IN A MINUTE Talks Debut, Next-Gen Y2K Sound, and ‘What You Wanted’

Get to know IN A MINUTE as they discuss their debut album ‘Unboxing: What You Wanted’ and their journey to the spotlight.

IN A MINUTE is an up-and-coming K-Pop trio that has quickly captured the attention of fans with their unique sound and impressive pedigree. Comprised of Juntae, Jaejun, and Hyunyeop, the group is a blend of seasoned talent and fresh energy. Juntae and Jaejun, who are also part of the duo JT&MARCUS, bring their musical expertise to the trio, while Jaejun and Hyunyeop’s background in the project group TAN adds depth to their artistry. Each member contributes to the songwriting and composition of their music, with Juntae, Jaejun, and Hyunyeop all credited for tracks like “What You Want” and “Unbox” from their upcoming debut single album.

Their journey has already included significant fan engagement, such as their first fan meeting, <Our Hours>, held in October 2024, which gave fans a sneak peek into what IN A MINUTE is all about. The group officially debuted with their single album ‘Unboxing: What You Wanted,’ released on March 15, 2025. This debut single album marked the beginning of their musical career as a trio, showcasing their growth as artists and their commitment to creating music that resonates deeply with their fans.

In this exclusive interview, IN A MINUTE opens up about their debut journey, the creative process behind ‘Unboxing: What You Wanted,’ and how their diverse musical backgrounds came together to form this new chapter in their careers. The trio shares their excitement for what’s ahead and reflects on the experiences that have shaped their debut album.

(This interview was original conducted in Korean and translated to English.)

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Congratulations on your debut! Can you introduce yourselves and share a bit about your journey to this moment? What has been the most memorable or defining part of the path that led you here?

데뷔 축하해요! 여러분 자신을 소개하고 이 순간까지의 여정에 대해 조금 공유해 주시겠어요? 여기까지 온 길에서 가장 기억에 남거나 결정적인 부분은 무엇이었나요?

IN A MINUTE: We are a K-Pop trio called IN A MINUTE, made up of JAEJUN, JUNTAE, and HYUNYEOP. We officially debuted on March 15, 2025.

Each of us has a previous experience in the industry, and we believe that our journey so far has shaped us into a team with both depth and resilience.

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned on our way to debuting as IN A MINUTE is the true value of teamwork. Through everything we’ve gone through, we've built a bond that we believe is stronger than most, and that connection is what truly defines who we are today.

저희는 2025년 03월 15일에 데뷔한 재준, 준태, 현엽 총 3명으로 구성된 ‘인어미닛’이라는 팀입니다.

멤버 각자 모두 이전에 데뷔했던 경험이 있는 팀인만큼 내공이 깊은 팀이라 생각합니다.

인어미닛으로 데뷔하기까지의 과정속에서 팀워크의 중요성을 배웠고, 어떤 팀보다 더 끈끈한 팀이라 생각합니다.

What does debuting as IN A MINUTE mean to you personally?

IN A MINUTE로 데뷔하는 것이 개인적으로 어떤 의미인가요? 

IN A MINUTE: To each of us, IN A MINUTE is deeply personal. It’s the reason we live and breathe.

It’s more than just a team; it’s the answer to the longing we’ve carried in our hearts for music. We all share a deep love for music, and IN A MINUTE is the space where we can finally express ourselves fully and pursue that passion together.

인어미닛은 멤버 모두에게 살아가는 이유 그 자체입니다.

멤버 모두가 음악을 사랑하는만큼 그동안의 음악적 갈증을 해소하는 팀이 될 것입니다.

JAEJUN

The name IN A MINUTE carries a sense of urgency and excitement. How did you come up with this name, and how does it reflect your identity as a group?

‘IN A MINUTE’라는 이름은 긴박감과 설렘을 전달합니다. 이 이름은 어떻게 생각해냈고, 그룹으로서 여러분의 정체성을 어떻게 반영한다고 생각하시나요?

IN A MINUTE: We wanted our team name to be something people often say in everyday life—something familiar, yet meaningful.

