# Epex

Epex (Korean: 이펙스; RR: Ipekseu; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean boy band formed and managed by C9 Entertainment. The group consists of eight members: Wish, Keum, Mu, A-Min, Baekseung, Ayden, Yewang, and Jeff. They debuted on June 8, 2021, with their first extended play (EP) Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety.

## Name

The group's name, Epex, which stands for "Eight Apex". The meaning of the group is said to be when the gathering of eight youths reaches eight different apexes.

## History
### Pre-debut activities

Keum is a former contestant of Mnet's Produce X 101. As a 2-year old trainee representing C9 Entertainment, he was eliminated in the final episode and was ranked 17th place.

### 2021: Introduction, debut and Bipolar series

On March 1, 2021, C9 Entertainment announced would introduced member of their upcoming boy group under tentative name C9Rookies. The group's members were revealed individually starting on March 2 (in order: Keum, Baekseung, A-Min, MU, Yewang, Jeff, Wish and Ayden). On April 1, the group's logo and official name were revealed. A teaser titled "Prelude of Anxiety" was released on May 7. Their debut EP, Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety and its lead single "Lock Down", was released on June 8.
On September 24, 2021, a teaser titled "Prelude of Love" was released on the group's SNS accounts. Their second EP, Bipolar Pt.2: Prelude of Love and its lead single "Do 4 Me" was released on October 26.

### 2022–2023: Prelude of Anxiety and Love series

On March 15, 2022, a teaser titled "21st Century Boys" was released on the group's SNS accounts. Their third EP, Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 1. '21st Century Boys' and its lead single "Anthem of Teen Spirit" was released on April 11.
On October 26, they released their fourth EP Prelude of Love Chapter 1. 'Puppy Love' , a sequel of their 2021 EP Bipolar Pt.2: Prelude of Love, alongside the lead single "Hymn To Love". To commemorate of the EP release, they held an online showcase in the same day. The group also announced would be embarking on their first concert tour, "Eight Apex", kicking off in Seoul on November 19 & 20, following Osaka, Tokyo, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur and more cities would be announced later.
On March 27, 2023, the group release a logo animation for their upcoming fifth EP Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains set to be released in April. Later that day, the timetable was released and confirmed that their fifth EP would be released on April 26. The EP detail were revealed which consists of four-track including the lead single "Sunshower". On April 26, the group held a showcase at Shinhan Play Square Live Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul to commemorating the release of their fifth EP. Following the release of their fifth EP, the group announced to embarking their first fan-con "Sunshower" would held in June across four cities in Asia.
On September 4, 2023, the group announced schedule to be release their sixth EP Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. 'Can We Surrender?' on October 4. Pre-orders for the EP surpassed 260,000 copies breaks their own reocrd. The sixth EP officially released on October 4 which contains four track including the lead single "Full Metal Jacket" and became the final chapter of Prelude of Anxiety series.
On November 17, it was announced that Epex would be embarking on their second concert "So We Are Not Anxious" in Seoul's Blue Square Mastercard Hall on December 16 and 17.
In December, Epex collaboration with Japanese boy group Fantastics from Exile Tribe for the song "Peppermint Yum".

### 2024–present: Youth series

In January 2024, Epex was announced to appearance on the Japanese variety show K-Pop House consecutive for two weeks. Not long after that, they were confirmed to perform "Peppermint Yum" in the Japanese music program CDTV Live! Live! on January 22.
On February 26, 2024, the pre-release song "Graduation Day" for their upcoming first full-length album was released. On March 18, Epex confirmed their upcoming first full-lengths album Youth Chapter : Youth Days would release on April 9. The album contains eight tracks including the lead single "Youth2Youth", the coupling song "Breathe In Love" and the pre-released "Graduation Day". On April 22, the coupling song "Breathe In Love" also released music video that filmed in Taiwan. The album surpassed 231,247 copies in the first week after release.
On May 4, it was announced that Epex would held their second fan-con "Youth Days" in Seoul's KBS Arena on July 27 and 28. On June 7, the second fan-con also announced to be held in Osaka's Zepp Osaka Bayside on September 1 and in Tokyo's Zepp Haneda on September 3. Epex will release its second full-length album "Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency” on Nov. 5.

## Members

Adapted from their official website.
* Wish (위시)
* Keum (금동현)
* MU (뮤)
* A-Min (아민)
* Baekseung (백승)
* Ayden (에이든)
* Yewang (예왕)
* Jeff (제프)

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums with selected details, chart positions and sales :
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | Sales |
| Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days | Released: April 9, 2024 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Killshot" "Breathe in Love" "Painkiller" "Youth2Youth" (청춘에게) "Dominate" "Lay Up" "My Secret" (말할 수 있는 비밀) "Graduation Day" (졸업식) | 1 | KOR: 181,685 |
| Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency | Released: November 5, 2024 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 4 | KOR: 204,929 |

