Introducing the band from next door: BOYNEXTDOOR
- Kay Joseph
- Apr 30
- 6 min read
Kay Joseph | April 2026
Imagine if your six, cute next-door neighbours made music. They sing about everyday experiences like falling in love, the confusion of your first break-up and regaining your confidence after losing your first love. Congratulations! Your neighbours are the cute and ever-so-charming members of BOYNEXTDOOR!
Who are they?
BOYNEXTDOOR is a six-member group under KOZ Entertainment – a sublabel of HYBE Entertainment, home to groups such as BTS, TXT and LE SSERAFIM – and consists of Jaehyun, Sungho, Riwoo, Taesan, Leehan and Woonhak. They debuted on 30 May 2023 with their EP ‘WHO!’.
The band name is a reference to their concept of the guy next door. In an interview with Billboard in 2024, leader Jaehyun elaborated on the name: “While we are friendly as people, our music can be mysterious; people always wonder what’s coming next.
“[...] You never know who’s living next door. That boy might be a hip-hop lover, that boy might be a rock lover or love ballads. So, I think there is an air of mystery to that name as well.”
In the same interview, they mentioned that the making of their albums are a collective creative process, and all of the members have their share; from songwriting and dance practice, to the staging. They don’t have fixed positions, apart from the leader, although the members responsible for rapping, for example, are generally speaking the same ones every comeback.
With their debut on 30 May 2023, BOYNEXTDOOR brought the cheerful, experimental and energetic next-door-neighbour concept back into an industry filled with dark, supernatural and edgy concepts amongst their male colleagues, previously executed in the late 2010s by groups such as ASTRO, TXT in its early years, and NCT DREAM. It would set them apart, and their image would become a factor in their appeal.
Their fandom name is ONEDOOR, meaning the fans are the ones opening the door to the bigger world, and, together with the members, they move collectively towards a shared dream for BOYNEXTDOOR.
The members
Jaehyun
Myung Jaehyun, under the stage name Jaehyun, was the last member to be added to the lineup, right before the final evaluation of the existing members. He’s BOYNEXTDOOR’s official leader. Born in 2003, he forms what K-Pop fans call the ‘hyung line’ with his peers, the oldest male members in a group (for women, this would be called ‘unnie’). Jaehyun is often referred to as the moodmaker of the group, and he raps as well as sings. Fans view him as the main rapper.
Three fun facts about Jaehyun:
He is a dog person.
He is very affectionate towards the people around him.
He has writing and composing credits on half of BOYNEXTDOOR’s songs.
Sungho
Park Sungho – better known as just Sungho – is the oldest in BOYNEXTDOOR. He was also born in 2003 and is part of the hyung line, alongside Jaehyun and Riwoo. Sungho is the group’s energiser and one of the vocalists, often referred to by fans as the main vocalist.
Three fun facts about Sungho:
He is left-handed.
His members’ nickname for him is ‘Top Gun’.
His hobbies are café hopping and taking pictures.
Riwoo
Lee Sanghyuk, better known by his stage name Riwoo, is one of the guiding figures for the group in their performances. He’s recognised among fans as the main dancer. Born in 2003, he’s the last member to complete the hyung line.
Three fun facts about Riwoo:
He likes eating sweets and desserts.
His strength is to keep his cool at all times.
If he doesn’t understand something during an English interview, he tends to say “yes” and laugh.
Taesan
Operating under the stage name Taesan, Han Dongmin is often referred to as the ace of the group, utilising his abilities in rap, vocals and dancing. He was born in 2004 and is part of the ‘maknae line’, the youngest members of a group.
Three facts about Taesan:
He trained the longest among the members, with a total of seven years.
He is a fan of Nirvana, The Carpenters and Richard Sanderson.
He is good at producing and writes some of the songs.
Leehan
Kim Donghyun, better known as Leehan, is the second-youngest and is often described as the group's therapist. Born in 2004, he’s part of the maknae line and is an all-rounder like most of the members in the group.
He’s passionate about fish, and one of his hobbies is raising them. KOZ even bought him a fish tank for their dorm.
The members of BOYNEXTDOOR come to him for advice.
To get close to Leehan, one must share their gummies with him.
Woonhak
As the maknae of the group, Kim Woonhak embraces that energy perfectly. He was born in 2006 and, like many of his members, is an all-rounder. He also writes and produces some of their songs.
Three fun facts about Woonhak:
His favourite person in the world is his sister.
He is a people person and loves making people happy and feel good.
He is very affectionate towards his members.
Discography
As mentioned before, BOYNEXTDOOR debuted with the three-piece EP “WHO!”, with the songs “One and Only”, “But I Like You” and “Serenade” depicting the excitement of initial romance and their first love. It was the first in a release trilogy.
This three-part series describes the band’s first-love narratives, from this initial romance all the way to moving on from your first heartbreak through the mini album “WHY…”, containing songs like “But Sometimes”, and the album “HOW?”, containing their most popular and most-streamed song “Earth, Wind & Fire”.
After the trilogy concluded, “19.99” shifted away from following a big narrative and infused members’ experiences and stories about their daily lives and what they go through. “When we were recording or on stage, we felt like we were speaking our own language and just talking about what we experienced as boys”, vocalist Sungho told Billboard. “Even when we are performing, I think we focus more on our individual style and vibes.
“It’s more grounded and more heartfelt this time around.”
“19.99” contains the popular tracks “Dangerous” and “Nice Guy”.
Their first 2025 comeback was “No Genre”, which is exactly what the title describes. It refuses to be confined to a single style, filled with infectious hooks, emotional storytelling and homage to past musical legacies. The title track “I Feel Good” is one of their more popular songs, alongside the most-streamed song on the album “IF I SAY, I LOVE YOU”.
Their latest comeback, “The Action”, embraces the thrill of movement, challenge and growth. Through this release, BOYNEXTDOOR channels their signature mix of honesty and ambition into an album that celebrates courage and creative evolution. The title track, “Hollywood Action”, pairs swing rhythm and brass with sharp choreography and bold storytelling.
They are set to return in May this year, according to multiple Korean outlets, although track lists, concept photos, and other details have not been released yet.
BOYNEXTDOOR also made their Japanese debut in 2023, and continue to promote there with songs like “SAY CHEESE!” and Japanese versions of their existing songs.
Less popular songs, but worth checking out:
20 – from 19.99
Next Mistake – from No Genre
JAM! – from The Action
Is That True? – from No Genre
l i f e i s c o o l – from HOW?
What makes BOYNEXTDOOR so likeable?
I have always held the sentiment that I’m not that into cute concepts, so I shifted away from BOYNEXTDOOR. My best friend was already a big fan, so I was exposed to them anyway and fell in love with them as people before I fell in love with their music.
Their concept is everything but cute, and if anything, it’s the creative freedom and experimental music that makes me come back to their music. Even though their discography is still growing, I keep digging through it for hidden gems, as I like to call them.
Their addictive, catchy music, mixed with their extremely adorable and charming personalities, makes them a group that can’t be ignored. If you’re looking for something new and fun, you've come to the right place.
Listen to BOYNEXTDOOR here!
Follow BOYNEXTDOOR on Instagram here!