While working with our friends, we heard the phrase, “I’ll be there, in a minute.” That simple sentence sparked the idea that we could turn a casual expression into a bold statement.

Our goal is to turn anyone who hears our music into a fan in just a minute.

The name reflects both our confidence and ambition, and we believe it truly captures the energy and identity of who we are as a group.

평소에 사람들이 자주 쓰는 문장 혹은 단어를 팀의 이름으로 사용하고 싶었습니다.

함께 작업하던 친구와 이야기를 하던 도중 “I’ll be there, in a minute” 이라는 문장을 듣게 되었고, '우리의 음악을 듣는 리스너들을 In a minute 안에 팬으로 만들겠다.' 라는 저희의 포부와 자신감을 담을 수 있겠다 라는 생각을 했습니다.

The title ‘Unboxing: What You Wanted’ suggests a reveal, almost like peeling back layers. What do you hope listeners discovered about IN A MINUTE through this release?

‘Unboxing: What You Wanted’라는 제목은 마치 층을 벗겨내는 듯한 느낌을 줍니다. 이번 앨범을 통해 IN A MINUTE에 대해 리스너들이 어떤 것을 발견하기를 바라는지 알려주세요.

IN A MINUTE: We see this album as a literal unboxing of IN A MINUTE. Through our long journey in the industry, we’ve come to deeply to understand the importance of music. And more than anything, we hope that as listeners unbox this album, IN A MINUTE becomes the team they’ve been wanting (what you wanted).

이번 앨범은 말 그대로 인어미닛을 언박싱하는 앨범이라고 생각합니다.

오랜 시간 활동을 해오면서 음악의 중요성을 많이 깨달았습니다.

리스너들이 Unboxing 하는, ‘In A Minute’=리스너들이 원했던 팀(What you wanted)이길 바라는 마음입니다.

JUNTAE

“What You Want” has such a dynamic energy—what inspired the sound and lyrics behind it? Was there a specific message you wanted to deliver?

“What You Want”는 정말 역동적인 에너지를 가지고 있습니다. 사운드와 가사의 영감은 무엇이었나요? 전달하고 싶었던 구체적인 메시지가 있었나요?

IN A MINUTE: We wanted to create a sound that stands out from the music of many current groups, while still delivering a burst of energy to those who listen and watch us perform.

We drew inspiration from early 2000's artists and their iconic stages, which helped shape our concept for this release. Watching performances by those artists inspired the concept for our team, and we hoped to convey the keywords that define us: Young, Wild, and Free.

요즘 활동하는 팀들의 음악과는 다른 색깔의 음악을 원하면서도, 듣고 보는 이들에게 에너지가 전달되길 바랐습니다. 2000년대 초의 아티스트들의 무대를 보며 팀의 컨셉을 떠올리게 되었고, 저희가 생각하는 팀의 키워드인 ‘Young & Wild & Free‘가 전달되길 바랐습니다.

Compared to “What You Want,” “Unbox” brings a different mood. Can you share how these two tracks complement each other and how they represent your identity as a group?

"What You Want"에 비해 "Unbox"는 다른 분위기를 가져다줍니다. 이 두 트랙이 어떻게 서로를 보완하는지, 그리고 그룹으로서 여러분의 정체성을 어떻게 표현하는지 공유해 주시겠습니까?

IN A MINUTE: “Unbox” and “What You Want” showcase two different styles—one leans more toward easy listening, while the other is performance-driven.

With these contrasting tracks, we wanted to show that IN A MINUTE is a team capable of delivering music that’s not only enjoyable to listen to but also powerful to watch as true performers.

In particular, our title track “What You Want” features a dance break that channels the spirit of 2nd and 3rd generation K-Pop, along with high-note ad-libs that spotlight each member’s strengths.

We wanted to prove that even though we’re a small group in terms of numbers, that doesn’t hold us back—if anything, it’s one of our greatest strengths.

