4Minute, a veteran K-pop girl group of six years’ running, has officially returned from a year-long hiatus with the release of its sixth EP, “Crazy,” on Monday.

In an interview with a local media outlet on Saturday, the members said they were returning to their original identity of being “out there.” For the past few years, they have adopted a mainstream attitude in order to grow closer to the public, but the quintet now feels ready to develop a niche by unleashing their bolder side.

(Cube Entertainment)

Parris Goebel, a choreographer who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, designed the dance routine for 4Minute’s “Crazy.”

“To hear people call our dancing sexy is OK too, but I hope they would call it more energetic than anything,” said HyunA. “We wanted to go crazy with this. Rather than feeling sorry for ‘not looking pretty,’ I felt proud of having gained another style.”

Member Jiyoon mentioned how rookie girl groups are wearing school uniforms on stage these days, and how there is no use trying to compete in prettiness against these young girls. “We thought we had better differentiate ourselves.”

Member Gayoon has taken matters into her own hands with the group’s styling. The bucket hats, fishnet details and hairbands were her idea. “I hope the style doesn’t appear tacky over the years. That’s why we matched everything in black.”

4Minute debuted in 2009 with “HOT ISSUE,” which became a nationwide hit. Their latest hits “What’s Your Name?” and “Whatcha Doin’ Today” were released in April 2013 and March 2014

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)