are eagerly waiting for this special year-end present.

Since their debut in 2012, VIXX has been constantly revolutionizing the K-Pop industry with ground-breaking concepts in every album, ranging from vampire, voodoo doll, to cyborg and more. This made them being granted the name of “concept idol” and enabled them to garner immense popularity in both Korea and overseas as one of the most remarkable “small agency’s miracles” in K-Pop history.

As we get ready for the glorious return of the concept kings, let’s dive into the story of two Hong Kong ST★RLIGHT Yoyo and Zoe, from their encounter and best memories with VIXX, to their favorite songs from VIXX and much more!

Can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

Hello I am Yoyo and VIXX has been in my life for 10 years. Although I am not a very active ST★RLIGHT, I have always tried my best to support VIXX whenever they have events! I have bought many of their albums and watched their concerts, and I will go to the “Continuum” concert to support VIXX in December!
Yoyo
Hello I am Zoe and I started loving VIXX in 2015. VIXX has accompanied me from middle school to college, and they are the first idol group I stan!
Zoe

How and when did you enter the fandom?

During my second year of middle school, we were able to use the classroom computer to watch YouTube videos during lunch time. One day, one of my classmates played VIXX’s live performance of ‘Hyde’ from a music show. I was captivated by their distinct concept and sexy yet powerful dance moves. As soon as I returned home that day, I started searching for their other live performances and variety shows, and I felt happy whenever I watched their contents. It was at that moment I knew I had fallen in love with them!
Yoyo

Talking about how I enter the fandom, I actually got to know them from a special boy group called BIGBYUNG, which was a temporary group from an entertainment show. I was then interested to know more about N and Hyuk so I started watching their stages, variety shows and listening to their music. I was amazed by their unique concepts and performing skills. Also, the teamwork and interactions between the members are amazing. I still remember the day when I was watching a movie in the cinema, my brain was full of their songs and I could not focus on the movie!
Zoe

What makes VIXX your favorite K-Pop group?

They truly shine with their innovative concepts and alluring charisma, which set them apart from others in the industry. From my understanding, they were the first male idol group to wear special color contact lenses on stage. Their dedication to pushing boundaries and presenting creative concepts have served as an inspiration for many other groups, encouraging them to go beyond the norm. In addition to their captivating concepts, their physiques are also remarkable. All the members are over 180 cm tall, and watching their graceful dance moves accentuated by their long legs is an absolute spectacle.
Yoyo
I would also say their unique concepts captured me the most as I am fond of dark and horror concepts. Their song ‘Voodoo Doll’ overwhelmed me by featuring gruesome visual effects and dance moves. Moreover, their love to ST★RLIGHT is so deep, that not only have they released numerous fan songs, but also posted many genuine hand-written fan letters on fancafe. I can truly feel the mutual love between VIXX and ST★RLIGHT.
Zoe

Who caught your attention at first and why?

It must be N (Cha Hakyeon)! His dance style is very elegant and he knows how to grab the audiences’ attention. As VIXX’s leader, he did a good job in leading and managing the members, and watching him has always reminded me to be a better person.
Yoyo
N attracted me first in BIGBYUNG because of his humor presented in the show. But after knowing all the members, Ken immediately drew my attention with his angelic vocals. On top of that, his visual is definitely my type too! 😉
Zoe

Who is your bias and bias wrecker, and why?

The first member who brought me into the fandom would be N as his dance style is very different from other idols, but now I am a ST★RLIGHT for the whole group! Therefore I would like to go to group concerts rather than individual member’s solo concerts. ^^ I like the way that they are together performing on stage, and I can feel their bonding and charming vibes when they are together.
Yoyo
Our cute main vocalist JaeHwannie (Ken) has been my bias from the beginning >^< Apart from his soulful vocal tone and breathtaking visuals, what attracts me the most is his personality. He was born with “aegyo” and his cute way of calling his fans “My ST★RLIGHT babies” is still so sweet after many years. Also, he is the mood maker of the team. He always brings happiness and energy to us.
Zoe

Can you recommend a fancam, V Live, cover video, cover dance, or individual content video of VIXX to our readers?

