How QUEENZ EYE Is Becoming a Stronger Team with “Y2K”

The members of QUEENZ EYE reflect on why their second season is more than a “new beginning”, and how they chose the creative direction for their new single “Y2K”.

In late May, QUEENZ EYE made their second comeback as a new, reorganized group. “Y2K,” the infectious title track, was hand-picked by the members for their new EP PRISM EP.O2, and is the result of months of hard teamwork.

“From the first time we heard 'Y2K,' all of the members unanimously chose it,” WONCHAE, the group’s leader, said in a new interview. “It felt like a song that could clearly highlight each member’s individual charm while also strongly capturing our color as a team, so we chose it as the title track.”

“Y2K” is a pop anthem stacked with nostalgia and a giant hook. “It’s a witty and iconic song,” WONCHAE described, and she’s right. It follows the bombast of their first comeback in this new season of QUEENZ EYE “Feel the vibe”, an infectious summer anthem. The album’s bright pink packaging matches the bright, youthful concept the girls are portraying onstage. “I especially like the group's digital camera photo card and the scratch message card,” SEOVIN said, noting that the photo card came from a selfie photo the members’ took with AHYOON’s digital camera before they knew it would be used in the album.

SEOVIN categorized the choreography, which the members helped create, as her favorite part of the comeback. “Because many of our own ideas went into it, we structured it so that each member’s charm could be shown,” she said. The members focused a great deal on how they could convey the song's fun, energetic qualities and bring that hope to their fans. We tried to capture the free and joyful mood of the Y2K era,” she added.

“We wanted this stage to feel more complete and immersive,” KIIRIII told me. The key to the group finding its charm, WONCHAE added, was being true to its style and tastes. “We always think first about how we can be the most authentic version of ourselves during a performance,” she said. “Just like actors immerse themselves in a work and a character, we also try to keep changing to match the song. In line with that, we carefully adjust many things, including facial expressions, gestures, the expression of the dance, and the tone of our singing.”

“Y2K” is part of PRISM EP.O2, which follows QUEENZ EYE’s summer comeback last year. The 7-track EP includes “THIS IS LOVE”, which WONCHAE explains, “was newly released again because so many people loved it,” recorded in both English and Korean, as well as the anthemic B-side “LBD”.

PRISM EP.02 is the first comeback for QUEENZ EYE since they debuted with four new members in August 2025. This time, they told me, they feel more confident and at ease with one another. “When we first started promoting, I don’t think we knew each other very well,” JINYUL admitted. “And I also don’t think we knew ourselves very well either!”

Looking back, many of the members could see where they could have improved or shown more on stage. But their time away has helped them grow stronger as a team. “Of course, each of us worked hard individually, but we also spent a lot of time talking and helping each other,” SEOHA said. “Because of that, I think our bond as a team became even stronger, and we were able to grow together.”

When she first learned about the lineup, WONCHAE was unsure about QUEENZ EYE's second season. “Honestly, one of my biggest concerns was the fact that the original members and new members would be working together,” she said. “To be honest, I thought that could become both one of our greatest strengths and one of our weaknesses.”

She continued, “First of all, there was pressure for us to blend well as one team. I was also nervous and worried about how the public would view us.”

But these concerns fueled WONCHAE to work harder to show what a new version of QUEENZ EYE could be capable of. The members held long, intense rehearsals in preparation for their debut.

But the real work began after they completed promotions for “Feel the vibe”. “We naturally spent more time together during this hiatus, and I think our teamwork became much stronger. We share each other’s strengths and energy, teach and guide each other through the areas where we can improve, and fill in what is missing,” she said. “Through that positive interaction, we are learning from each other every day. I think the sincerity with which we respect, support, and care for one another has been the biggest driving force behind this growth.”

JINYUL, one of the new members, described the process of debuting with an established group as daunting. “It felt like  we were taking things head-on without knowing anything yet,” she described. It was a little painful and scary at times as we faced those challenges, but seeing ourselves gradually grow while encountering new things was really interesting and also a lot of fun.”

KIIRII echoed this. “When we first debuted, everything was new, and I was very nervous. But this time, I have gained a lot more confidence,” she observed. “While promoting together, the members also became closer, so I think we will be able to enjoy this promotion even more.”

For AHYOON, who has been with the group since the very beginning, QUEENZ EYE’s new era is an opportunity to show that the group can defy its own expectations. “I think our second season is not simply a new beginning, but a process of showing how we are growing into a stronger team,” she said. “That makes me feel very excited and happy.”

The members all acknowledged feeling a mix of nervous energy and pressure heading into their debut stage. But the rookies were grateful for the guidance of QUEENZ EYE’s senior members, WONCHAE and AHYOON. The girls, SEOHA said, “shared a lot of tips for being on stage and things they had learned from experience. That helped me so, so much, and I came to rely on them a lot. I also felt their love once again, so I was really grateful.”

“The more deeply I get to know each member, the more affection I feel for them, and our bond becomes even stronger,” JINYUL added. “I feel so excited and thrilled for the journey ahead with these teammates.”

WONCHAE, who likely felt the most pressure and responsibility as QUEENZ EYE’s leader, now looks at the past year of upheaval as something she is grateful for. “As the leader of the team, the things I worried about during PRISM EP.01 have now become some of our team’s greatest strengths, and my own way of thinking has changed a lot in a positive direction. Seeing us somehow make things happen and grow within a short period of time made me believe in this team and in the members even more, and it gave me a lot of confidence,” she told me.

More than anything, she’s confident that if this comeback goes well and if the members continue to trust one another, they can succeed together. “Just as we have done so far, if we continue to do our best with gratitude for every opportunity that comes our way, I believe we will keep developing endlessly,” she added. “We would be grateful if you continue to watch our dazzling growth!”