“Rise & Realize” was RIIZE’s founding promise — the idea that growth and self-discovery move in tandem. With its second mini album, II, the six-member SM Entertainment group pushes that motto into a more active tense: “Rise to Realize,” as SUNGCHAN would describe during an interview with Billboard Korea. It is an idea that you do not find yourself first and then move forward. You move, and the moving is how you begin to understand who you are.

Since debuting in September 2023 with “Get a Guitar,” RIIZE — comprised of SHOTARO, EUNSEOK, SUNGCHAN, WONBIN, SOHEE and ANTON — has built that idea into one of K-pop’s more closely watched rising groups. The group has earned multiple Rookie of the Year honors, and its debut full-length, ODYSSEY, a third consecutive million-seller at home, reached No. 4 on Billboard‘s World Albums and No. 9 on Top Album Sales in 2025.

After November’s “Fame,” its reach kept widening onstage, with appearances at Tecate Emblema, Austin City Limits and, in March, Lollapalooza South America, where RIIZE became the first K-pop boy group to appear at the festival. Released via SM Entertainment and RCA Records, II gives that momentum a clearer international frame. But the ambition has been visible from the start: to build a group whose music can travel without losing the emotional candor at its core. Across six tracks, RIIZE on II moves through rock-edged urgency, bass house, R&B, hip-hop, funk and bright pop while staying close to the “emotional pop” identity that has defined its work.

In an interview with Billboard Korea, the members reflect on what has stayed constant since the beginning, freedom they chase on title track “Do Your Dance” and what success on a wider stage means when they are still, in their own words, figuring it out as they go.

RIIZE is a name built on the idea of ascent. Four years in, does that word still capture where you stand, or has it quietly come to mean something else?

SUNGCHAN: I think the word “rise” in our name still describes us really well today. Since our debut, we’ve been telling a story of growth and achievement through the idea of “Rise and Realize,” and with each new chapter, we’ve been able to experience the meaning of that message for ourselves.

If there’s one thing that’s changed, it’s that with II, we wanted to take that idea a step further. This album introduces a new direction, “Rise to Realize,” which is about discovering who you are by continuing to move forward and embracing new experiences along the way.

WONBIN: I also think that message still holds true for us today. The difference is that now, it’s not just about growth anymore. Through everything we’ve experienced so far, we’ve become stronger and more confident as a team. I think this album reflects that side of RIIZE as well.

The hook on “Do Your Dance” is disarmingly simple, almost weightless. Putting something that direct front and center takes real conviction. What made this the song you wanted at the heart of the record?

SOHEE: The lyrics “Touch yo head, hips, shoulders, toes” felt very direct, in a way that was different from our previous songs. Because of that, I think both longtime fans and people who are just discovering RIIZE would be able to connect with it right away.

WONBIN: The message of “Do Your Dance” is very simple. It’s about dancing together and just having fun. The chorus is really catchy, and it feels like the kind of song that anyone can sing along to and dance to. That’s what made it feel like the right title track for us. We hope everyone listening and watching can join in, have fun, and enjoy it together with us.

The song urges you to “move to your own rhythm,” and yet K-pop is built on precision, on bodies moving as one. Within choreography that exacting, how do each of you let your own freedom surface?

SHOTARO: For me, it’s very important not to lose the energy of the song. I always try to pay a lot of attention to its flow and dynamics, knowing when to push harder, when to hold back and how to make each movement feel more alive. Even within the same choreography, I think those choices can bring out your own style and expression.

EUNSEOK: I think I focus a lot on the details, like my gaze, the intensity of my energy and the lines of my movements. Even when we’re all doing the same choreography, those small things can show each person’s individuality.

From “Get a Guitar” to now, what is the one essence of the RIIZE sound you’ve never let go of, and the one thing time has allowed you to leave behind?

ANTON: Since debut, we as a team have always been exploring new styles and genres of music, from pop to R&B, house, alt-rock, hip-hop, etc. Whatever we set out to do, however, the most important thing is that the songs still sound like us, and “emotional pop” became a sort of keyword to categorize what we wanted our songs to be called. RIIZE’s music should make the listener feel something, whether it be happy or sad, or any feeling in between. Therefore, emotional, not emotionless. It’s hard to say just one thing that we have focused on to keep our music feeling like RIIZE, and to be honest, I think it’s still something we always think about and work on ourselves. But hopefully, as time goes on, RIIZE will stay RIIZE, and listeners can decide for themselves what our music makes them feel.

