STAYC, the reason why they unanimously decided to eliminate the leader
The story of how STAYC unanimously decided to eliminate the leader position and their team management methods during '2:LOVE' promotions were examined.
STAYC has personally shared the story behind their decision not to have an official leader within the team. In the K-pop industry, where roles assigned at debut are often maintained until the end, the explanation that the six members unanimously decided to abolish the leader system is not something to be taken lightly. This is especially true as they have just begun promotions for their new single '2:LOVE'. As a team becomes busier, the question of who will organize speech and share responsibilities becomes more important, but STAYC found their answer in not entrusting it to a single person.
A unanimous decision made in their 2nd to 3rd year since debut
On the YouTube channel 'Jo Hyun-ah's Ordinary Thursday Night' released on the 18th, STAYC revealed that they have no official leader. The members explained that about two to three years after their debut, they all shared the same intention to eliminate the leader position. In idol groups, a leader often handles external greetings, organizing interviews, and coordinating the atmosphere in the practice room. Therefore, saying there is no leader does not simply mean removing a title, but rather a choice regarding how to distribute the burden and the decision-making process within the team.
The early STAYC debuted in November 2020 with six members: Sumin, Sieun, Isa, Seeun, Yoon, and Jaei. After starting with 'SO BAD', they built a bright and solid image that aligns with their team name through hits like 'ASAP', 'Color', 'Teddy Bear', and 'Bubble'. Looking at this progression, the abolition of the leader seems less like a sudden event and more like a result of the members finding a way to move comfortably through their actual activities.
Team management methods more visible during '2:LOVE' promotions
The reason these remarks are noteworthy is that STAYC has just entered promotions for their sixth single, '2:LOVE'. The album was released on June 16 at 6 PM, and the title track is '2 L0VE'. The highlight medley released before the album contained parts of four songs, using videos filmed by the members themselves under the theme 'WHEN WE LOVE'. The fact that each member's perspective became the material for the videos in an album about love naturally aligns with the team's color of prioritizing the balance of the six members over a single leader.
Of course, the absence of a leader does not mean the same method works for all groups. In tight schedules such as comeback promotions, music shows, and fan events, a person to quickly organize things is needed, and it must be clear who will make the final decision when opinions differ. In STAYC's case, the key is not the 'absence of a leader' itself, but how much the six members move at the same pace in actual field situations. The mention of a unanimous decision on the broadcast carries weight in that the starting point was already an internal agreement within the team.
The next points to watch are the stage and fan concerts
Following the '2:LOVE' promotions, STAYC will hold their 2026 Fan Concert Tour 'STAY CLOSER', starting with Seoul performances on August 22 and 23. The schedule continues to Manila, Macau, Taipei, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, and more. The place where the leaderless team management will be most clearly revealed is ultimately through interviews outside the stage and their chemistry on it. This comeback and fan concert are expected to be the first scenes to confirm how the 'team that leads together' mentioned by STAYC actually manifests in their activities.
