‘Boys II Planet’ duo Flare U hopes to be your daily dose of vitamins

K-pop duo Flare U poses for a photo during its debut showcase held at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on May 13. [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

 

Chuei Li Yu and Kang Woo-jin, the two popular contestants from Mnet’s audition program “Boys II Planet” (2025), are marking a fresh start as Flare U, a rare K-pop duo, hoping to create a synergy that can brighten someone’s day.

 

“We aim to become a team where the two of us come together to create a single light,” said Kang during the duo’s debut showcase held in central Seoul on Wednesday, ahead of the release of its debut EP, “Youth Error,” at 6 p.m. that day.

 

“Our goal is to become a team that continues to resonate with many people,” he added.

 

K-pop duo Flare U in a promotional photo for its debut EP, ″Youth Error″ [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

 

Chuei, a 22-year-old from Taiwan, finished the “Boys II Planet” program in 10th place, narrowly missing the eight-member roster for the resulting group Alpha Drive One, which debuted in January. Kang, an 18-year-old Korean contestant, finished in 16th place.

 

Managed under FNC Entertainment, Flare U announced its debut in April, eight months after the show concluded in September last year.

 

As duos remain a rarity in K-pop, an industry largely defined by multimember groups, there is inevitably pressure for the two members to fill the stage on their own. But Chuei and Kang said that is also what makes the team special.

 

“There are not that many duos in K-pop, but I think that can be a strength for us,” said Chuei. “Because there are only two of us, we can lean into and show our own style in unique ways, while also complementing each other to complete a full picture.”

 

K-pop duo Flare U in a promotional photo for its debut EP, ″Youth Error″ [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

 

Both Chuei and Kang cited the sibling duo AKMU as their role models.

 

“AKMU always seems to enjoy performing, and the two of them sing songs that carry their own stories,” Kang said. “I’ve always wanted to follow such attitudes.”

 

Flare U’s debut EP, “Youth Error,” consists of six tracks: the lead single, “Way 2 U,” and B-sides, “Hyper,” “Don’t Cry,” “Miracle,” “Woo-Hoo” and “Playground.”

 

The lead track, “Way 2 U,” leans into hyper pop, marked by its glitchy sounds and upbeat rhythm. The song is a cute exploration of young love, its music video set on a campus with Chuei and Kang depicting two college boys navigating the excitement of first love.

 

Chuei Li Yu of Flare U poses for a photo during the duo’s debut showcase held at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on May 13. [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

 

Both Chuei and Kang pursued solo promotions following the show’s conclusion. Chuei held his solo fan meet-and-greet events in Korea, Taiwan, Macau, Thailand and Japan from December to April, while Kang held his in January in Seoul.

 

Even before the official debut, the group already performed at KCON Japan 2026, held in Chiba from Friday to Sunday.  

 

“It was such an honor to perform on such a big stage as KCON Japan before our official debut,” Kang said. “We practiced really hard, but one thing I learned is that no matter how hard you prepare, there are always things you feel like you could have done better after the stage. Next time, I want to prepare even harder and do better.”

 

Flare U said it hopes to become a team that can make someone’s day and send out energy.

 

“I want us to be known as a ‘vitamin vending machine,’” said Chuei with a smile. “People take vitamins as an essential part of their lives. We want to become that kind of team — someone people can turn to whenever they want or need energy.” 

Kang Woo-jin of Flare U poses for a photo during the duo’s debut showcase held at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on May 13. [FNC ENTERTAINMENT]

BY SHIN HA-NEE [[email protected]]