Connection (Onew EP)

In September 2024, Onew released Flow, his first project since departing SM Entertainment in early 2024.^[1] Following its release, he held a series of concerts in South Korea and Japan that October and November.^[2] News of a followup to Flow first came three months after its release, when a single, "Yay", was announced on December 9. The announcement stated that the song was to be a pre-release single for an upcoming EP to be released in January 2025, but no specific date or title were given.^[3] "Yay", along with its accompanying music video, were released on December 12.^[4]

On December 14, Onew held a fan meeting entitled O! New Day at KBS Arena, which was sold out.^[5] The next day, the EP's title, Connection, was officially announced, along with its release date, January 6, 2025.^[6]

Promotional material for the EP, including the lead single's music video, was filmed on-location in Prague, Czech Republic.^[7] Onew promoted Connection with his third concert tour, Onew the Live: Connection. The tour commenced in Yokohama, Japan, on February 15, 2025, and concluded in Los Angeles on May 9, 2025.^[8][9]