‘Love Me Do’ Star Show 360 is definitely my number one list, as this performance showcases their long legs and sexy vibes. The water splashes when they step on the floor creates powerful visual effects.
Yoyo

I would definitely recommend the ‘Shangri-La’ remix ver. in 2017 MBC Music Festival. This was a legendary stage which demonstrates fusion of Korean culture in the K-Pop stage with hanbok and fan. They slayed the stage, and the dance break was breathtaking. They were even invited to perform the song again at “Show! Music Core” due to the popularity of the stage.
Zoe

What is your favorite title track and B-side track from VIXX?

‘Voodoo Doll’ & ‘Badbye’
The music video for ‘Voodoo Doll’ tells the story of a girl who controls six men using a voodoo doll. Despite their pain and desire to escape, the girl continuously captures and torments them. This concept was exceptionally unique and groundbreaking in the world of K-pop during that time.
Yoyo

The lyrics of ‘Badbye’ vividly depict a situation where a man is no longer in love with a woman and bids her farewell. Whenever I listen to this song, it evokes a sense of sadness in me as it reminds me of my past relationships.
Yoyo

‘Chained up’ was the title song of VIXX’s second full-length album released in 2015. The use of the “master and slave” concept was undeniably captivating to me. I had never imagined a K-Pop boy group would adopt this kind of bold theme as the album concept. This proves that VIXX acted as the pioneer in the K-Pop industry with their ground-breaking concepts.
Zoe

‘Love letter’ is one of the most meaningful songs for VIXX and ST★RLIGHT as it is a fansong. The lyrics convey our love to each other. The line “Stay by my side, I’ll comfort you. Let’s love as if the world stopped like this. Thank you for being you.” is really touching, and I would cry whenever I listen to this song, especially during their 2023 fan concert in Seoul. That was my first time hearing the live version of this song!
Zoe

What is your favorite album from VIXX?

My most memorable album is “Chained Up.” It was a significant turning point for them as they embraced a concept where they portrayed themselves as slaves to ST★RLIGHT, they even prepared a slave contract in the album to match with the concept. Their stage outfits included collars and low-cut blazers, which were undeniably captivating and sizzling. The level of sexiness they exuded had a huge impact on the entire K-Pop industry, with numerous groups covering their songs and imitating their outfits at that time.
The B-side tracks in the album further contributed to the overall appeal, seamlessly blending the sexy concept with songs like ‘Hot Enough’ and ‘Spider’, while also offering refreshing tunes like ‘Heaven’ and ‘Can’t Say’. It was an album that left a lasting impression in my heart as it perfectly balanced different music genres. I think many K-Pop fans nowadays would still be able to recall this concept.
Yoyo

“Chained Up” is also one of my favorite albums. Besides that, I would recommend “Error” too. I love how the album starts with an intro ‘Steel Heart’ which directly brings the audience into the main theme of the album, cyborg. The intro perfectly connects the title song ‘Error’, which still gives me goosebumps. ‘Error’ could be regarded as one of VIXX’s most representative masterpieces with its signature choreography of pulling the plug out of the cyborg.
My favorite B-side tracks in this album are ‘Time Machine’ and ‘Blue Blossom’. ‘Time Machine’ talks about how we want to go back to our childhood with good memories, while ‘Blue Blossom’ is a love song with beautiful melody and lyrics.
Zoe

Can you recommend one underrated song from VIXX that deserves more attention?

‘Black Out’. The choreography of this song perfectly showcases their advantages in height. Their model-like legs are very eye-catching!
Yoyo

‘Love Me Do’. The song, choreography and outfits could be concluded by one word, sexiness. They do not need to wear revealing outfits, but make use of facial expressions and vocal tone to express sexiness. This proves why they are kings!
Zoe

What is your favorite concept from VIXX, and what kind of concept would you like VIXX to do in their following comeback?

‘Hyde’ holds a special place in my mind as the most memorable concept. It draws inspiration from the renowned Gothic novella “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” and cleverly incorporates it into their music. The concept is divided into two contrasting personas: “Jekyll” and “Hyde.” I like this kind of concept that showcases characters with contradicting traits and ideas.
If possible, I would like to see them act as wizards, it will be fun if they use witchcraft or magic in their concept!
Yoyo

‘Shangri-La’ is a breakthrough for VIXX as their concepts before were kind of “dark” and “heavy”. The use of Korean traditional clothes and fans in choreography is extremely innovative. I believe they are the first K-Pop group to adopt this concept, which is still used by many groups nowadays.
I would like them to try the yandere concept! As it has been a long time since their last “dark concept” release.
Zoe

Can you share your experiences going to VIXX’s concerts and fan meetings?