“Unbox”와 “What you Want”는 각각 이지리스닝이 가능한 트랙과 퍼포먼스가 가능한 트랙으로, 인어미닛은 퍼포머로서 듣는 음악과 보는 음악 모두 가능한 팀이라는 것을 보여드리고 싶었습니다. 특히 타이틀 트랙인 “What you want”라는 곡에서는 2-3세대의 향기를 느낄 수 있는 ‘댄스브레이크 파트’와, ‘고음애드립 파트’등의 요소를 담으며, 멤버들의 장점을 극대화하여 적은 인원으로 구성된 팀인 것이 단점이 아닌 강점이라는 것을 어필하고 싶었습니다.

HYUNYEOP

Everyone participated in writing and composing the tracks on this album. Looking back, what aspect of the songwriting or production are you most proud of?

이 앨범의 트랙은 모든 사람이 작사, 작곡에 참여했습니다. 돌이켜보면, 작곡이나 제작의 어떤 측면이 가장 자랑스럽습니까?

IN A MINUTE: These days, many artists take part in writing or composing their music, and we truly respect and admire all of them.

What sets us apart, though, is that we don’t just participate. We fully produce our own music. We see that as both our biggest difference and our greatest strength.

Of course, taking on that level of responsibility can be a lot to carry, and at times, it does feel overwhelming.

But when we see fans enjoying the songs we’ve created with our own hands and hearts, the sense of fulfillment we feel is truly indescribable. It’s something we’re incredibly proud of.

요즘 작곡 혹은 작사에 참여하는 아티스트 분들이 많다고 생각합니다. 그 분들 모두 리스펙하고 멋있다고 생각합니다. 저희는 단순히 참여가 아닌 직접 프로듀싱 하는 것이 큰 차이점이자 장점이라 생각합니다. 다만 그만큼의 책임도 돌아오는 것이 가장 부담이기도 하지만, 저희가 만든 앨범을 팬분들께서 좋아해 주시는 모습을 볼 때 느껴지는 성취감은 이루 말할 수 없을 만큼 뿌듯합니다.

If you could pick a lyric from the album that resonates with you the most, what would it be and why?

여러분 각자가 이 앨범에서 가장 공감되는 가사를 하나씩 고를 수 있다면 어떤 가사를 고르시겠습니까? 그리고 그 이유는 무엇입니까?

IN A MINUTE: There’s a line in our song "Unbox" that says, "If you keep walking endlessly, you’ll eventually arrive." We believe this applies not only to us, but to everyone, our listeners included, who faces moments of doubt and inner struggle. This lyric resonates with us deeply because it reflects a quiet belief that, even without certainty, if we keep moving forward, we’ll eventually reach the goals we've been hoping for.

“Unbox” 라는 곡의 가사인 ‘하염없이 걷다가 보면, 닿게 되면‘ 이라는 가사가 있습니다. 저희와 리스너분들이 아니더라도 모든 이들에게는 고민되고 갈등 되는 순간이 존재한다고 생각합니다. ‘묵묵히 나아가다 보면 원하던 목표에 닿을 수 있겠지’ 라는 마음으로 가장 공감되는 가사라 생각합니다.

You’ve all had different experiences in the industry before IN A MINUTE. How did those past experiences shape your approach to this debut? Were there any challenges in creating a sound that felt distinct to IN A MINUTE?

여러분은 모두 IN A MINUTE 이전에 업계에서 다양한 경험을 했습니다. 그 과거 경험이 이 데뷔작에 대한 접근 방식을 어떻게 형성했습니까? IN A MINUTE만의 독특한 사운드를 만드는 데 어려움이 있었습니까?

IN A MINUTE: Among all our past experiences, the moments we shared with our fans are the most precious and meaningful. Throughout the entire process of preparing for our debut, we constantly imagined the day we would meet our fans again. That thought guided us every step of the way.

At the same time, we were determined to create a team that felt completely different from our previous activities. With that clear vision in mind, shaping the sound of IN A MINUTE came naturally to us and never felt like a struggle

이전의 경험들 중 팬들과의 순간들이 가장 소중하고 값진 경험들이었습니다.

팬분들과 만날 날을 떠올리며 매 순간 작업에 임했습니다. 그러면서도, 이전의 활동했던 모습들과는 전혀 다른 모습의 팀을 만들고 싶었습니다. 그렇게 접근을 하다 보니, 지금의 인어미닛의 사운드를 만드는 것에 큰 어려움은 없었습니다.

