RESCENE Follows a Melon No. 1 Sleeper Hit With PULSE, Its First Original Mini Album Since the Surge

"Miracle is not easy to come by, which is why we're even more grateful," said RESCENE leader Wonyi at the showcase for the group's fourth mini album, PULSE. "We want to become a group that makes people think of the word miracle again." The remark was a response to the nickname "the miracle of a small-agency idol" that fans and media have attached to the group.

The showcase took place at Blue Square's WON Banking Hall in Seoul's Yongsan District. PULSE and its lead track "With" were set for release at 6 p.m. that day.

A comeback under bigger eyes

PULSE is the group's first new material in four months, following the remake single "Pretty Girl" in July. Apart from that remake, it is also RESCENE's first album since their reverse-chart surge, and the room reflected the attention: the showcase drew a large press turnout.

Liv said the four months "passed quickly thanks to the love and interest from the last promotion," adding that all five members prepared the comeback "with one heart and one mind." Minami described a "pleasant kind of tension" from the added eyes on them, while Jena said the good pressure became their driving force.

The lead track "With" is about following a voice that calls your name and running toward the person you have dreamed of for a long time. It moves from a lyrical opening into a forceful chorus, and the strong hook is meant to evoke a quickening heartbeat, which fits the album title. The five-song release also includes "Inside Out" (known in Korean as "Baekhwa Yoran") and "MEME."

The members performed both the title track and "Inside Out" live at the showcase, a sign of confidence in the B-side as well as the lead.

From a gyaru skit to honorary citizens

The attention began in March, when Minami appeared on Wonyi's YouTube channel in a gyaru look (a Japanese-born makeup and fashion style) and shouted "Geoje Ya-ho." The clip spread online as a meme. In May, RESCENE was appointed promotional ambassadors for Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province, and in September they became the first entertainers named honorary citizens of the city.

The meme also pulled their catalog upward. "LOVE ATTACK," released in August 2024, climbed back to No. 1 on Melon's Top 100, the major domestic music platform, and tracks such as "Deja Vu" and "Pretty Girl" have held high chart positions for an extended stretch.

Wanting to be known for the music

The members were candid that popularity still feels strange. "The word popularity is still odd and embarrassing to us," Wonyi said, suggesting people mostly loved their cheerful, bright image. Her hope for this release is that "RESCENE songs are ones you can trust and listen to" becomes a settled idea.

May said fans sometimes call them a "national girl group," a title she finds too generous. "We're working harder to become a group worthy of it," she said. Minami framed the goal as making their music stick, asking fans to keep watching their growth "with warm hearts."

The group also pledged to keep the same attitude as before. "Our resolve is to never lose our original spirit and to do our best in the same place," they said, hoping fans will love them for a long time rather than for a passing buzz.

Their closing message tied it back to the title. As the album name means heartbeat, they said, their lives lately are "pulse itself," and their hearts are beating faster than ever. They called PULSE an album made with the resolve to make everyone's heart beat along with theirs.