South Korea-based Filipino global pop group HORI7ON marked their return to the music scene with the release of their digital single “Lucky.” 

HORI7ON (호라이즌), composed of Vinci, Kim, Kyler, Reyster, Winston, Jeromy and Marcus, flew to Manila and held their “Daytour Comeback Showcase” with fans on March 2 at the Samsung Hall at SM Aura. 

The showcase was held hours after the release of “Lucky,” a song that is part of the group’s “Daytour” series. 

Filipino global pop group HORI7ON at their "Daytour Comeback Showcase" on March 2 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura (Jonathan Hicap)

To promote the song, HORI7ON will hold fan signing events in various SM Supermalls in the country. 

After its release, “Lucky” ranked No. 2 on iTunes’ Top Songs chart in the Philippines while its instrumental version was at No. 3. 

HORI7ON debuted in South Korea under the tutelage of MLD Entertainment in July 2023 with the album “Friend-Ship.” 

Last September, they held their first concert “Friend-Ship: Voyage To Manila” at Araneta Coliseum. 

Hours before the showcase, HORI7ON met with Philippine media to talk about their career and their new track. 

Since debut, they received the Focus Award at the Asia Artist Awards (AAA) held in the Philippines last December, and the Top Global Artist of the Year at the PPOP Awards in the country 

At the AAA, HORI7ON joined K-pop stars and Korean actors including Seventeen BSS, Stray Kids, The Boyz, NewJeans, Kim Seon-ho and Ahn Hyo-seop. 

Vinci, HORI7ON’s leader, said they didn’t know that they would receive the Focus Award at the AAA. 

“Ang funny nung tinawag talaga kami to win. Hindi kami aware na lahat ng tatawaging artist [on stage] ay pasok na rin, panalo na pala. Akala namin we were just nominees. We just found out na they just said when we were on stage, ‘Go make your speech.’ Gulat na gulat kami as a group collectively. Feeling ko na naitawid naman yung speech. 

“(The funny thing was when we were called to win. We were not aware that all of the artists who would be called [on stage] were already in, were already winners. We thought we were just nominees. We just found out when they just said when we were on stage, ‘Go make your speech.’ We were really surprised as a  group, collectively. My feeling was we did a good job with the speech),” said Vinci. 

Special memories since debut

The members shared their special memories and moments since their debut last year. 

“Super dami nang nangyari. AAA and debut namin (There were so many things that happened. AAA and our debut),” said Reyster, adding that he faced adjustments in South Korea. “After AAA, parang gumaan. Hindi na ako nai-stress at itong comeback ng ‘Lucky,’ I am so happy (After AAA, I felt better. I no longer get stressed and this comeback with ‘Lucky,’ I am so happy).” 

HORI7ON member Vinci (Jonathan Hicap)

HORI7ON member Kyler (Jonathan Hicap)

HORI7ON member Marcus (Jonathan Hicap)

HORI7ON member Winston (Jonathan Hicap)

HORI7ON member Kim (Jonathan Hicap)

HORI7ON member Jeromy (Jonathan Hicap)

HORI7ON member Reyster (Jonathan Hicap)

Winston mentioned AAA as the No. 1 most memorable experience. 

“Ito yung first Korean [awards] show na ina-ttendan namin ng HORI7ON and we won an award. Especially din po na dito siya ginanap sa Philippines. Tuwang-tuwa po ako na nagperform kami dito sa Philippines. Nakita ko yung mga Filipinos and, of course, the Anchors [fans].  

“(This was the first Korean [awards] show that HORI7ON attended and we won an award. Especially that it was held here in the Philippines. I was so happy that we performed here in the Philippines. I saw Filipinos and, of course, the Anchors),” he said. 

Vinci said they were starstruck and happy to be at the AAA together with leading Korean singers and actors. 

“Super grateful kami to be there but to be able to perform in front of all the people there and in front of the artists, of course. May kaba but because of all of the preparation that we went through, medyo nagset aside yung kaba and mas confident kami sa sarili namin (There was worry but because of all of the preparation that we went through, our worry set aside a little and we were more confident). And we really wanted to showcase Filipino talent in front of the artists there,” he said. 

Kim mentioned their trip to Mexico last year as one of the most memorable memories. Just nearly a month after their debut, HORI7ON performed at the “KAMP FEST CDMX 2023” in August last year, their first overseas performance. The artists that performed at the event also included BamBam, NMIXX, iKON, and Monsta X. 

In Mexico, he said, they were asked by people when they would come back to the country, he said. 

Favorite cities, venues

When asked about their favorite cities and venues where they performed, Marcus, the youngest member of HORI7ON at 14, mentioned Araneta Coliseum where they held their first concert, “Voyage To Manila,” on Sept. 9 last year. 

