SF9 Aims for Wembley as Boy Group Marks 10th Anniversary With New Album 'TENACITY'

K-pop boy group SF9 is returning with its second full-length album as the nine-member act celebrates 10 years since debut. The group is aiming higher than ever, with members openly naming an overseas stadium show as their next big goal.

SF9 held a media showcase for its second studio album "TENACITY" at Cube Convention Center in Seoul's Mapo district on Wednesday at 2 p.m. KST.

Asked how it feels to reach the decade mark, Chani joked that it still has not sunk in. "People around me keep saying it's our 10th anniversary, but it doesn't feel real," he said. "I still feel like we're only five years in."

Inseong took the moment more seriously, thanking fans for carrying the group this far. "It feels surreal, and I'm grateful," he said. "We made it to 10 years because people cared for us, looked out for us, and cheered us on. Let's keep this going all the way to 60 years. We have that kind of drive. As long as we stay healthy, we'll get there." Jaeyoon jumped in with a joke of his own. "Ten years flew by," he said. "For the 60th, we'll have to prepare a dinner show."

Dawon said staying in one job for a decade is not something anyone does alone. "I'm thankful to our company staff, our families, and our fans," he said. Youngbin pointed to the group's fandom, FANTASY, as the reason SF9 is still here. "They're the whole reason," he said. "We can keep doing this because there are people who love us."

Chani previewed the group's upcoming concert, saying the members packed 10 years of work into the show. "You'll see the passion of a more mature version of us," he said. He added, "We're always hungry for our own headline shows."

Asked whether the past decade brought any low points, Youngbin said the members lean on each other in ways they cannot always share publicly. "The way I approach music shifts a lot, and the members have always been there through it," he said. "When I hit a wall while writing, I ask them for advice. Looking back, there were rough patches, but we got through them well. It's strange, it's really just the members for me. Maybe it's because I don't have many friends outside the group."

Jaeyoon said the group put everything into this comeback. "A full-length album is something the members really wanted to release," he said. "We pushed hard for it in talks with the company. Maybe that's why we poured 120 percent into every part of this: the songwriting, the choreography, the music video. We want this album to do well. That's what it means to us."

Youngbin explained the decision to come back with a full album rather than a shorter release. "When you only focus on the title track, the other songs get left behind. That's just how it goes," he said. "But the fans wanted this, and we also wanted to show a wider range of our music. If a B-side breaks out, that tells us more about which direction to move in. This album carries our wish to push forward."

Toward the end of the showcase, Inseong laid out the group's ambitions in plain terms. "I really want a No. 1 win with this promotion," he said. "First place on the music shows, and first place in the hearts of everyone here today. I also want this concert to be something special. I heard Wembley Stadium in London holds between 50,000 and 100,000 people. One day I really want to perform there."

Dawon added that the group has not yet reached where it wants to be. "Honestly, I don't feel like we've hit the targets we set for ourselves," he said. "There's still something missing in terms of what we want to achieve musically. You can't help but pay attention to chart numbers and venue sizes. Maybe it's that hunger to do better and go further that lets us keep making good music."

SF9's second full-length album "TENACITY" holds 10 tracks in total, led by the title track "Without Wings." Members Hwiyoung, Chani, and Youngbin took the lead on lyric writing, with other members also credited. The group will follow the release with its 10th-anniversary solo concert, "Chukmong," on October 10 and 11 at KBS Arena in Seoul.

"TENACITY" drops Wednesday at 6 p.m. KST across major streaming platforms.