Why WAKER Hopes HOWLING CON: CLASS OF TOMORROW Can Be a “Gift” to Fans

The first in a new series of interviews with HOWLING ENTERTAINMENT’s boy groups, WAKER reflects on why the company’s fancon is a chance to thank fans who, as member SAEBYEOL says, have been “giving us more love than we deserve.”

In December, WAKER will perform alongside ASCENDER and CHASER at 2026 HOWLING CON: CLASS OF TOMORROW in Japan. Featuring two performances at Tokyo’s Tamagawa Seseragi Hall, the concert brings together HOWLING ENTERTAINMENT’s three boy groups: WAKER, who officially debuted in January 2024 with their first mini album, Mission of School, and rookie groups ASCENDER and CHASER. Together, the three groups will showcase the strength of HOWLING ENTERTAINMENT and its growing roster of artists.

The tagline — “WAKE UP! CHASE YOUR DREAM! RISE HIGHER!” — ties together each group’s concept of boys after the fulfillment of their dreams. “Just as the phrase CLASS OF TOMORROW suggests, I think it represents HOWLING’s three groups coming together in one place and moving toward tomorrow,” KWON HYEOP explained. Because WAKER is the most experienced group of the three, he added, “I think our role is to stand at the front and help lead the other two groups forward.”

IJUN, a rapper and dancer, emphasized that he hopes WAKER’s success will be a positive influence for the younger groups at HOWLING. The boys care a lot about the members of ASCENDER and CHASER, he emphasized. “I hope they can learn from the way WAKER always keeps smiling,” he said, then laughed. “But they also know how to get serious and do things properly when it matters!”

As the group’s leader KOHYEON reflected, WAKER is bringing years of experience and a special relationship with their fanbase, SLEEPER, to the stage. “And of course,” he said, “I think our great performances are one of our strengths.”

All three groups have been busy over the past year. In the spring, WAKER finished promotions for their latest comeback album, In Elixir: Spellbound, which included electrifying performances of their title track, “LiKE THAT.”

“As we’ve done more and more promotions, I’ve been really happy to see WAKER’s teamwork getting stronger,” LEO said. Each member brings something different to the stage, something that was especially clear during their latest comeback, where the group was at its most explosive. “Of course, we’re all really handsome,” he added, “but our personalities are also really fun, and every member has a completely different kind of charm!”

Since comeback promotions wrapped up, the group has turned to preparing for CLASS OF TOMORROW. “We’re managing our time carefully and preparing over the course of about a month and a half so we can deliver a high-quality performance,” SEBUM told me. “We’re practicing together and continuing to build our chemistry.”

This year, KWON HYEOP also began to feel more at ease onstage as WAKER gained more performance experience. “Even before we released our first album, I used to wonder how many times I would need to perform before the stage stopped feeling unfamiliar to me,” he said. “After our third album promotions, I finally started to feel that way. So I think I’ve been spending my days feeling a little more mentally comfortable and at ease.”

WAKER’s members are explicit, though, that their fans are what keep them moving forward. When I asked what their favorite part about being a member of WAKER is, KOHYEON responded enthusiastically, without hesitation, “Of course, it’s our SLEEPER! We exist because SLEEPER is there for us, and they are the driving force that allows us to dream even bigger and keep moving forward.”

SAEBYEOL also expressed his gratitude for the love he has received from Japanese fans and said he hopes this HOWLING CON can be a special gift for them. 

“I’m always grateful because they give us more love than we deserve, and we’re working hard to give that love back in return,” SAEBYEOL said. “I hope this concert can be a wonderful gift for them as well.”