Not a Full Stop: COMMA Open Their First Chapter with ‘Toxic Sugar’
- K Fuse
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
A debut is often a statement, but for COMMA, it reads more like a beginning already in motion. The four member group steps forward not with hesitation, but with a clear sense of identity shaped long before their first official release. With their debut single “Toxic Sugar,” COMMA introduce a sound built on contrast, sweetness layered with tension, confidence balanced with restraint. In conversation with K Fuse, JU SUNG, JJ, LEN, and MIN HO reflect on the path that brought them here, the meaning behind their name, and the shared belief that their story is not meant to stop at a single moment, but continue unfolding like a sentence that refuses to end.
K Fuse: Congratulations on your debut! How does it feel to officially introduce yourselves to the public as COMMA?
JU SUNG: While I feel a great sense of excitement, I also feel an equally strong sense of responsibility. Knowing that there are people who have been waiting for me even before my debut makes me approach this with more care and gratitude. I will not forget this moment of greeting you as COMMA, and I want to show myself sincerely, one step at a time.
K Fuse: For those just discovering you, what does the name COMMA represent, and why was it chosen?
JJ: We believe COMMA is not an end, not a stop, but a flow. Rather than music that ends after one listen, we wanted to become a team that can continuously carry on to the next story. I hope that all of our moments naturally continue within our fans’ time.
K Fuse: Can each of you describe the moment you found out you were debuting?
JU SUNG: More than feeling happy, I first felt a strong sense of responsibility. As the time we had spent preparing together came to mind, I realized that this was truly the beginning. It was the moment I resolved to not disappoint those who had been waiting for us.
JJ: I was rather calm. Since it was something we had been preparing for a long time, it felt like we were naturally moving on to the next stage. Only after that did it start to feel real little by little.
LEN: At first, I just felt purely happy. But after some time passed, I began to think that now we had to prove ourselves through results. I remember staying longer in the practice room that day for no particular reason.
MIN HO: I still remember that moment clearly. I was happy, but at the same time, my mind went blank for a moment. The first thought that came to me was, “Now we’re really going to stand in front of so many people.”
K Fuse: How would you describe your group dynamic in one word each?
JU SUNG: Stability. Even with different roles, we are balanced, so we are a team that doesn’t waver when we are together.
JJ: Chemistry. Even without many words, we are a team whose timing doesn’t fall out of sync within our different roles.
LEN: Immersion. Once we start, there is an atmosphere that keeps us focused until the end.
MIN HO: Comfort. When we are together, there are moments where I feel at ease for no particular reason.
K Fuse: What kind of first impression do you hope fans get from your debut single “Toxic Sugar”?
LEN: At first, I hope it’s a song that naturally draws you in with its atmosphere, but as you keep listening, a sense of tension lingers more than expected. I wanted to leave the impression that this team is more distinct than you think.
MIN HO: I hope it starts off sweet, but leaves you feeling a little uneasy by the end. A song that doesn’t resolve easily, so it keeps coming back to mind.
K Fuse: What was the hardest part of your trainee journey, and what motivated you to keep going?
JU SUNG: The hardest time was when I couldn’t see any results. Still, the members I prepared with and the belief that we would someday stand on stage helped me endure.
JJ: It was difficult when I felt like I was stuck in the same place. At those times, the music itself helped me find my center again.
LEN: The more I wanted to do well, the more I pushed myself, and that was difficult. Still, imagining myself on stage helped me endure again.
MIN HO: The time when I worried that my pace might be too slow was difficult. Still, I kept going with the mindset of not giving up and continuing to try.
K Fuse: How did each of you get into music and decide to pursue this path?
JU SUNG: When I was in elementary school, I sang at a karaoke room with my cousins and family, and my heart was pounding and I felt like I was flying. Maybe it felt like being truly alive. I think that’s when I started dreaming of becoming a singer.
JJ: During my adolescence, I ended up living abroad, and at that time, K-pop music gave me strength. Because of that, I chose the path of music, wanting to become someone who can give strength to others as well.
LEN: I have a strong memory of performing on a support stage through a school club activity, which led me to start dancing and singing, and I chose this path because I couldn’t forget that experience.
MIN HO: I started because my first love liked people who sing, but at some point, I came to enjoy being on stage and receiving support from many people.
K Fuse: Were there moments during training where you doubted yourselves or moments when everything clicked?