SUNGCHAN: As for what we’ve left behind, I think it’s the pressure to be perfect all the time. Now that we’re in our fourth year, I’ve realized that enjoying the moment and being ourselves is what allows us to keep going for the long run. Even when we film our own social content, we don’t think as much about looking perfect on camera anymore. We try to show our real personalities, laughing at mistakes, joking around with each other, and just being ourselves. I think fans enjoy seeing that side of us too, and it’s helped me become a lot more relaxed. Of course, I still get nervous and want to do well, but these days, I’m learning to see that nervous energy as something exciting rather than something I need to fight.

Your first concert tour, RIIZING LOUD, stretched past 30 shows. It looks luminous from the outside, but the road is hard work. What did it teach you that the studio never could?

SHOTARO: One thing I really learned on tour is that every audience is different and the way fans show their support varies a lot. Some crowds express their energy through singing along, while others show it through their reactions and movements. Performing in front of a real audience also feels completely different from rehearsing in a studio. The energy you get from making eye contact with fans is something you can only experience on stage. And when unexpected things happen during a show, we’ve learned how to support each other and adapt in the moment.

SOHEE: In the practice room, there’s no audience, so you can’t really prepare for that feeling. But on stage, the energy from the crowd can be so intense that sometimes you get carried away by it. I learned that it’s important to manage your energy and find the right balance throughout a show. Our world tour also made me realize how different it is to perform for a live audience compared to singing in a studio. These days, even when I’m recording, I think about how the song will feel in a big venue and how we can connect with the crowd through it.

Partnering with RCA is a signal that you’re taking the global stage seriously. When you imagine RIIZE before a wider American audience, what does success there truly look like to you?

SUNGCHAN: Of course, we’d be grateful if more people in the U.S. and around the world got to know our music and came to our shows. But when I think about success, it’s actually pretty simple. To me, success is being able to stay healthy, keep making music, and continue sharing meaningful moments with our fans and the members for a long time. If we can keep growing together and creating happy memories along the way, I think that’s what success really looks like.

SHOTARO: There was a time when I was really focused on doing everything perfectly. But after touring and performing at festivals in different countries, I realized that what people connect with most isn’t perfection. It’s the energy and sincerity you bring to the stage. When we genuinely enjoy the performance, that feeling reaches the audience too. So when I imagine RIIZE performing for even bigger audiences in the U.S., success isn’t just about numbers or milestones. It’s about having people connect with our music and performances, and feeling that same energy together. If we can share that experience with more people around the world, I think that’s a huge success for us.

Four years together, and each of you settles into a place within the group. Has your role shifted along the way, and is there a side of yourself you have yet to show?

EUNSEOK: When we first debuted, I think I had more of an older-brother image within the team. But these days, I’m pretty sure the younger members see me more as a friend than a hyung. [Laughs]

ANTON: Something new, something different. With each new comeback, that is a need that almost feels like it must be fulfilled. And because of that, I find myself sometimes wondering, what have I already accomplished? What parts of me have fans come to know and love, and what are some things I can try to be a little different in? Something that comes to mind is that I want to be more open and honest with my feelings, both to fans and to myself. Growth has always been a part of our team’s identity, and I’m most definitely far from perfect, so continuing to be open and enjoy the process of growing as artists is something I hope to continue to show.

If the RIIZE of today could say a single thing to the six of you standing at the very start, what would it be?

EUNSEOK: I’d tell myself to relax a little more. It’s OK to make mistakes, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy the moment and keep going. You’ve got this!

SOHEE: Honestly, I really loved who we were back then: innocent, full of excitement and still figuring everything out. That was part of our charm, so I wouldn’t tell them to change anything. I’d just say, “You’re doing great. Keep going.”

Finally, if you could tell someone just one thing before they press play on II for the first time, what would you want them to know?

ANTON: One thing we thought about a lot with this album was how we could express each song in a way that felt natural and authentically RIIZE. Each member may see it differently, but I personally think RIIZE has always been a team that enjoys exploring different styles of music, and I think II expands on a lot of the sounds and ideas we’ve experimented with before. To me, it feels like the beginning of RIIZE’s next chapter, and I hope people can feel that when they listen.

WONBIN: I think this album really captures RIIZE’s confident energy. There’s a line in the title track, “Like a pro,” and to me, being a pro isn’t about being perfect. It’s about enjoying the challenge and pushing through difficult moments with confidence. I hope people can listen to this album, have fun with it, and maybe come away feeling a little more confident themselves.