RIIZE, Daesang Winner: “Honored By Performance Recognition, New Goals After AAA 2025” [Interview Part 1]

K-Pop group RIIZE is consistently proving their presence as “performance artists.” From winning Grand Prizes at ‘AAA 2025’ to becoming the fastest K-Pop boy group to enter Tokyo Dome, and performing on the ‘Lollapalooza South America’ stage, these achievements demonstrate that RIIZE is more than just a popular group; they are a performance-driven team that defines its identity through powerful stages.

RIIZE (Shotaro, Eunseok, Sungchan, Wonbin, Sohee, Anton) showcased an overwhelming presence at the ’10th Anniversary Asia Artist Awards 2025′ (hereinafter ‘AAA 2025’), held on December 6 last year at Kaohsiung National Stadium. They took home three major awards: the Grand Prize ‘Performance of the Year,’ ‘Best Artist,’ and ‘Emotive’ categories.

This ‘AAA 2025′ stage planted another dream in the members’ hearts. Experiencing an awards ceremony and performing in a stadium-sized venue ignited their goal to one day stand on a similar stage under their own name. One year later, RIIZE reunited, proving themselves as “performance masters” with even more refined performances and commanding stage presence.

From July last year to March this year, their first world tour attracted approximately 420,000 spectators across 21 regions worldwide. They also set a record as the fastest K-Pop boy group to enter Japan’s Tokyo Dome since their debut. Furthermore, they expanded their global influence by becoming the first K-Pop boy group to perform on the ‘Lollapalooza South America’ stage.

Through robust performances and consistent growth, RIIZE is rapidly expanding its domestic and international fandom. As they continue to set new records and achieve significant milestones in their third year since debut, anticipation for their future endeavors is high.

Q: You won three awards at ‘AAA 2025,’ including the Grand Prize ‘Performance of the Year,’ ‘AAA Emotive,’ and ‘Best Artist.’ Do you have any additional thoughts on receiving these prestigious awards?

▶ Anton: I’m grateful that we received not only the Grand Prize but three awards in total. More than anything, receiving an award at a stadium was incredibly memorable. It would be amazing if we could one day hold our own concert at a venue like that. I feel like we’ve gained another goal. It was a wonderful experience, and the atmosphere that day was fantastic. Being outdoors at night made the performances even more spectacular and 멋진. Since we received the Performance Award, we want to continue to show everyone why we’re known as a “performance powerhouse.”

▶ Shotaro: In an era where new artists and amazing performances emerge constantly, it’s a tremendous honor to receive the Performance of the Year award, symbolizing 2025. We plan to continue showing performances worthy of this title, and we’re always trying new things. We want to be recognized as the quintessential performance team where people say, “That’s RIIZE, their performance is outstanding,” and “Only RIIZE can do that.” Beyond performance, I hope to gain diverse stage experiences. I’m recovering quickly from my leg injury and will return in good form soon.

Q: This was your first time attending ‘AAA 2025.’ How did you enjoy the atmosphere at the venue?

▶ Sohee: I’ve always wanted to go to ‘AAA.’ It was great to see other artists and be able to attend an awards ceremony. The venue was incredibly large and 360-degree. We worked hard to convey our energy to the audience in such a vast space, and I’m not sure if it reached everyone, but it was a joyful experience in itself. It’s also a dream of ours to work hard, for RIIZE to do well, and if possible, to hold our own concert in a stadium one day.

▶ Eunseok: It was an honor to watch the stages of various artists.

▶ Anton: The venue was so big that just moving around must have been tough, but what I remember most was being able to ride around in a moving cart and greet everyone. At first, it was funny and enjoyable. I wonder how we could have navigated such a large venue without those carts; it was truly great.

Q: Winning a Grand Prize just three years after your debut must be incredibly special. Was there a moment when you truly realized, “Our team is receiving so much love”?

▶ Shotaro: We recently went to ‘Lollapalooza,’ and opportunities to go to the other side of the world don’t come often. When I actually went to the venue, there were so many people filling the space, and the roar of the crowd was so loud that I thought my in-ears would burst. I was so grateful for that incredible energy. It made me realize that there are many people supporting us even from the other side of the globe. I also felt this strongly during our world tour. It was wonderful to see fans we don’t usually get to meet. If we get the chance, I’d love to meet even more diverse fans.

▶ Wonbin: It was fascinating to hear people on the other side of the world singing along to our Korean songs. It truly made me feel that we are receiving so much love. Also, on the way to the concert venue by car, I saw many BRIIZE (RIIZE’s fandom name) waiting for us. Even though it was raining heavily, seeing so many people waiting for us was very touching.

Q: To be continued in Interview Part 2.