Checkmate
📥 Save Card
Cornered at the edge, they turn fear into defiance and seize one final chance to overturn the game.
Album
Release Date
August 21, 2026
Genre
K-pop / Pop
Label
BELIFT LAB
Composers / Lyricists
WILJAM, David Wilson, ARMADILLO, Connie Talbot, 김수지 (라라라스튜디오), BELIFT LAB Inc., 범은현 (XYXX), jonjon (XYXX), 장형준 (XYXX), 김성경, BENLEY (UP), 전율이 (153/Joombas), 딥플로우, 박태원, 김채아 (153/Joombas), 4계절 (이앵두) (153/Joombas), 신사강 (XYXX)
Participating Members
Jungwon
Heeseung
Jay
Jake
Sunghoon
Sunoo
Ni-ki
Watch the Video
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
mic check, mic check
we will never die
jeol-byeok kkeut-e-seo chum-eul chu-neun gaek-gi
u-rin so blind
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate
jeol-byeok kkeut-e-seo chum-eul chu-neun gaek-gi
u-rin so blind
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate
We will never die
Dancing on the edge of a cliff, reckless
We’re so blind
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate
Dancing on the edge of a cliff, reckless
We’re so blind
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate
da-reun gil-eun eop-seo heuk-gwa baeg-ui board
mil-lyeo-o-neun tension yo-dong-chi-neun heart
u-rin deo-uk closer, deeper
we ‘bout to take control
mil-lyeo-o-neun tension yo-dong-chi-neun heart
u-rin deo-uk closer, deeper
we ‘bout to take control
No other path, black and white board
Rising tension, pounding heart
We’re getting closer, deeper
We ‘bout to take control
Rising tension, pounding heart
We’re getting closer, deeper
We ‘bout to take control
deung-eul ta-go beon-jyeo gam-mi-ro-un thrill
we don’t need no caution jeul-gyeo jul te-ni
u-rin i-mi on top, don’t stop
we ‘bout to blow it up
we don’t need no caution jeul-gyeo jul te-ni
u-rin i-mi on top, don’t stop
we ‘bout to blow it up
Sweet thrill spreads down my back
We don’t need no caution, we’ll enjoy it
We’re already on top, don’t stop
We ‘bout to blow it up
We don’t need no caution, we’ll enjoy it
We’re already on top, don’t stop
We ‘bout to blow it up
we will never die
jeol-byeok kkeut-e-seo chum-eul chu-neun gaek-gi
u-rin so blind
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate, checkmate
jeol-byeok kkeut-e-seo chum-eul chu-neun gaek-gi
u-rin so blind
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate, checkmate
We will never die
Dancing on the edge of a cliff, reckless
We’re so blind
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate, checkmate
Dancing on the edge of a cliff, reckless
We’re so blind
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate, checkmate
checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
u-ril gyeo-nun se-sang ap-e checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
u-ril gyeo-nun se-sang ap-e checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
In front of the world aiming at us, checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
In front of the world aiming at us, checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate
gap-seul chi-reun nightmare i-jen kkeut-nat-ji
mak-i o-reun last game mang-seo-rim eop-si
i-je-bu-teo our stage our stage
eop-seo u-rin mercy nah
mak-i o-reun last game mang-seo-rim eop-si
i-je-bu-teo our stage our stage
eop-seo u-rin mercy nah
Paid the price, nightmare is over now
Curtain rises, last game without hesitation
From now on, our stage, our stage
We have no mercy, nah
Curtain rises, last game without hesitation
From now on, our stage, our stage
We have no mercy, nah
da ja-bat-dan saeng-gak chak-gag-il-geol
ma-ji-mak han kan, dwi-jip-hi-neun pan
mo-du-ga bang-sim-han geu-ttel no-ryeo blow
ma-ji-mak han kan, dwi-jip-hi-neun pan
mo-du-ga bang-sim-han geu-ttel no-ryeo blow
Thinking you’ve got it all is a delusion
The last square, the board flips
Targeting the moment everyone’s off guard, blow
The last square, the board flips
Targeting the moment everyone’s off guard, blow
time to shut it down
ham-kke byeorang kkeut-e seon chae fight back
this is our night
time’s up! da bu-swo-beo-ril checkmate, checkmate
ham-kke byeorang kkeut-e seon chae fight back
this is our night
time’s up! da bu-swo-beo-ril checkmate, checkmate
Time to shut it down
Standing together at the edge, fight back
This is our night
Time’s up! Break it all, checkmate, checkmate
Standing together at the edge, fight back
This is our night
Time’s up! Break it all, checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
u-ril gyeo-nun se-sang ap-e checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
u-ril gyeo-nun se-sang ap-e checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
In front of the world aiming at us, checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
In front of the world aiming at us, checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate, checkmate
check, check, check, check
check, check, check, check
deo mi-chin cheok keu-ge oe-chyeo checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate, checkmate
Check, check, check, check
Check, check, check, check
Act crazier, shout louder, checkmate, checkmate
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
객기
(gaekgi)
reckless courage
💡 Note: Refers to boldness that borders on recklessness, capturing the willingness to dance at the edge of danger without fear.
요동치는
(yodongchineun)
surging
💡 Note: Describes something shaking or moving violently, used to convey a heart overwhelmed by rising tension and excitement.
망설임
(mangseorim)
hesitation
💡 Note: Refers to uncertainty before acting, which the speakers reject as they enter their decisive final confrontation.
뒤집히는
(dwijiphineun)
overturning
💡 Note: Describes something being completely reversed, symbolizing a sudden shift that transforms apparent defeat into victory.
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics frame survival as a final confrontation against a world that has pushed the speakers to the edge. Rather than retreating from danger, they embrace the tension, turning fear into exhilaration and treating every setback as preparation for one decisive reversal. Images of cliffs, chessboards, and a last game portray life as a high-stakes battle where hesitation can mean defeat. Their cry of checkmate becomes a declaration of fearless defiance and collective triumph, asserting that even when cornered, they can seize control and overturn the entire game.