82MAJOR Is Doing Fashion And Music Their Way (Sorry, Not Sorry)
Unbothered by social norms and driven by confidence, 82MAJOR is showing how real power comes from doing it your way.
“We don't want to hold it in, not this time,” croon 82MAJOR vocal members CHO SEONG IL and KIM DO GYUN in the pre-chorus of “TAKEOVER”, the title track of the group’s latest comeback album [SILENCE SYNDROME].
An accurate mission statement for 82MAJOR. The six member K-Pop group – consisting of NAM SEONG MO, PARK SEOK JOON, YOON YE CHAN, CHO SEONG IL, HWANG SEONG BIN, and KIM DO GYUN– has never held anything in or back from the day of their debut in 2023. Whether it’s through their high-energy performances, cinematic music videos, or unconventional visual concepts, 82MAJOR is all about doing things their own way.
That rebellious spirit takes on a new form in their recent photoshoot: a sleek, futuristic visual narrative that casts the members as secret agents on a mission gone sideways. The twist? Each agent comes face to face with an alternate version of himself, in a striking visual play on duality. The images blur the line between reality and illusion, self and other, echoing the group’s ongoing journey of self-definition and creative control.
The secret agent motif isn’t new for 82MAJOR. Fans will recognize the theme of secret agents from their second mini album [X-82] and their recent comeback with [SILENCE SYNDROME], which wove espionage into a larger story of rebellion against societal norms. [SILENCE SYNDROME] leans into the subversive identity of 82MAJOR, embodying their determination to break free from a society that enforces silence within established systems. True to 82MAJOR’s signature style, the album is filled with tracks predominantly created by the members themselves. As CHO SEONG IL puts it, “We wanted to give listeners a shocking new experience with 82MAJOR’s music [with this album]. Our goal was to deliver a truly awestrucking surprise.”
Ripping Up The Rulebook On K-Pop Music
82MAJOR’s creative journey has always been guided by their desire to defy structures and expectations. Their debut mini album ‘BEAT by 82’ was an ambitious declaration of the group’s unique style of mixing K-Pop with hip-hop. “In our first mini album, we wanted to leave a strong impression of 82MAJOR through our one-of-a-kind music,” shares CHO SEONG IL on the objective of ‘BEAT by 82’.
Following the success of ‘BEAT by 82’, the group unveiled their second mini album [X-82] in October of last year. With [X-82] the group threw the whole paradigm of assigning certain vocal roles to certain members – a long-standing standard among K-Pop idol groups – out the window: “We wanted to show our confidence that all six members are all-rounder artists. Even the vocal members showcased their rapping skills, to shatter the K-Pop idol position mold,” says CHO SEONG IL.
“We want to push past the ordinary and do something only we can,” adds HWANG SEONG BIN. “So we went with bold, straightforward title tracks like ‘Choke’, ‘Stuck’, and ‘TAKEOVER’, to really capture our intensity. And our visual concepts are also very powerful as well. In many ways, we want to step away from what’s usually accepted as normal.”
But 82MAJOR’s rule-breaking isn’t just about shaking things up for the sake of it. It stems from something deeper: a commitment to making music that’s true to who they are, both individually and as a team. That identity is rooted in where they come from, as HWANG SEONG BIN explains: “82MAJOR’s team name has the national number of Korea ‘82’ in it, so naturally we tend to incorporate Korean traditional sounds into our music. In our first mini album ‘BEAT by 82’, the track “82” is a montage of all the proud moments of Korea. And the track “Heroes” from our recent mini album [SILENCE SYNDROME] includes Korean traditional instrument sounds. Even now, we are continuing to create our own 82MAJOR style.”
And beyond cultural influence, honesty and teamwork play just as big a role in defining their sound. NAM SEONG MO adds: “We don’t try to exaggerate anything, we just express our individual styles naturally. When we work on the songs together, we have a lot of fun. I think that helps express ourselves in a sincere way. And that is what makes 82MAJOR’s style so unique!”
Turning the Dress Code Inside Out
The bold and honest representation of the members’ truest selves doesn’t stop at their music. 82MAJOR’s refusal to conform spills over into how they present themselves too, starting with the clothes for this very photoshoot.
The all-black outfits, taken straight from their stage performances for “TAKEOVER”, perfectly mirror 82MAJOR’s defiant spirit. On the symbolism behind the clothes, CHO SEONG IL explains: “The outfits represent the dual meaning of [SILENCE SYNDROME]. The fact that all members are wearing black symbolizes how people usually keep their head down in structured systems. But the patterns and details on each member’s outfit are different, which conveys the message that we will be following our own style and going our own way.”
PARK SEOK JOON adds, “We also revealed new hair and makeup styles with this comeback. HWANG SEONG BIN and I bleached our hair for the first time, to try out something new! We dyed our hair in vivid colors to showcase our unique visuals, and those new styles, combined with our performances, really conveyed 82MAJOR’s electric energy!”
