VIBY drops Korean-language versions of 'HANAMARU' and 'Gotcha', marking push into domestic market

Billboard Japan chart-topper, now in Korean

VIBY dropped Korean-language versions of HANAMARU and Gotcha on October 26. The five-member Japanese boy group—Io, Renki, Akito, Ryoha, and Kotaro—released both tracks across music platforms.

HANAMARU carries the weight here. It debuted in Japan in May and climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Japan Heatseekers Songs chart. The song frames itself as a youth anthem, built on a simple idea: praise yourself on the days things fall apart just as much as the days they don't. Gotcha swings the other way. A dance-pop track with bright guitar, synth, and an addictive hook, it channels what the group calls the free, breezy energy of youth.

68 days from debut to Budokan

VIBY is the first act on Rii.MJ, a label founded by producer Kim Mi-jung, who previously scouted members of BTS and Tomorrow X Together. The name means "Voyage Into Bright Youth."

Their rise has been steep. March brought a pre-debut digital single, 恋におちたら (Sarangi Ppajimyeon), with a music video directed by Shunji Iwai (who made Love Letter). That video hit 10 million YouTube views. June came their first physical single, Miracle: The First Light, debuting at No. 5 on the Oricon weekly singles chart. Then August 31—just 68 days after their official debut—they held VIBY LAND at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, a 10,000-seat venue. Their agency claims it's the shortest timeframe for a Japanese artist to play Budokan.

(Ten million YouTube views and a Budokan showcase in under three months says something.)

Korean promotion begins now

VIBY has already met Korean fans through busking events. The October 26 Korean-language releases mark the official start of domestic promotion, with plans to expand activities in the Korean market from here.