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South Korean girl group Rescene unveiled its fourth mini-album, “Pulse,” on Nov. 3, holding a comeback showcase at Blue Square Woori WON Banking Hall in Seoul’s Yongsan district. The five members — Woni, Liv, Minami, May and Zena — performed the title track, “Dee,” and the B-side “Baekhwayoran,” before a large gathering of journalists.
An album built around a connection with fans
Released at 6 p.m. local time, “Pulse” takes its name from the heartbeat, reflecting the group's idea that songs given to fans can return as a source of strength. The release marks Rescene’s first new album in four months, following its July remake of KARA’s “Pretty Girl,” and its first collection of original new material since the group’s songs gained renewed popularity.
The five-track album also includes “Finest Thing,” “Mimi” and “Dragon.” “Finest Thing” features a contemporary rhythmic sound, while “Mimi” combines playful synthesizers with the members’ harmonies.
“Dee” is an easy-listening dance-pop track about following a voice calling out to the singer and finally meeting someone long dreamed of. Its arrangement moves from a lyrical opening into an energetic chorus, driven by a strong hook, bass and drums that evoke an accelerating heartbeat. The song was written and composed with contributions from Lee Ju-heon and The Paul Kim, executives and directors at The Muse Entertainment who also worked on Rescene’s earlier hits “Love Attack” and “Pinball.”
A calligraphy-inspired performance track
The album’s other showcase performance, “Baekhwayoran,” takes its name from a Korean four-character idiom describing flowers blooming in abundance and displaying their beauty. The medium-tempo track uses prominent drum beats to portray emotions blossoming like flowers, while its choreography incorporates five chairs.
The song began with a calligraphy performance by Japanese member Minami on Woni’s YouTube channel, “Hello, This Is Woni.” Minami said she had long liked the idiom and that an executive was inspired to turn her brush lettering into a song.
Lee Ju-heon and The Paul Kim contributed lyrics, while singer-songwriter EJAE, known internationally for her work on Netflix’s animated film “KPop Demon Hunters,” contributed to the composition. Member Zena said the choreography features movements requiring all five performers to move as one, making teamwork a central part of the stage presentation.
From an online catchphrase to chart success
Since debuting in 2024, Rescene has built momentum through an unusual combination of music and viral online attention. In March, a video featuring Minami using a Japanese-inspired gyaru makeup and fashion concept to shout “Geoje, ya-ho” spread widely online. The phrase, roughly an enthusiastic cheer for the South Korean coastal city of Geoje, became a viral meme.
The attention helped raise the group’s public profile beyond the music industry. Rescene was appointed a promotional ambassador for Geoje in May and represents four local governments in total. In September, its members became the first entertainers selected as honorary citizens of Geoje. The group has also been chosen as advertising models for several brands.
Its musical breakthrough came with “Love Attack,” released in August 2024. After gaining renewed attention well after its initial release — a phenomenon known in South Korea as 역주행, or a reverse chart climb — the song reached No. 1 on Melon’s Top 100, one of the country's leading music charts. “Deja Vu” and “Pretty Girl” have also maintained positions near the top of streaming charts. In July, Rescene’s remake of KARA’s “Pretty Girl” won first place on a televised music program.
Seeking lasting recognition, not a passing viral moment
The members said they approached the comeback with a mix of excitement and pressure to meet rising expectations. Liv said the support received during the previous promotional cycle made the past four months pass quickly, while Minami described the attention as a source of positive nervousness.
Leader Woni said the group hoped listeners would develop confidence in its music and come to associate Rescene with consistently reliable releases. May acknowledged that the group had sometimes been called a “national girl group,” but said the label felt premature and that the members wanted to work hard enough to deserve it.
“We want to be a group that is loved for a long time, not just a brief moment of buzz,” May said in remarks summarized by the group. Minami said the central goal of the new promotion was to leave a lasting impression through the group's music.
Woni also described the label “miracle of a small agency” as something the members appreciated, while recognizing how difficult such a breakthrough can be. The group hopes to create another moment worthy of that description, but says its immediate priority is to keep working hard and deliver performances without regrets.
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