Boy band Seventeen's Dino hopes alter ego will bring joy to everyday life in EP '吉Board'

Dino of boy band Seventeen hopes to bring joy to people’s everyday lives through his alter ego’s upcoming EP “吉Board,” he said in a press release.

“I hope that ‘吉Board’ can bring joy, comfort and a sense of connection to people navigating busy, difficult and sometimes exhausting lives,” he said. “[I also hope that] it will become another opportunity for growth and a reminder of my own passion and determination.”

The EP will be released under the name of his alter ego, Picheolin, at 6 p.m. on Monday.

The album blends a range of genres, including EDM trap, city pop and new jack swing, with the distinctly Korean spirit of heung, or joyful energy and excitement, according to his agency Pledis Entertainment.

Dino said that the EP’s artistic direction was one of his key priorities during its creation.

“I put a lot of thought into choosing genres that would best capture Korean retro vibes and the full spectrum of human emotions,” Dino said. “Rather than simply conveying fun, I want to express the many emotions of life through heung and eol [the spirit or soul].”

The lead track, “Party Rock Rock (prod. Hitchhiker),” is the song that best embodies Picheolin’s philosophy and essence, according to Dino.

“The moment that I heard it, I knew that it was [the lead track],” he said. “Picheolin’s signature cheeky charm and free-spirited energy really come through in the song, so I hope that everyone looks forward to it.”

Dino also appeared as Picheolin on KBS’s “National Singing Contest” (1980–), a music show in which ordinary people perform on stage — an unusual move for an idol.

“I want Picheolin to feel approachable to as many people as possible,” he said. “As I thought about the best way to do that, I realized the answer: on the stage.”

Dino added that Carat, the name of Seventeen’s fandom, continues to motivate him to take on new challenges.

“Whenever I think about performing or creating something new, Carats are always on my mind,” he said. “No matter how circumstances change or how much time passes, Carats are why I do what I do. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for always supporting and loving me.”

Dino debuted as the youngest member of Seventeen with the EP “17 Carat” in May 2015. The 13-member group is best known for songs including “Adore U” (2015), “Don’t Wanna Cry” (2017), “Home” (2019) and “Left & Right” (2020).

Since then, he has participated in songwriting and music production, receiving writing and composition credits on his first solo mixtape “Wait” (2023) and his song “Trigger (DINO Solo)” (2025).

BY KIM JI-YE [[email protected]]