Korean boy group NTX marked its first visit to the Philippines by filming at the National Museum of Fine Arts and performing before fans at Robinsons Galleria on Saturday, Aug. 16.
Composed of main vocalists Hyeongjin and Yunhyeok, vocalist and main dancer Xiha, vocalist and rapper Changhun, lead vocalist Hojun, main producer, main rapper, and sub-vocalist Rawhyun, vocalist and main producer Eunho, and rapper, lead dancer, and youngest member Seungwon, the eight-member group described the museum shoot as a rare opportunity they will never forget. Once the home of the Philippine Senate, the building now houses priceless works, including Juan Luna’s Spoliarium.
“We shot the music video at the National Museum. I heard that they usually don’t give permission to film there. We were the first to shoot, so it’s really such an honor. It was really good to film there,” Yunhyeok said in an exclusive interview with Manila Standard Entertainment.
“It was such an honor to perform and do our music video shoot in that area. We don’t know if it could be repeated. It might be our first and last time, so we really did our best during the shoot,” Eunho added.
He also shared that they respected the strict rules inside the venue, such as restrictions on food and drinks, because of the building’s historical and cultural value.
The visit was also a long-awaited chance for NTX to see its Filipino fans, known as NTFULS, face-to-face.
“So nervous, but I think it’s a really good chance. We definitely think it’s going to be a very fun time tomorrow. And to all the fans who have really waited for us to finally be here, we’re not nervous, but we’re more excited to finally showcase our talent to our Filipino fans,” explained Rawhyun.
The members also admitted they had heard a lot about the Philippines before arriving, particularly its sweet mangoes.
“I was really looking forward to trying the mangoes. They were very delicious,” Changhun shared.
During the K-pop group’s mall show, NTX performed a set that included its hit song “over N over”, which has become a fan favorite across different countries.
Written by Rawhyun and produced in collaboration with YG Entertainment, the upbeat track was created to lift spirits and break away from daily routine.
The group said the song has been a reliable way to connect with audiences.
“Well, we do have a lot of good songs on all our albums. But of course, I think “over N over” has been totally a crowd favorite. Wherever we go, the staff have been singing along with us, dancing, and chatting with us. So definitely, this will be a very special song dedicated to the Filipino NTFULs,” Seungwon explained.
Meanwhile, Xiha said their current release marks a shift in their musical identity, offering what they called a “different color” compared to their past albums. With tracks from the Over Track album designed to encourage fan interaction, the group said the experience of hearing audiences sing and dance along has inspired them to keep that energy alive in their future projects.
“Seeing that become a very good point of connection with our fans, that would basically be our concept for our next albums as well, or something we look forward to in that genre,” he continued.
Now in their fifth year, the members reflected on how their bond has strengthened since their debut.
“At first, of course, we were all from different areas. It was an awkward gathering, just having one goal of wanting to be an idol,” Hyeongjin shared.
“But as time passed, we realized we needed unity to give the best of our talents. For five years, we actually spent time together in one room, building a brotherhood. And now, I think I’m very confident in our teamwork, and our chemistry has been amazing,” he added.
Looking ahead, the members want their shows to always reflect their strength in live performance.
“We want to show more of us enjoying ourselves on stage with our fans. We also want to create a stage where fans can have fun but also feel empathy and comfort. That’s the color of NTX’s stage performance in the future,” Hojun stated.
