The Origins of MY:RAKL
An in-character explanation of the virtual group’s backstory
The members of MY:RAKL can only remember bits and pieces of their past lives in a boy band. They now get a second chance at the idol life after being put into a group again through the fictional show-within-a-show MY:RAKL PROJECT. To learn more about the members and this story, check out the interview and videos below!
Please introduce yourselves and share what special traits and skills each member contributes to the group!
Saeon: Hello, I’m Saeon from MY:RAKL. I’m the group’s leader. My defining traits are my soft, melodious voice and my thoughtful personality!
Yuseong: I’m Yuseong! I’m playful, honest, and might seem a bit cool-headed, but deep down, I’m actually a warm person! My special talent is standing on one foot for a long time!
Haydn: I’m the team’s happy virus! My smile is my charming point, and my specialty is songwriting!
Jeha: Clean high notes, singing skills, and [a] handsome face [are my strengths].
Jeonseol: Hello! I’m the maknae, Jeonseol! I might have bunny-like visuals, but I actually have a soothing, deep voice!
Your group name stands for “Make Your Reality A Kismet Legacy.” Can you explain what that means to you?
Jeha: To me, it means accepting that everything I experience is my destined fate and believing that as a virtual artist, my role is to bring happiness to people.
What was your fandom name in your past life as an idol group?
Yuseong: Fans have actually asked us about this a few times. To be completely honest, that’s one of the memories we haven’t been able to recover yet. It constantly feels like it’s right on the tip of our tongues, so the members are always trying hard to remember it together. I really hope the day comes when everything just clicks and we can finally remember our fandom name. But even though we don’t remember the exact name right now, the bond we share with our fans remains as strong and unchanging as ever.
Please describe your debut single, “Wish Upon the Stars”!
Saeon: “Wish Upon the Stars” is a deeply precious song to us. Not only does it contain our story, but it also really shows the mindset we have regarding the path we are walking. We want to deliver a message of hope to the listeners that everything will turn out well.
Please describe your newest song, “SALAD DAYS,” and why it has that title.
Saeon: “SALAD DAYS” is a song about enjoying what’s in front of us - especially for our team, [while] we’re still trying to figure out our lives and futures. “SALAD DAYS” is a song that really resonates with what we’re going through in the present.
Jeha: To be honest, we didn’t know what the English title meant, but once it was explained, we realized it perfectly reflected the song and our current states.
How much do you remember about your past lives? And do you think you will ever fully know the circumstances around what’s been described as a “mysterious accident”?
Yuseong: Honestly, we’re the ones [who are the] most curious about what exactly happened that day! We only remember the parts of our pasts that were retold through our audio drama. We’re hoping that as time goes by, we’ll be able to remember more.
Jeonseol, you at first urged the other MY:RAKL PROJECT contestants to NOT pick you as the final member, but you later said you are glad they picked you. What changed?
Jeonseol: To be honest, I just remember that I didn’t want to be a burden to the members. I think the reason I was glad they chose me later on is because, ultimately, I really love being on a team with the other four members. That is where I feel the most comfortable and where I can be accepted exactly as I am.
On MY:RAKL PROJECT, you admitted that it hurt to be told your music lacked sincerity. Why was that feedback particularly painful, and do you think you have improved at making performances feel more sincere?
Haydn: I think it’s because there hasn’t been a single moment when we weren’t sincere about our music. That goes for all the members, not just me. It wasn’t our intention [to not convey that sincerity], but that’s how the mentors felt. However, that feedback definitely helped us a lot [to improve] our performances. I realized that a performance isn’t just about the emotions we feel, but also how the audience and listeners will feel, too.
Yuseong was able to get you all permission to leave the dorms to film yourselves making wishes under the blue moon, and that experience seemed to leave you all feeling refreshed and inspired again. Can you elaborate on why seeing a blue moon was so meaningful to you?
Saeon: We heard that if you make a wish when a blue moon rises, that wish will come true. Just like our song [“Wish Upon the Stars”], it gave us hope that everything would turn out well. Not only were we able to get some fresh air and clear our heads outside, but it was a huge help in recentering our mindset.
Have you been compared to any other K-pop boy groups, and if so, what do you think about the comparisons?
Jeha: I don’t think that has happened yet, since we are still rookies. We wouldn’t even dare to imagine being compared to our sunbaenims [aka senior artists].
Are you interested in returning as guest mentors on future seasons of MY:RAKL PROJECT or on a similar show?
Haydn: To be honest, we are still rookies, so we can’t even imagine becoming mentors yet. As time goes by, I hope we can improve ourselves much more and become artists that the public and other artists can look up to.
Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourselves or your music?
Yuseong: We have so many things planned for 2026, so please look forward to MY:RAKL’s future activities!
Keep up with MY:RAKL on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X!
Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo courtesy of Accorde.