USPEER Restarts their Journey with “WICKED GAME”
Photo: USPEER Official X
USPEER debuted, moved companies, and reorganized their lineup over the span of a year. Their first comeback, on June 17, acts as a reintroduction of the group. Soee, Sian, Seoyu, Daon, Chaena, and Roa embrace synth-pop and disco sounds for their first EP, BITE DISTRICT. The title track “WICKED GAME” shows USPEER remains an emerging player within the realm of K-Pop rookie groups.
Changes Before the Comeback
USPEER debuted on June 4, 2025 under WM Entertainment, the company known for acts such as Oh My Girl and ONF. The initial seven-member group, which included former leader Yeowon, released two songs on their debut single album, SPEED ZONE: the sporty-themed electro-pop title track “ZOOM” and the U.K. garage B-side “Telepathy.” USPEER released no more music that year and adapted to a six-member structure after Yeowon went on hiatus that September.
The end of 2025 coincided with the end of USPEER’s contract with WM Entertainment, leading them to transfer to the similarly named MW Entertainment in January. USPEER was once again under the direction of former WM Entertainment founder Lee Wonmin, now the CEO of MW Entertainment. It seemed like USPEER was getting back on track, but the group underwent another shift. The group’s temporary six-member lineup became permanent following Yeowon’s departure in May for “personal reasons.” Instead of one fixed leader, the group will use a system in which fans vote for a new leader annually: Sian will serve as USPEER’s leader in 2026.
“WICKED GAME”
USPEER swaps electro-pop for synth-pop in “WICKED GAME,” creating a softer sound full of yearning. It conceptualizes love as a game people participate in. This departure from a sporty concept features the group as lovestruck girls trying their hardest to win over their crush.
With actor Bae Hyungsung portraying the object of the group's infatuation, USPEER depicts love as a difficult situation to handle. They visualize this through the nearly impossible task of shooting an arrow through the middle of an apple. Though “wicked” usually implies an evil tone, USPEER uses it more in a zany sense, with their desperate attempts to grab a crush’s attention. This concept plays it safe, which might be what the group wants for now.
Though USPEER's path forward remains uncertain, this EP might give USPEER the boost they need. At the very least, the group will start receiving support from an arts-focused initiative by the South Korean government. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will supply annual funding of ₩300 million each to 10 “small and medium-sized” companies and their artists, and USPEER was selected as one of this year’s recipients. The program’s focus on expanding K-Pop globally implies USPEER could target markets outside South Korea soon.