But what they wear offstage carries just as much meaning as what they wear onstage. For 82MAJOR, fashion isn’t about trends or approval; it’s another way to express individuality and challenge the norm. Whether it’s experimenting with eccentric styles, mismatching socks, or just going wild with clothing choices, the group isn’t afraid to dress in ways that make people do a double take.
PARK SEOK JOON, for example, likes to surprise people with small details: “I like unconventional fashion! I think it’s a lot of fun to wear socks of different designs on each foot.” And shaking up style standards gives NAM SEONG MO a sense of elation. “It feels new every time, like ‘I’m actually making this work?’” As to which fashion icon he thinks is good at pushing boundaries in fashion, NAM SEONG MO chooses his fellow member YOON YE CHAN. “Of all the members, YE CHAN is the most daring in fashion, and he really enjoys every style. And he can pull off any style that he wants to!”
The fashion icon in question, YOON YE CHAN himself, thinks of rejecting fashion principles as part of the process of finding one’s true style. “By trying out something you haven’t done before, and challenging yourself, you can discover sides of yourself that you didn’t know before.” Sticking steadfastly to his fashion philosophy, YOON YE CHAN is of the opinion that ‘rules’ in fashion don’t even exist to begin with. “You just wear what you want to. If you look at the mirror and think ‘Ooh, I look sick’, then that’s it!” His fashion icon is 82MAJOR as a whole: “I think we always try new concepts and stylings, and we do things that others have never done before!”
Living Like the Rules Don’t Apply
To 82MAJOR members, going against conventions of society isn’t just a stage concept or a styling choice. It’s a mindset that goes beyond music and fashion and spills into how they approach their everyday lives.
KIM DO GYUN believes that the group’s courage to challenge norms comes from a deeper source: the ambition and love for the stage that all six members share. “I think that’s why we always have fun trying out new concepts and music. All six members enjoy the challenges that come with each new album, and the performances as well.” He continues to emphasize his confidence that 82MAJOR will continue in their rebellious style, with the support of fans, of course. “We are so thankful that people love seeing us like this and are enjoying the journey with us. I hope we will always be this way and create music that will make people say, ‘This is exactly what 82MAJOR is about.’”
YOON YE CHAN echoes KIM DO GYUN’s words that doing what feels right to themselves is an integral part of the group’s identity. “I think that’s just how we are. We’re showing you the real personalities of all six members. The passion and courage come from within ourselves, and that’s why we love to try out things that others would never dare to!”
Rebellion may look bold on the surface, but for 82MAJOR, it’s also deeply personal. Each member has a rule they never follow in life, fashion, or music. NAM SEONG MO has never followed the rule ‘Better done than perfect.’ “I always put 100% into everything! I never do things halfway. If I am going to do something, I want to do it right. I think that helps keep me more present in everyday life,” he explains. PARK SEOK JOON has a similar perspective. He never follows the rule ‘Do as you’re told’. “If I’m going to do something, I want to do it in an unconventional way. I like to try things in a way that others haven’t done before.”
But even 82MAJOR knows that doing something different from people around you isn’t always easy. For anyone hesitating at the edge of change, the group has some advice. CHO SEONG IL emphasizes the importance of starting small: “In order to change, you need to take that first step. Just do the thing. Your courage will be rewarded.” HWANG SEONG BIN agrees that a small gesture is all that matters. “You have to try something, anything, in order to change. Try with something small!” And the group’s youngest member, KIM DO GYUN, offers kind words of encouragement: “Your life is no one else’s but your own. Nobody can deny that. If the way you’re living is your choice, then I respect that 100%. But if there’s a part of you that isn’t satisfied because you’re scared, you should do what you want to do, so that you don’t regret it later.”
From June to July 2025, 82MAJOR will embark on their North America tour, hitting major cities across the U.S. and Canada. And they are bringing not just their music but also their defiant energy and charisma to fans worldwide. This tour promises to defy expectations once again, packed with fresh surprises for everyone. CHO SEONG IL shares, “For some, it’s going to be their first time seeing our performance live, so I want them to feel that ‘This is 82MAJOR’s energy’. We’re going to surprise them with every performance.”
According to PARK SEOK JOON, “The new rules that we are writing with this tour are that we are going to sear our energy and cool sides in the minds of our audience, so that more and more people will listen to 82MAJOR’s music. Even those who are coming to our concert for the first time will want to keep watching us afterwards!”
By continuously breaking the rules and boldly creating their own, 82MAJOR is not just performing, they are aiming to redefine the very fabric of K-pop. Nothing if not extraordinary and deliberately not ordinary, 82MAJOR is carving out a space that no one can ignore and no one wants to resist.
BDG Media newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