### Extended plays

List of extended plays with selected details, chart positions and sales :
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Sales |
| Title | Details | KOR | JPN | Sales |
| Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety | Released: June 8, 2021 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Go Big" "Lock Down" "Cyanide" "No Question" "Sling Shot" | 10 | 26 | KOR: 49,540 JPN: 1,540 |
| Bipolar Pt.2: Prelude of Love | Released: October 26, 2021 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Love Virus" "Do 4 Me" "Breathtaking" "Traveller" (지구핼 여행자) | 6 | — | KOR: 95,761 |
| Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 1. '21st Century Boys' | Released: April 11, 2022 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing "Lone Wolf" "Anthem of Teen Spirit" (학원歌) "Burnout" (번아웃) "Strike" "I'll Go First" | 5 | — | KOR: 71,495 |
| Prelude of Love Chapter 1. 'Puppy Love' | Released: October 26, 2022 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing First Love's Law (첫사랑의 법칙) Love Bomb (고백 Bomb) Hymn to Love (사랑歌) The Vow (작은 언약식) | 4 | — | KOR: 99,998 |
| Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains' | Released: April 26, 2023 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing My Darling (사랑하는 내 님아) Sunshower (여우가 시집가는 날) Goodbye, My First Love (안녕, 나의 첫사랑) Skyline (꿈의 능선) | 6 | 24 | KOR: 110,669 JPN: 4,475 |
| Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. 'Can We Surrender?' | Released: October 4, 2023 Label: C9 Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download, streaming Track listing Surrender Full Metal Jacket Hit the Wall No Roof | 3 | — | KOR: 214,099 |

### Singles

List of singles, showing year released, selected chart positions, and name of the album :
| Title | Year | Peak chart position | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Down. | Album |
| "Lock Down" | 2021 | — | Bipolar Pt.1: Prelude of Anxiety |
| "Do 4 Me" | 2021 | — | Bipolar Pt.2: Prelude of Love |
| "Anthem of Teen Spirit" (학원歌) | 2022 | — | Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 1. '21st Century Boys' |
| "Hymn to Love" (사랑歌) | 2022 | 127 | Prelude of Love Chapter 1. 'Puppy Love' |
| "Sunshower" (여우가 시집가는 날) | 2023 | 96 | Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains' |
| "Full Metal Jacket" | 2023 | 150 | Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 2. 'Can We Surrender?' |
| "Youth2Youth" | 2024 | 39 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "Universe" | 2024 | 25 | Youth Chapter 2: Youth Deficiency |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. ||||

### Other charted songs

| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | KOR Down. | Album |
| "First Love's Law" (첫사랑의 법칙) | 2022 | 158 | Prelude of Love Chapter 1. 'Puppy Love' |
| "Love Bomb" (고백 Bomb) | 2022 | 160 | Prelude of Love Chapter 1. 'Puppy Love' |
| "The Vow" (작은 언약식) | 2022 | 162 | Prelude of Love Chapter 1. 'Puppy Love' |
| "My Darling" (사랑하는 내 님아) | 2023 | 145 | Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains' |
| "Goodbye, My First Love" (안녕, 나의 첫사랑) | 2023 | 146 | Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains' |
| "Skyline" (꿈의 능선) | 2023 | 149 | Prelude of Love Chapter 2. 'Growing Pains' |
| "Killshot" | 2024 | 68 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "Breathe in Love" | 2024 | 65 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "Painkiller" | 2024 | 70 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "Dominate" | 2024 | 71 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "Lay Up" | 2024 | 72 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "My Secret" (말할 수 있는 비밀) | 2024 | 69 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "Graduation Day" (졸업식) | 2024 | 75 | Youth Chapter 1: Youth Days |
| "My Girl" | 2024 | — | 2nd Album |

## Videography
### Music videos

| Title | Year | Director(s) |
| "Lock Down" | 2021 | Kim Woo-je (ETUI Collective) |
| "Do 4 Me" | 2021 | Kim Woo-je (ETUI Collective) |
| "Anthem of Teen Spirit" | 2022 | Kim Woo-je (ETUI Collective) |
| "Hymn to Love" | 2022 | Kim Woo-je (ETUI Collective) |
| "Sunshower" | 2023 | Kim Woo-je (ETUI Collective) |
| "Full Metal Jacket" | 2023 | Kim Woo-je (ETUI Collective) |
| "Graduation Day" | 2024 | Gustavo Ku (THIRDEYEVIDEO) |
| "YOUTH2YOUTH | 2024 | Gustavo Ku (THIRDEYEVIDEO) |
| "Breathe in Love" | 2024 | Sunnyvisual |
| "My Girl" | 2024 | Sunnyvisual |
| "UNIVERSE" | 2024 | Gustavo Ku (THIRDEYEVIDEO) |
| "Closer" | 2024 | Gustavo Ku (THIRDEYEVIDEO) |

## Concerts and tours
### Headlining tours

* Eight Apex (2022)
* So We Are Not Anxious (2023–2024)

### Fancon

* Sunshower (2023)
* Youth Days (2024)

## Filmography
### Television shows

| Year | Title | Network | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2021 | Welcome 2 House | Mnet | Main | Reality show (with TO1) | |