“I love performing sa Araneta [Coliseum] because it was our first concert. Out of all performances, I think that is really the most special one for me; being able to hold a concer as HORI7ON and hearing all the Filipinos, the Anchors cheer for us loudly at Araneta. It was always a dream for all of us to even go there. It was also my first time to be on stage like that,” said Marcus. 

Filipino global pop group HORI7ON at their "Daytour Comeback Showcase" on March 2 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura (Jonathan Hicap)

Jeromy said, “For me, yung sa AAA po sa Philippine Arena because it’s my dream to perform there. Yeah, that time, I was so happy. Iniisip ko na gusto kong magperfom dun at ngayon nakapagperform ako lalo na nakasama ko yung grupo ko (I was thinking I wanted to perform there and now I was able to perform there especially that I was with my group).” 

According to Winston, “Para po sa akin, school attack po. Yung mga school attack po namin na ginanap sa Korea. Nagkaroon po kami ng chance na mameet po sila  and, of course, makapag-perform in front of them and also, ma-grab din po sila na maging Anchor (For me, it was the school attack. Our school attacks that were held in Korea. We had the chance to meet them and, of course, to perform in front of them and a chance to ‘grab’ them to become Anchors).” 

School attack is an event where K-pop artists go to different schools and perform in front of students. 

For Kyler, the Manila showcase was one of his favorites. 

“Naging maganda naman po lahat ng performance namin. Isa po sa pinakapaborito ko ay yung ngayon po kasi first time ever comeback po namin. Tska mamya po namin ipe-perform yung ginawa namin na ‘Lucky.’ Kasi marami po kaming ginawang preparation para dito sa ‘Lucky’ na gusto namin ipakita sa mga Filipino Anchors.  

(Our performances turned out fine. One of my favorites is now because it’s our first time ever comeback. And later we will perform what we prepared for ‘Lucky.’ Because we had many preparation for ‘Lucky’ that we wanted to show our Filipino Anchors),” Kyler. 

Filipino global pop group HORI7ON at their "Daytour Comeback Showcase" on March 2 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura (Jonathan Hicap)

Reyster mentioned TV music shows as his favorite place to perform.

“Namiss ko din pong magperform dun (I also missed performing there),” he said.  

During their promotion last year, HORI7ON got to perform in seven TV music shows in South Korea, including KBS’ “Music Bank” and SBS’ “Inkigayo,” which they did for nearly a month, according to Marcus. 

“We are excited to come back there for ‘Lucky,’” said Marcus. 

Global pop group

HORI7ON’s formation as a global pop group, from being chosen in the Philippines to their debut in South Korea, was a unique path, which had many challenges. 

Marcus said, “I think there are like multiple challenges in becoming a global pop group. Because it isn’t just a normal pop group. Siyempre since we are all Filipinos, that’s even a bigger responsibility for all seven of us.” 

“I would say the greatest challenge so far was learning the [Korean] language kasi siyempre based kami sa South Korea. We had to learn the culture, the language. Not just Korea. If we ever perform like in Mexico, which we actually have, and other countries, we are very open to learning their culture and language so that since we are a global pop group, we want to be globally connected to everyone,” he added. 

Filipino global pop group HORI7ON at their "Daytour Comeback Showcase" on March 2 at Samsung Hall, SM Aura (Jonathan Hicap)

New song “Lucky” and goals 

About “Lucky,” Vinci said, “It’s about encapsulating the joyful and youthful side of HORI7ON once again. It’s very connected still to our previous release, ‘Friend-Ship.’ It still stems from the same upbeat, youthful, fresh ‘high teen’ vibe. Pero ngayon mas nilagyan pa namin ng more happiness kasi upbeat siya (But now we added more happiness because it’s upbeat).”     

When asked about their goals for “Lucky,” Vinci said, “Of course, we always want to be able to promote in the Philippines and doing the showcase here. It means that we are just serious to really penetrate the Philippines completely because we really want to remember our roots.” 

“And we really just want for ‘Lucky’ to be a very lucky hit for HORI7ON,” he said. 

Since starting their promotions in the Philippines before their debut in Korea last year, Marcus said they have grown as a group. 

“Honestly, I think we really grew a lot as HORI7ON, not just skills but in terms of chemistry because through the past year, especially sa Korea, we had many conflicts, our ups and downs. I think through the hard times that we kinda experienced, our bond together has been stronger,” he said. 

He mentioned that in terms of skill, Kyler was the member who improved a lot since last year.  

“Nagwo-work hard po talaga ako sa Korea kasama din sila po (I really work hard in Korea together with them),” said Kyler. 

In the Philippines, HORI7ON will be touring different SM Supermalls to promote “Lucky” and their group. 

They will have a “Lucky” fan signing event on March 15 at SM Lanang Premier, Davao, and on March 16 at SM City Pampanga. 

The HORI7ON “Daytour Comeback Showcase” was presented by DNM Entertainment and MLD Entertainment.