“THE UNDERWORLD” in 2017: I was in high school when I went to my first VIXX concert. Everything was dream-like. They had a high-five event after the concert, and I still remember their big and warm hands till now. My friends and I did not wash our hands until the next day!
2023 VIXX Leo-Ken-Hyuk Fan-Concert “ING: As Always” in 2023: VIXX have gone through many things in these few years, and I felt emotional when I saw the 3 members on the stage. Listening to the songs that were released throughout my teenage years reminds me of how many creative concepts they have showcased in the past. I am proud of being a ST★RLIGHT!
Yoyo

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

The VIXX’s Live Show in Hong Kong “THE UNDERWORLD'” was my first concert. As a middle school student, I have spent most of my savings buying a VIP ticket. This was the biggest sum of money I have ever spent in my life! However, I had no regrets as I was able to watch their performances from a very close distance and joined the high-five session with all members. I still remember how nervous and excited I was when I met the members.
Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

2023 VIXX Leo-Ken-Hyuk Fan-Concert “ING : As Always” in Seoul was my most memorable experience. That was my first time watching a concert alone overseas. Luckily, I met Yoyo in the concert hall so we could accompany each other and share our happiness. Although many things have changed over the years, I still felt honored to be a ST★RLIGHT by watching their stages. During the last concert, the members cried when delivering words to fans. This made me emotional and I could not control my tears. As I was sitting on the first floor on the second day, I was able to see their faces very closely when they walked past. They are much more handsome in real life!!!
Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

Besides concerts, I am very lucky to participate in Ken’s fansign in HongKong. That was my first fansign so I was super nervous that I was not able to say anything in front of him even though I had written a script. I have never imagined that I would have the chance to join his fansign. This was the sweetest moment ever and I still remember Jaehwannie’s warm smile.
Zoe

Picture from Yoyo and Zoe

Can you recall your best memory with VIXX?

I still cannot get over the feelings when VIXX won first 1st place in “Music Bank”. As a group from a small agency, I thought it was nearly impossible for them to win first place, but VIXX did it!
Yoyo

The best memory must be attending VIXX’s concerts and meeting the members in real person. It was like a dream come true.
Zoe

Can you share any words from the members you find memorable?

우리 별빛 애기들~ (Our baby ST★RLIGHT~) by Ken. He is the loveliest man in this world when saying this!
Yoyo

“오래가자! 오래보자!” (Let’s go for a long time! Let’s see each other for a long time!) by Leo. VIXX and ST★RLIGHT will love each other forever.
Zoe

Describe VIXX in three words.

Sexy, Conceptual, Noble.
Yoyo
Pioneer, Sweet, Excelsis.
Zoe

What does VIXX mean to you? How has VIXX impacted your life?

They are the ones who ignited the fluttering feelings within me for the first time in my life. They filled my teenage years with joy, and even though we have been physically apart, they still bring happiness to me regardless of my emotional state. Witnessing their hard work and dedication to their own lives also motivates me to avoid being idle and to strive for my own goals. They have become like a family to me, as we have shared many years together, and it’s bittersweet to reminisce about the times when the 6 members were all inseparable. Although I have grown up and entered a society and I have less free time than before, I will continue to support them wholeheartedly in their concerts and with their new albums!
Yoyo
I always admire and appreciate their efforts in being an artist that ST★RLIGHT would be proud of. They are from a small agency with limited resources in the beginning. They even had to take public transport after work during their early days. Thinking of that always reminds me to be a better person at work. They have accompanied me for more than ⅓ of my life. We have shared lots of good memories and have gone through lots of ups and downs. The fact that I am still here for them proves how important they mean to me.
Zoe

If you can talk to VIXX in person, what would you wish to tell them?

ST★RLIGHT will always be here to support VIXX, don’t worry and do whatever you want!
Yoyo
Thank you for accompanying me in my youth. Let’s meet for a long long time. You’re my star and I’m your light! ★
Zoe