The Story Behind FROMIS_9's "From Our 20's" - A Fresh Chapter Begins

"From Our 20's" marks a significant transformation for K-pop group fromis_9 as they embark on a fresh musical chapter in June 2025. Following the departure of three original members after their Pledis Entertainment contracts expired in December 2024, the group has reorganized as a five-member ensemble while maintaining their signature bright sound.

This sixth fromis9 album represents multiple milestones for the beloved group. Not only is it their first release under new agency ASND, but it also showcases how the remaining members of fromis_9 have evolved since their debut. The mini-album features six tracks that authentically capture the emotions and personal experiences they've encountered during their twenties.

"Like You Better" serves as the title track for this meaningful collection, which comes in an impressive 11 physical versions including individual Digipack versions highlighting each member. Despite the significant lineup changes, the group continues to build on their recent success - their previous release "#menow" ranked in Melon's Top 10 and was recognized by Billboard, PopMatters, NME, and Dazed as one of 2024's best K-pop songs.

The comeback that marked a new era

June 2025 represents more than just another comeback for fromis_9—it marks the beginning of an entirely new chapter in their journey. After a period of uncertainty following their departure from Pledis Entertainment, the release of "From Our 20's" signals the group's resilience and determination to continue their musical legacy.

Why 'From Our 20's' is a turning point

"From Our 20's" represents a crucial pivot point in fromis_9's career trajectory. This sixth mini-album arrives ten months after their previous hit "Supersonic," which had entered the Top 10 of the Melon Top 100 chart and earned multiple music show wins. The title itself reflects both their physical age and artistic maturity, with members taking increased creative control. Park Jiwon contributed to the lyrics and composition of "Strawberry Mimosa," while Song Hayoung wrote and composed "Twisted Love". This creative involvement demonstrates their growth from idols to artists with distinct musical identities.

The first release under ASND

After their contracts with Pledis Entertainment expired on December 31, 2024, five members found a new home at ASND (pronounced "Ascend"), which stands for "Achieve Something Never Done Before". The agency officially launched its social media accounts in early 2025, marking the beginning of its operations with the five fromis_9 members as its flagship artists. Negotiations with Pledis Entertainment regarding the use of the "fromis_9" name were initially uncertain, but ultimately successful. ASND confirmed on March 26, 2025, through a 28-second teaser video featuring the members expressing sentiments about their new beginning.

Departure of three members and its impact

The reconfiguration of fromis_9 came after extensive discussions among all eight members about their futures. Ultimately, Lee Saerom, Roh Jisun, and Lee Seoyeon chose different paths, with Lee Saerom reportedly preparing for an acting debut. This restructuring echoes their earlier experience when member Jang Gyuri departed in 2022 to pursue her acting career. Nevertheless, the remaining five members—Song Hayoung, Park Jiwon, Lee Nagyung, Lee Chaeyoung, and Baek Jiheon—demonstrated remarkable solidarity by choosing to continue together. Their decision to preserve the group name reflects their commitment to the legacy they've built since debuting through the Mnet reality show "Idol School" in 2017.

Inside the concept of 'From Our 20's'

Behind every successful K-pop comeback lies a carefully crafted concept, and "From Our 20's" delivers a thoughtfully designed musical journey that resonates on multiple levels. The five-member fromis_9 has created an album that goes beyond catchy melodies to capture authentic experiences.

Themes of youth, love, and self-discovery

At its core, "From Our 20's" explores the honest emotions and personal moments the members have faced during this formative decade of their lives. The title track "LIKE YOU BETTER" blends breezy synths with upbeat guitar rhythms to capture the essence of summer romance, while exploring various perspectives on love. "REBELUTIONAL" stands out as a bold anthem about confronting cold realities with confidence, symbolizing an inner revolution and the journey toward self-discovery. Furthermore, "Twisted Love," written and composed by Song Hayoung, delves into the paradox of painful yet lingering love through an emotionally charged chorus.

Visual direction and album packaging

The visual concept for "From Our 20's" creates a dreamy, intimate atmosphere through muted tones and ethereal lighting that amplifies the sophistication of the photoshoots. Group photos showcase the five members with soft, introspective stares and cinematic, nostalgic qualities, while unit photos reveal a lighter side—reading magazines, taking selfies, and enjoying each other's company. Notably, the physical album comes in an impressive 11 versions: Ready, Departure, Journey, From Zine, five individual Digipack versions, and two Postcard QR versions (To and From). Each photobook version includes an 80-page photobook, portrait postcard, sticker, and two random photocards out of ten types.

How the album reflects their twenties

Ji-heon explained the connection between the album and their real experiences: "Our 20s are filled with brightness, mischief, excitement, fatigue, and passion. This album is a snapshot of it all". Na-kyung added that even the visual elements like game consoles and pets reflect their actual personalities. According to Ha-young, the album represents "an evolution of fromis_9's sound—more vibrant and powerful". Both she and Ji-won contributed behind the scenes, working on lyrics and composition for several tracks, demonstrating their artistic growth. Consequently, "From Our 20's" isn't merely a collection of songs but rather a celebratory documentation of youth, personal evolution, and the special bond between the members of fromis_9 and their fans.

