From aespa to EXO to NCT Dream: What is the Connection of 'KWANGYA' and These Groups in SM Culture Universe?
The cryptic word "KWANGYA" that keeps on appearing on SM Entertainment artists' songs since 2020 once again showed itself on NCT Dream's latest track, "Hello Future."
Following aespa, NCT U, EXO, fans are intrigued more than ever about the real meaning behind this word and the role of the mentioned groups in SM's Worldview.
On June 28, NCT Dream drew K-pop enthusiasts' attention, particularly SM Entertainment artists' fans due to their track, "Hello Future."
Aside from the incredible bop released by the unit, the track is also garnering attention for mentioning SM Culture Universe (SMCU)-related term, "KWANGYA."
aespa, NCT U, EXO, and NCT Dream: The Connection of "KWANGYA" in SMCU
NCT Dream, NCT subgroup, just released their first full-length repackaged album "Hello Future." The album contains a total of 13 songs, with three new songs added to the tracklist of their first full-length album "Hot Sauce."
In "Hello Future," the members sparked interest as they mentioned "Say I loved you without regrets. Over the whole world and KWANGYA, that I told you in my future."
In particular, viewers have taken notice of "KWANGYA" as it has been mentioned multiple times in the lyrics of aespa, NCT U, and EXO.
The word "KWANGYA" means wilderness and is a key term from SM Culture Universe. SMCU is a project launched by SM Entertainment in October 2020. It is a multi-cultural project that encompasses cartoons, animations, webtoons, motion graphics, and avatars.
Initially, the project seemed to be connected only to aespa who first introduced avatars as official members. In fact, the quartet (an octet with their ae) first mentioned "KWANGYA" in their debut track, "Black Mamba" on Nov. 17 last year.
But SM Entertainment artists, who originally have maintained separate concepts and worldviews now have a connection. Starting with SuperM, they introduced the rookie girl group aespa by showing their logo in a futuristic phone - in the last scene of SuperM's "One" MV.
The wilderness first appeared in the NCT 2020's "The Past & Future - Ether" video. In this video, they said, "The world of the unconscious is created by filtering events and emotions that are elements that only respond to the 'me' of the conscious world. We call this 'KWANGYA' and it was created by filtering from the 'ether', the sea of the unconscious."
Following them, NCT U's "90's Love" is the first song to mention wilderness. "90's love" is a song that Ten, Winwin, Mark, Jeno, Haechan, Yangyang, and Sungchan among the NCT members participated in. They sang, "Beyond the KWANGYA, come closer."
As for aespa, the lyrics progress was also noticed by fans. In their debut track "Black Mamba," they sang, "You're wandering in this KWANGYA." But in their latest release, "Next Level," they now sang, "I walk to KWANGYA." This implied that from moving away from the wilderness, they are finally returning.
Lastly, EXO who made their special comeback on June 7 seemed to be a part of the project as well, mentioning, "Speed across KWANGYA" in their track "DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING." It allegedly implied, "Running over the Wilderness," according to fans.
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What and Where is "KWANGYA"? Fans Drop Own Interpretations of the Mysterious Term
Despite the project being released in 2020, "KWANGYA" remains an ambiguous term and how the aforementioned groups are connected to it.
This, however, drive fans more to analyze and have different interpretations of the "KWANGYA" identity.
Based on aespa's "Next Level" music video the address of "KWANGYA" was the address of the new SM Entertainment building. However, majority thinks that it would not simply mean the SM building - but holds a deeper connection to it.
Fans are raising expectations that if a follow-up video of "Black Mamba," the first episode of SMCU released in May, will be released, they will be able to find out more about the enigmatic word.
How about you? What's your own interpretation of Kwangya? Let us know in the comments!
READ MORE: Does 'KWANGYA' in Aespa's 'Black Mamba' Hint at Additional Members?
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Written by Eunice Dawson
