As you can tell from the anagram group name LE SSERAFIM, which is an anagram of 'IM FEARLESS,' LE SSERAFIM appeared like a comet, saying "they have no fear." These fiercely determined artists grew by breaking through the wall called 'fear,' and four years later in 2026 they shout 'FEARLESS 2.0,' now aiming to acknowledge and accept fear rather than smash it. The fact that they were able to change like this also means they have grown that much stronger.
LE SSERAFIM, who used to grit their teeth and smash fear and trials, now nod and say calmly, "It's okay to be afraid." Returning with their second full-length album ''PUREFLOW' pt.1' after about three years, LE SSERAFIM filled the album with the inner changes and growth that came from coming to know fear. We met the five members, who marked their fourth anniversary since debut, and talked with them ahead of a new chapter called 'FEARLESS 2.0.'
▲ the ferocity that used to break fear, now the composure to fully embrace it
FEARLESS, which had been like LE SSERAFIM's identity, reached a new phase after an intense period of activity. Sakura said, "When we debuted I didn't know enough, so I wasn't afraid and could take on challenges more easily than now," adding, "But while promoting, there were times when challenges became scary, and going through times when I felt what was lacking and what needed to be filled made me think that by acknowledging and accepting fear, and knowing it, you can grow stronger," confessing a more mature inner self.
If in the past they smashed approaching fear with 'ferocity,' now they have the composure to embrace fear itself and turn it into a driving force for growth. Hong Eunchae explained, "The word fear itself gives a negative feeling and was a scary word, but because there are things I want to do and directions I want to move in, I came to think it's something that inevitably comes, and I think I became more positive," adding, "Smashing fear is cool, but I thought acknowledging it and cultivating the strength to move forward is both LE SSERAFIM-like and a new attitude," pointing to the group's evolved direction.
Heo Yunjin also said, "I lived with the mindset of 'I am strong,' but by accepting fear I felt that acknowledging these wounds and thinking about the next stage is the path to growth."
▲ solidarity strengthened by acknowledging differences, LE SSERAFIM's real 'strength'
Behind the solid background that allowed them to calmly face fear was the members' strong solidarity. Not everything fit perfectly from the start. Heo Yunjin emphasized the power of communication, saying, "Honestly, if you bring up uncomfortable topics, even the closest relationships can drift apart. But rather than hiding things, bringing them up felt like an opportunity for us to become closer instead of pulling away."
They also realized that always enduring for the team isn't the answer. Sakura said, "I realized that if I don't speak up, others won't know," adding, "By talking about our worries and sharing what we're thinking, I think a lot has changed." As conflicts and differences were reconciled, teamwork multiplied. Heo Yunjin recalled moments when she felt the differences and laughed, "At some point I came to think that only the shapes of our hearts were different, but the direction was the same."
▲ from the Heart Sutra to the Macarena… 'BOOMPALA,' a cheerful comfort offered to the public
The title track 'BOOMPALA (Boompala)' is the track that most cheerfully and popularly expresses LE SSERAFIM's psychological growth. It especially maximizes familiarity by sampling the cross-generational and cross-cultural hit 'Macarena.' Kazuha raised expectations for the performance, saying, "There is that famous choreography for 'Macarena.' Since we incorporated it into the performance as is, anyone will be able to follow along."
An interesting point is that meditation and Buddhist philosophy are woven into it. Heo Yunjin explained, "Depending on the perspective, fear might not be a big deal, it might be an illusion," adding, "The core content of Buddhism and the Heart Sutra is that emotions have no real substance, so it came out naturally in our expression."
Through their second full-length album, LE SSERAFIM aims to extend a warm hand of encouragement to the public living fiercely in the modern era. As Heo Yunjin said, "Not everyone can smash fear, so I thought we need more people who acknowledge fear and offer comforting words like 'it's still okay,'" the album is expected to be an album that gives the public the courage to look into and face their own fears.
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