Track-by-track breakdown of the album

"From Our 20's" showcases fromis_9's musical diversity through six distinct tracks, each revealing different facets of their artistry and experiences in their twenties. The mini-album, released on June 25, 2025, demonstrates how the five-member group continues to evolve while maintaining their signature sound.

'Like You Better' – the title track

The centerpiece of the album blends breezy synths and upbeat guitar rhythms with an explosive chorus that captures summer's essence. Song Ha-young explained: "We chose 'LIKE YOU BETTER' as the title track because it shows a more energetic and upgraded version of fromis_9." The song stands out with its roll-down-the-window-and-sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs quality, marking a refreshing departure from recent K-pop trends. Its propulsive pop-rock production creates a thrilling energy that many listeners have compared to Carly Rae Jepsen's anthemic 80's sound.

'Rebelutional' – embracing inner strength

This bold anthem goes beyond simple rebellion to "break the frame surrounding me and us." Essentially, it depicts confronting cold reality with unwavering confidence—symbolizing an inner revolution. The track conveys the courage to stand up again after falling and to inspire similar strength in others through straightforward lyrics and emotional melodies.

'Love=Disaster' – high-teen punk energy

Both Ha-young and Ji-won cited this as their favorite track. "It's a very exciting song that gives you more energy because you get excited every time you sing it," Ji-won remarked. The track channels high-teen punk rock vibes, fusing powerful vocals with intense instrumentals that create an energizing performance experience.

'Strawberry Mimosa' – Ji Won's dreamy touch

Park Ji-won contributed to both lyrics and composition for this dreamy track, which cleverly compares falling in love to the fizzy excitement of a cocktail. Her creative involvement highlights the members' growing artistic input on the album.

'Twisted Love' – Ha Young's emotional ballad

Song Ha-young wrote and composed this emotionally charged track exploring the paradox of painful yet lingering love. The song showcases her songwriting abilities through its powerful chorus that captures complex emotions.

'Merry Go Round' – a hopeful closing

The album concludes with what Baek Ji-heon described as her favorite track: "It has a variety of high notes, low notes, and rap, and I think it's the first genre that fromis_9 tries." Featuring warm brass sounds, the song delivers a hopeful message about staying together through life's ups and downs—a fitting conclusion to the group's musical journey through their twenties.

The evolution of fromis_9 as a group

The origin story of fromis_9 traces back to the summer of 2017, when Mnet launched a new reality show called "Idol School." Unlike other survival programs, this show aimed to transform ordinary students into K-pop idols through an 11-week training process.

When did fromis 9 debut?

Formed through "Idol School" in September 2017, fromis_9 officially debuted on January 24, 2018, with their first mini-album "To. Heart" under Stone Music Entertainment. The name "fromis_9" stands as a promise to viewers to become the best girl group, combining "from idol school" into an acronym. Initially, the nine members included Jang Gyuri, Song Hayoung, Lee Saerom, Lee Chaeyoung, Park Jiwon, Lee Nagyung, Lee Seoyeon, Roh Jisun, and Baek Jiheon, with Roh Jisun placing first in the competition.

Key milestones before 2025

Throughout their journey, fromis_9 experienced several management shifts. Originally under Stone Music Entertainment, they moved to Off The Record Entertainment in September 2018, eventually landing at Pledis Entertainment in August 2021. This transition into HYBE's ecosystem marked a significant turning point, as they secured their first music show win with "Talk & Talk" on September 7, 2021 - 1,322 days after their debut. Additionally, their subsequent releases gained growing commercial success, with "Supersonic" reaching number two on South Korea's Circle Chart in 2023.

Members of fromis_9: then and now

The group has undergone several lineup changes since debut. In July 2022, Jang Gyuri departed to pursue an acting career. Moreover, after their Pledis Entertainment contracts expired on December 31, 2024, only five members—Song Hayoung, Park Jiwon, Lee Chaeyoung, Lee Nagyung, and Baek Jiheon—signed with ASND to continue as fromis_9. Meanwhile, Lee Saerom, Lee Seoyeon, and Roh Jisun chose different paths, with Saerom reportedly preparing for an acting career.

Hayoung fromis and her creative role

Song Hayoung has emerged as a vital creative force within the group. Beyond her official positions as main vocalist and dancer, she has composed songs since she was nine years old and typically writes new material almost daily. Alongside Jiwon, she formed the composer team "Dam-Dam," contributing significantly to fromis_9's musical direction. Her versatility extends to playing guitar and previously competing in hip-hop dance competitions. On "From Our 20's," Hayoung co-wrote and composed "Twisted Love," showcasing her growing artistic influence as the group enters this new chapter.