K-pop

Boy band The Wind chases 2nd act with 'Second Wind : S#00'

Published Jul 29, 2026 8:45 pm KST

K-pop boy band The Wind returned Wednesday with its fourth mini album, "Second Wind : S#00," beginning what the group described as a counterattack by one of the scene's underdogs.

The album arrives a year and nine months after the band's previous physical release and marks its first release since partnering with PPangStar Entertainment, setting up a reset point the members said they see as both a fresh start and a test of how far the group has come.

Five members — Thanatorn, Park Hayuchan, Choi Han-bin, An Chan-won and Jang Hyoun-joon — held a press showcase at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul's Gangnam District on Wednesday, hours before the album's release, to discuss the comeback and the making of the record. Kim Hee-soo, who suspended activities in May due to anxiety symptoms, is not taking part in this promotional cycle.

According to the members, the "#00" in the album title represents the coordinates where every story begins, the first page on which The Wind's new leap is recorded.

"We prepared a lot so that fans can feel both the refreshing charm we have shown so far and a confident, hipster side at the same time," Park said of the group's first release under the new partnership.

Jang called the album a turning point.

"I think this comeback is a second chance given to us. We want to show how we have grown and reveal new sides of ourselves," he said.

On Kim's absence, Park said the members adjusted the performance and vocals in the new music so that the empty spot would not be felt. An said the group recently spoke with Kim over a video call.

"He seemed to be doing well and staying healthy. I hope he can join us on stage in good health soon," he said.

The lead track, "Party Like A Rock Star," combines a funky main guitar riff with an EDM-style lead synth, pairing an upbeat band sound with explosive energy suited to summer. For a group that has been working to widen its identity under a new partnership, the single was presented as a way to keep its familiar brightness while pushing into a more forceful stage style.

"It is a really refreshing band sound mixed with our energy, so it suits summer very well," Choi said. "Once you hear it, it sticks in your ears. It is highly addictive."

Park said he first heard the song while overseas.

"The tempo was fast and the rock sound meant it would take a lot of energy, so I was worried at first. But as we practiced, it grew on me, and now I can genuinely play and enjoy myself on stage," he said.

The five-track album also includes the emotional pop and R\u0026B song "With the Wind," the heavy 808 bass and guitar-driven "That's Smoove!," "Shiver," which offers a modern reinterpretation of early-2000s vibes, and "Back and Forth," which captures the realities of young romance.

A notable producer credit also stands out on the record: Park Kyung of Block B handled production across the entire album.

"I was a fan who kept his songs like 'Inferiority Complex' and 'Ordinary Love' on my playlist, so when I first heard he would be producing for us, I could not believe it," Choi said.

Thanatorn said he was curious how the group's identity would come through under the producer's direction.

"In the end, he preserved our charm while adding a new, free-spirited mood, and I am grateful for that," he said.

The members said the group's earlier activities were focused on making The Wind's name known, while this second act with "Second Wind" is aimed at proving its own direction and potential.

"We have the goal of winning on a music show, but more broadly, I hope each of the members can claim a place in the public's memory," Choi said.

Jang also thanked fans for waiting through the hiatus.

"I am so grateful to everyone who waited more than a year. I hope they look forward to the new sides we will show, and we will repay the love they send with performances to be proud of," he said.