Monsta X is on the move.

“We’re just staying for two days,” says group member Kihyun. “We have to leave tomorrow.”

Although the K-pop group’s latest visit to New York was brief, they made the most of each moment during a whirlwind two-day trip last week.

Filling those days: an early call time for a live performance of their newest single “Heal” on “Good Morning America,” a visit to their Monsta X pop-up store in SoHo, a walk along the Hudson River and grabbing a slice from Joe’s Pizza. And lots of press for “Unfold,” their third English-language album. 

Not even an early spring cold spell could keep their fanbase from coming out to welcome the group back to New York after their on-air performance, shortly after landing in town from L.A. “ That moment was so, so impressive,”  says Hyungwon, his hand held across over heart. 

“[American fans] have been waiting a long, long time, because we couldn’t come here because of military service,” says Kihyun, whose hair is currently colored a bright burgundy. “ So we are back again, and we’re so happy that we can bring our new English album and show our album to our fans.”

Earlier that morning, the group hosted a chat event with their fanbase, which is collectively known as Monbebe. The album was praised as a “masterpiece” by fans. “They really like our English album because of the differences between the Korean and English albums,” says Kihyun. 

The group describes the music on their latest album as rooted in explorations of “honesty, emotions, healing and love.” While the members are heavily involved with the writing and production of their Korean music, “Unfold” features creative input from various America-based collaborators that showcases a different side of the group. 

Namely, “more deeper emotion,” says group leader Shownu.

“When we made the Korean album, we really focused on our performance and the dances; our concept. But when we were making the English album, we really focused on our vocals and emotions,” says Kihyun. 

“There’s a lot of meanings in the word,” says rapper Joohoney of the significance of the album’s title “Unfold.” “ In Korea, we are always releasing our strong vibe. But on the English album, we always express our new thing, and new genre.”

One of those new genres is gospel, layered into the background vocals on the album’s opening track “Heal,” a ballad that narrates the process of recovering from emotional hardship. 

Monsta X made their comeback last fall with the release of their EP “The X,” shortly after five of the six members completed their mandatory military service in Korea. The album also marked a milestone for the group: 10 years since their debut in 2015, although their collective story began even earlier. The group reflects on their transformation in the years since on their second track, “Growing Pains,” which they released ahead of the album along with an intimate “self-cam” music video. 

“ We’re doing this together almost 15 years, from trainee when we were training,” says Kihyun. “We feel a lot of growing pains when we’re doing this from the beginning to now. So we think that song really fits.”

The group is in the middle of their “The X : Nexus” world tour, which kicked off in Seoul in January and has since taken them to Thailand, Malaysia and Taiwan, with upcoming stops in Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Chile. In tandem with the release of “Unfold,” they also announced a U.S. leg of the tour later this fall, with tickets on sale starting Tuesday.

Kihyun starts to tease what fans can expect from their live performances, before Joohoney quickly cuts him off. “It’s a secret,” he says. “ We’ve prepared a lot of secret things. If you want to know, just come.”

“ Check out at our concert,” adds Shownu.

While all six members worked on the album, only five will be onstage this year. I.M, the group’s youngest member and rapper, began his mandatory military enlistment in Korea earlier this year. Asked if they’d shared any collective advice with I.M before leaving, all of the members grow animated. 

“ Bro — just go with the flow. And then please stay healthy,” says Joohoney, addressing I.M from afar. “Don’t think too much.”

“Every member’s worried about I.M,” adds Shownu, the group’s leader, and then Kihyun offers a caveat: “Because he’s the youngest member.”

As the group gets ready to head out to their next press stop, Joohoney hangs back to offer a final bit of wisdom as they wrap up their brief time in New York.

“Every moment,” he says, “is a sacred moment.”