MONSTA X, now reunited as a full-group, has a lot on its plate this year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its debut. From concerts to a new album, the group hinted at its upcoming activities during a press event in Seoul on July 16, sharing ambitious plans for the future while reflecting on its decade-long musical journey.
MONSTA X will kick off its much-awaited “2025 MONSTA X CONNECT X” concert at the KSPO Dome in Seoul’s Olympic Park on July 18-20, performing as a full group for the first time in three years. It will then head to the PIA ARENA MM in Yokohama, Japan, for additional shows on Aug 27-28. The “CONNECT X” gig will offer an immersive viewing experience through MONSTA X’s powerful vocals and performances, gripping storytelling, and elaborate stage settings – highlighting the theme of connection with its fans and its commitment to restarting its voyage on the world stage.
“We put our focus on showcasing the performances that our fans want to see – not us,” Hyungwon said during the press conference. “We have created a set list capturing the 10-year journey of MONSTA X.”
During the event, MONSTA X also made a surprising announcement about its upcoming album, revealing it will come out in September.
“We are making a comeback in September – on the earliest day possible,” Joohoney said. “We had so many options for our lead track and they are all included on the album as B-sides, meaning its quality is very high. This album will cater to both the public and our members.”
Kihyun added, “We are doing our best to feature as many elements as possible. Given that most of our songs convey the message, ‘we break everything down and go all out, but we still love you,’ it seems we will continue with this theme this time. We have already finished recording.”
Anticipation for MONSTA X’s new album is palpable, as the group demonstrated its chart power in May with the digital album “NOW PROJECT vol. 1” – a 10-track collection featuring the six members’ re-recorded versions of songs released between 2021 and 2023, celebrating MONSTA X’s 10th debut anniversary. “NOW PROJECT vol. 1” ranked 1st on the iTunes Top K-Pop Music Album chart in eight countries/regions including the U.S. and France, while entering the TOP 10 in 18 countries/regions. MONSTA X held a pop-up event and fan meetings for free as well, commemorating its milestone by repaying fans’ love.
Debuted in 2015 with the mini-album “TRESPASS,” MONSTA X has established itself as a “monstrous” force in the K-pop landscape with powerful performances and unique musical styles. With hits like “DRAMARAMA,” “Shoot Out,” “Love Killa,” “Alligator,” and “GAMBLER,” MONSTA X has built a strong fandom worldwide, becoming the first K-pop group to join the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball tour in the U.S. – one of the country’s biggest year-end performances – in 2018. Between 2019 and 2021, MONSTA X participated in the tour three times. In 2020, the group’s first full-length American album “ALL ABOUT LUV” secured the No. 5 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and its second English album “THE DREAMING” made it onto the same chart for two consecutive weeks.
Reflecting on their career, the members expressed gratitude toward each other and their followers before highlighting their family-like bond.
“I’m thankful to our members, who have worked hard to keep our team going and active over the past 10 years,” Hyungwon said. “But no matter how hard we worked, it would not have been possible without our fans. I also want to appreciate them.”
I.M added, “I now think of the members as family, not just teammates. I think living like a family is what keeps us moving forward.”
MONSTA X, back with more maturity and passion, also showed excitement for the days ahead.
“All of us will be in our 40s in the next 10 years,” Kihyun said. “I think there will be a different kind of fun then. I am not sure if we will be able to pull off the powerful choreography like we do now, but we are likely to showcase a more mature kind of charm.”
Joohoney elaborated, “Our members work out really hard, so I think we will be able to perform as MONSTA X even when we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our debut.”
Source: Press Release
