YOUNITE Takes the Stage: A Bold New Spin on aespa’s ‘Armageddon’!

The group YOUNITE made a striking impression with their fresh reinterpretation of the girl group aespa’s ‘Armageddon’ during the third round of Mnet’s ‘Road to Kingdom: ACE OF ACE’.

In the episode that aired yesterday (31st), YOUNITE—comprising members Eunho, Steve, Eunsang, Hyungseok, Uno, DEY, Kyungmun, and Sion—chose ‘Armageddon’ under the theme ‘NO LIMIT’. They aimed to depict the story of a new humanity surviving on a devastated Earth, capturing the audience’s attention.

A video released before the performance showed YOUNITE dedicating themselves to practice, determined to leave a strong impression after a somewhat disappointing result in the second round.

Notably, the scene where they practiced on a massive 3.5-meter set installed outdoors heightened viewers’ expectations.

In the main competition that followed, YOUNITE opened their performance with a VCR explaining the apocalypse concept, showcasing their determination to overcome the regrets from the first round of the third stage.

Following this, with a gesture from ace member Eunsang, astonishing effects like collapsing signboards and utility poles enhanced the narrative. YOUNITE portrayed themselves as the last hope of humanity after the apocalypse, restoring the fallen world’s order with their unique abilities.

YOUNITE skillfully arranged various sets, including collapsing buildings, bridges, control rooms, jungle gyms, and blind glass, to deliver a multifaceted performance.

Additionally, their powerful group choreography, combined with vocals and performances that highlighted each member’s individuality, created a flawless stage.

Although YOUNITE faced some disappointment by ranking fourth in the cumulative integrated ranking, they secured their spot in the finals by ranking first in both team and ace rankings during the third round’s second video evaluation panel vote.

Having solidified their unique style with unpredictable and diverse stages, anticipation builds around what concept YOUNITE will bring to the final stage to conclude their journey successfully.

Ryu Yeji, Ten Asia Reporter ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr