HYBE Labels’ Japan-based boy group &TEAM is ready to expand their musical reach and solidify their presence in Korea with the announcement of their first Korean mini album, titled Back to Life.
Slated for release on October 28 at 6 PM KST, this milestone marks a pivotal moment for the multinational group as they transition from regional popularity in Japan and Asia to a broader Korean and global stage.
The news comes just as the group wraps up their successful 2025 Asia tour, ‘Awaken the Bloodline’, which has built a strong foundation of international support.
The tour will conclude with a two-day encore concert in Saitama, Japan, on October 25–26, just days before their highly anticipated Korean album drops.
A Long-Awaited Korean Debut
Since their debut in 2022 under HYBE Labels Japan, &TEAM has steadily risen through the ranks of the fourth-generation K-pop world.
The group was formed through the survival show &AUDITION – The Howling, and consists of nine multinational members from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Over the past few years, they have gained significant traction in the Japanese market with chart-performing singles, dedicated fandom growth, and wide media exposure.
Despite being promoted primarily as a J-pop group, the announcement of their first Korean mini album indicates a strategic shift, aligning the group more directly with the K-pop industry, where global expansion opportunities are more robust.
With Back to Life, &TEAM is not just testing the waters—they are diving straight into the highly competitive and globally influential Korean music market.
The album is also notable for being their first major musical release since their third Japanese single album, Go in Blind, which dropped approximately six months prior.
What We Know So Far About ‘Back to Life’
While detailed tracklists, concept photos, and audio teasers have yet to be revealed, HYBE did release an official teaser video that hints at the album’s tone and visual direction.
The teaser, which premiered on YouTube, features dramatic visuals that evoke a sense of rebirth, resilience, and emotional awakening—themes often explored in &TEAM’s existing discography.
The title Back to Life suggests a possible metaphorical journey of renewal or transformation, and fans are speculating that the release could reflect the group’s rebirth into the Korean music scene.
This is particularly fitting as the group transitions from being a Japan-based act to becoming more globally recognized under the vast HYBE umbrella.
Fans are also excited to see how the group’s music will evolve in Korean. Up until now, &TEAM’s Japanese releases have leaned heavily into cinematic pop, R&B, and dance tracks, with dark, emotionally complex narratives.
Whether Back to Life continues in that lane or presents a completely new sound remains to be seen.
Pre-Orders and Fan Anticipation
According to HYBE, pre-orders for the album opened on September 4 at 12 PM KST, and early reports suggest that demand is already strong, particularly among fans in Korea and Southeast Asia who have long awaited a Korean-language release from the group.
&TEAM’s fandom, known as LUNÉ, has been buzzing with excitement across platforms like Twitter (X), Instagram, and Weverse.
Hashtags such as #BackToLife, #앤팀_한국컴백, and #LUNÉIsReady have been trending periodically since the announcement.
The timing of the release—just after their Asia tour ends and before year-end music shows—positions the group strategically to ride a wave of fan engagement, media attention, and award show buzz in Q4 of 2025.
Why This Comeback Matters
This Korean debut isn’t just another album drop—it marks &TEAM’s evolution into a truly bi-cultural, bilingual group that aims to bridge the J-pop and K-pop worlds.
While such dual-market strategies have worked for other acts in the past (e.g., TWICE, BoA, and SEVENTEEN), few groups have made such a clear and intentional shift in branding as &TEAM appears to be doing now.
It also demonstrates HYBE’s continued investment in multinational artist development, as &TEAM joins other HYBE acts like ENHYPEN, TXT, and BTS in targeting both Korean and global audiences through tailored content and tours.
In an industry where language barriers, market dynamics, and cultural nuances often limit cross-border success, &TEAM’s upcoming Korean mini album is a bold move that could significantly reshape their trajectory.