Your first fan meeting, <Our Hours>, happened even before your official debut. How did that experience influence your mindset leading up to this release?

첫 팬미팅 ‘Our Hours’는 공식 데뷔 전부터 진행되었습니다. 그 경험이 이번 앨범 발매를 앞두고 여러분의 마음가짐에 어떤 영향을 미쳤나요?

IN A MINUTE: It was a moment that reminded us, once again, how many people were genuinely excited for IN A MINUTE's debut. Seeing fans enjoy and celebrate us just for being on stage, singing, dancing, and doing what we love, really grounded us. It became a powerful reminder and helped us approach this release with even more determination and gratitude.

많은 분들이 인어미닛의 데뷔를 바라며 기다리고 계신다는 걸 다시 한번 깨닫게 되는 순간이었습니다.

그저 저희가 무대에 올라 노래하고, 춤추는 모습, 그 자체로 기뻐해 주시고, 즐겨주시는 모습을 보며 마음을 다 잡는 계기가 되었습니다.

JUNTAE

Now that your debut is complete, what’s the next step for IN A MINUTE? Are there any sounds or styles you want to explore in future releases?

데뷔가 끝난 후 IN A MINUTE의 다음 단계는 무엇인가요? 향후 발매에서 탐색하고 싶은 사운드나 스타일이 있나요?

IN A MINUTE: Our goal as IN A MINUTE, along with our team and staff, is to go global. Wherever our music reaches, we want to step onto that stage and perform as true artists.

For now, we are focused on establishing IN A MINUTE’s distinct musical identity. While we draw inspiration from the emotional sound of the early 2000s, our aim is not just to follow the Y2K trend. Instead, we want to create music that highlights each member’s unique strengths and feels both nostalgic and authentically our own.

인어미닛 멤버들과 스탭분들의 목표는 전 세계입니다. 인어미닛의 노래가 닿는 곳이라면 어디서라도 무대에 올라 공연하는 퍼포머가 되고싶습니다.

당분간은 인어미닛의 색깔을 굳히는 음악을 선보이고 싶은 마음입니다. 2000년대 초의 감성의 사운드를 내면서도, 단순히 y2k 컨셉의 컨텐츠가 아닌 멤버들 각자의 장점을 극대화한 음악을 선보일 예정입니다.

If you could send a message to yourselves from a year ago, what would you say?

만약 1년 전의 자신에게 메시지를 보낼 수 있다면, 무엇이라고 말하고 싶나요?

IN A MINUTE: We're probably in the middle of our toughest doubts right now (a year ago), but everything is falling into place. So just keep moving forward without questioning yourself. Trust your heart and follow where it leads.

가장 고민이 많을 시기일 텐데, 잘 되고 있는 중이니까 그저 마음이 시키는대로 의심하지말고 걸어가자.

Lastly, please leave a message for fans reading this.

마지막으로, 이 인터뷰를 읽고 있는 팬들에게 전하고 싶은 메시지를 남겨주세요.

IN A MINUTE: Now that you’ve unboxed IN A MINUTE, we promise to show you everything just as we are, without holding anything back. We’ll be a team that’s not only unique and cool but also familiar and close to your hearts, like a team you’ll want to stay with for a long time. Please continue this journey with us. We’ll share our energy and show you a passion like no one else. Thank you.

이제 막 인어미닛을 언박싱 했으니까, 앞으로는 그 안에 담겨있는 것들을 가감없이 보여드리겠습니다. 가장 유니크하고, 멋있는, 그리고 친근한 팀이 되어 오랜시간 팬분들과 함께하겠습니다. 앞으로의 여정에 함께해주세요. 누구보다 열정넘치는 모습을 보여드리겠습니다. 감사합니다.

HYUNYEOP

Listen to IN A MINUTE’s discography on Spotify or Apple Music.

Connect with the members on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, JAEJUN Instagram, JUNTAE Instagram, and HYUNYEOP Instagram.

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*Special thanks to the members of IN A MINUTE and JWIN Entertainment for this exclusive interview.

Image and Videos: JWIN Entertainment