JU SUNG: There were moments during the training process when I doubted my singing a lot. It was a time when I was losing confidence, but with the CEO and team leader continuing to talk to me by my side, and the members cheering me on, I was able to gradually regain my balance. Going through that process, I feel that I have become stronger as “singer Ju Sung.” COMMA began when JJ and I prepared for a world competition, and in that process, I met MIN HO, and then met LEN through performances. We worked as a dancing vocal team, and after meeting the CEO, COMMA as it is now was formed. Looking back now, it really feels amazing. We all have different personalities and different strengths, but when we come together as a team, it strangely feels like everything fits perfectly. Maybe it’s because we are looking toward the same goal. If something like a destined connection exists, I think COMMA is that kind of team.
K Fuse: Which skills or habits did you learn during training that help you most now as debut artists?
JU SUNG: Having a variety of experiences during my trainee days helped me the most. I experienced everything from preparing behind the scenes to creating the stage myself, and I think those times shaped who I am today. The education I received at school, along with strengthening my mindset, had a great influence on establishing my center as a leader. In particular, freestyle practice in the practice room created my unique image on stage.
K Fuse: Were there any senior artists or mentors who gave memorable advice before debuting?
JU SUNG: The person who gave us the most memorable advice was CEO HOZE. As a singer and producer who writes lyrics and composes, he has a very broad perspective on music. He didn’t just talk about results, but explained how to understand a song, how to express emotions, and what kind of attitude to have on stage. Beyond music, he helped us understand teamwork and my role as a leader. To me, he is more than a CEO. He is a mentor who shaped COMMA into what we are today.
K Fuse: Can you tell us the story behind “Toxic Sugar”?
JU SUNG: “Toxic Sugar” starts from a feeling you can’t easily escape, even though you know it’s sweet but dangerous. Rather than simply talking about love, I wanted to capture the attraction and tension anyone might have experienced at least once. As our first single, I hoped it would show the emotional temperature and atmosphere we can express. I’m grateful we can begin COMMA’s story with this song.
K Fuse: What was the recording process like?
JJ: Since the chorus plays a big role in shaping the atmosphere, I participated in all of the chorus work. Even with the same melody, I layered different textures and breath lengths so a natural tension could come through. It is not something that stands out immediately, but there are details you can discover when listening closely.
K Fuse: The title “Toxic Sugar” is intriguing. What is the concept behind it?
MIN HO: As the title suggests, it is sweet but also carries a dangerous temperature. As you listen, there are moments where you suddenly feel tense, so it reflects that contrast.
K Fuse: Did any of you participate in writing or conceptualizing the song?
JJ & MIN HO: JU SUNG and LEN put a lot of thought into the performance and movement, continuously refining how to express the song’s atmosphere.
JU SUNG: All the performance for “Toxic Sugar” was created by LEN and me, focusing on expressing tension and emotional changes through movement.
LEN: I tried to translate the images I had in mind into choreography. I focused on capturing the feeling of gradually becoming unable to escape the sweet atmosphere.
K Fuse: How does this single set the tone for COMMA’s musical identity going forward?
JU SUNG: “Toxic Sugar” shows the emotional temperature COMMA deals with. Rather than being quickly consumed, it leaves an emotional afterimage. We want to continue creating music that flows in that direction.
K Fuse: How would you describe each member’s role within the group?
ALL: JU SUNG is the center who organizes the flow. JJ maintains musical balance. LEN creates energy and handles performance details. MIN HO softens the atmosphere. Together, it becomes COMMA’s color.
K Fuse: Who is most likely to start a jam session or dance practice out of nowhere?
ALL (except JJ): JJ. He suddenly changes the mood when things get quiet.
JJ: I just try to bring energy when we need it.
K Fuse: If COMMA were a movie, what genre would it be?
ALL: A drama focused on emotional flow. Each member plays a different role, but together it forms one story.
K Fuse: What’s one word to describe “Toxic Sugar”?
JU SUNG: Addiction.
JJ: Coke.
LEN: Deadly.
MIN HO: Poison sugar.
K Fuse: If you could switch roles for a performance, who would it be?
ALL: Each member chooses another for different reasons, from vocals to leadership to performance energy.
K Fuse: What emoji represents you today?
JU SUNG: 😁
JJ: 🤤
LEN: 🥰
MIN HO: 🫠
K Fuse: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us. Any final message for fans?
ALL: For those meeting COMMA for the first time, we hope our music naturally resonates with you. We are just at the beginning, but we will build step by step to become a team that is remembered for a long time. Thank you for watching over us. LOVE YOU.
As COMMA’s first chapter begins to take shape, what stands out most is not just their ambition, but their alignment. Each member brings a distinct voice, yet together they form a shared direction rooted in trust, discipline, and a quiet understanding of where they want to go. “Toxic Sugar” becomes more than a debut single in this context, acting as both introduction and intention, a glimpse into the emotional language they aim to build moving forward. If this conversation is any indication, COMMA is not focused on arriving quickly, but on lasting. And in that space between their name and their music, the story is only just starting to continue.
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