Posted by : Contributory Writer
Previously, in our K-Pop Idols That Are Back and Active After Their Enlistment article, we looked at what the members of 2AM, 2PM, BTOB, and Infinite were up to since their discharge and for our Part II, we are looking at some of the other biggest groups of the 2nd/3rd Gen that are back from their compulsory military service this year.
Remember BEAST of Mystery fame? They reinvented themselves with the new group Highlight and a whole new discography. Their last comeback was with the dark synthpop title track, ‘Loved’ before they started enlisting and all of the members went into hiatus at the same time which did sadden their fans but it also meant good news because everyone’s back in 2020!
Highlight’s leader, Doojoon was back in May followed by its main vocalist and main dancer, Yoseob and Gikwang. Dongwoon, the youngest enlisted last and hence was the last to come back on December 8th. So, does this mean we are going to get a comeback early next year? We hope so but until then, the members are all individually booked and busy.
Doojoon came back with his first solo album, ‘Daybreak’. A remarkable change from Highlight’s usual songs, Lonely Night is an R&B title track about heartbreak. Yoseob on the other hand recently dropped his OST, Love I Recognized At Once for the manga, ‘A Guide To Proper Dating’. While he is also starring in the musical, ‘The Days’, he’s also ready with his next solo album and we can’t wait for it to release soon.
Gikwang on the other hand decided to show off his visuals the moment he got discharged with the magazine, Singles. Along with the photoshoot, he was also interviewed where he promised an end-of-the-year Highlight concert!
2. SHINee: Onew, Key, Minho
SHINee’s back! After the longest dry spell that Shawol’s experienced with 3 out of 4 members enlisting, it is now over. Our happy pill, Onew came back in July and was the first to accompany Taemin on his solo schedules. Since then, he has had his vlog series on SHINee’s YouTube with him pretending to be a manager to the other members.
The second half of the year was a blessing with Key and Minho coming back within a month of each other. Minho was discharged earlier due to the current pandemic situation. But the best part is that he already got the part of a cop in the K-Drama, Lovestruck In The City!, It makes it his first drama appearance after his military service. Then we have Key, who has been very active on his social media, holding Instagram lives with his fans. BTOB’s Changsub who became a close friend after serving with him also made an appearance on Key’s V Live announcing his discharge which of course led to cute tidbits of their time in the army and a boon for the SHINee & BTOB fans. And Key’s also back as the charismatic host on Amazing Saturday alongside fellow SM idol, Taeyeon.
3. VIXX: Hakyeon aka N
VIXX has been practically inactive, now more than ever with Ken and former member Hongbin enlisting. But don’t worry, the first of the members are starting to get discharged, starting with our favorite leader, Hakyeon aka N. Fans were shocked with the news following his discharge that he’d be leaving Jellyfish, VIXX’s company. But worry not, like Ravi, Hakyeon also promises to still be a part of the group. Hopefully, we will see a sub-unit of sorts with him, Ravi, and their maknae, Hyuk.
So, what has Hakyeon been up to? He will continue to be an idol as he recently joined 51K. The company boasts artists like 2PM’s Taecyeon and actor So Ji-sub of Oh My Venus fame. He is also pretty active on his social media where he keeps posting hints of his upcoming work. For actual content, check out his YouTube channel Achahakyeon where he recently made art from all the stamps that came from his fan mail from “Starlights” . Isn’t that adorable?
4. CNBLUE : Yonghwa, Minhyuk, Jungshin
CNBLUE are officially done with their military service, thanks to the new safety regulations. Minhyuk and Jungshin were discharged in March before their official date and their leader, Yonghwa who had completed his service was there to welcome them during their comeback V Live. And because they reunited in the first half of the year, they were able to surprise their fans with a comeback! The band came back after 3 whole years with the title track – Then, Now, and Forever for their 8th mini album. The album, RE-CODE went on to top several itunes as well as Billboard charts, proving that the band’s still got it.
Other than their current reign on the music charts, the boys are also branching out. Jungshin is part of the main cast of the drama, Summer Guys along with Gugudan’s Mina. Meanwhile, Minhyuk’s webtoon adaptation with EXID’s Hani is called How To Be Thirty and is set to release next year, right when the male idol turns 30. Not to be outdone, Yonghwa too is in talks of a drama which has casted Jang Nara.
That’s all for now but December is already a pretty good month for all the idols coming back from Military. We have seen EXO’s Xiumin finally coming back along with several iconic 2nd gen groups like U-KISS and Teen Top. Watch out for this space to read more about them in detail in our our ‘K-Pop Idols That Are Back and Active After Their Enlistment’ series.
Tags: 2PM, ARMY, BEAST, BTOB, changsub, cnblue, Dongwoon, doojoon, EXID, gikwang, gugudan, hakyeon, Hani, HIGHLIGHT, Hyuk, jungshin, Key, kpop, Mina, Minho, Minhyuk, N, ohmyvenus, Onew, Ravi, SHINee, sojisub, Taecyeon, Taemin, VIXX, yonghwa, yoseob
Previously, we looked at some amazing yet underrated OSTs (Original Soundtracks from K-Dramas) sung by our favourite K-pop idols.
2 weeks ago
Fantasy, creativity, storyline name it all; DVWN’s “FREE FLIGHT” takes you through the journey from home to flight with the MV featuring actress Park Shin Hye.
2 weeks ago
Have you watched the dramas from our previous article ‘5 K-dramas to Watch for Beginners’?
2 weeks ago
Alternative hip hop band Epik High is one of the oldest bands in the Korean Industry as they have been together for almost two decades. Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, the members, formed the band in 2001 and are known worldwide for merging different kids of music. They even marked history by becoming the very first Korean act to perform at Coachella in 2016. In 2018, after six years the group left YG Labels and made a comeback under William Morris Endeavor in 2019 and now, they are back again!
On October last year, Epik High released a video message announcing their comeback and on January 12, Epik High finally announced all information regarding the artists that they are collaborating with and the songs that will be included in part 1 of their new double album, ‘Epik High is Here’. The album is set to release on January 18, 2021 and has an amazing collaborations.
Line up 1 – CL and Zico
Line up 2 – Heize, Nucksal, ChangMo, and Kim Sa Wol
Line up 3 – Gsoul, Woo, Miso, and B.I
Epik High has been active on Instagram and Twitter, updating the public about their new album and even revealed the names of all their 10 songs. After the long wait, all the artists to be featured has finally been announced. The first song that is more likely to have its MV teaser released soon is ‘ROSARIO’, a title track that features CL and Zico. A combination that has set the fans on high expectation. Fans are also really excited to see Zico on the list as he is currently performing his military duties and will be inactive until 2022.
Further, fans have also extended their warm greetings to former leader of YG boygroup, iKON, B.I, as he prepares to make a comeback in the entertainment industry after an 18-month hiatus. Winner of ‘Song Writer of the Year,’ Kim Han Bin (B.I.) in September 2020 was appointed as on of the executive directors of IOK Company. “I would be lying if I deny that he is currently preparing for his return. However, whether he is coming back as solo, group, or producer, and other particular details are still undecided” representative from IOK disclosed.
The song list evidently shows that this album is going to be a culmination of a variety of genres revolving around the ongoing pandemic. Tracks like ‘Social Distance 16’ and ‘End of the World’ clearly back this up. Covid-19 has affected people in different ways and each song title sounds like a story to tell. The song ‘Based on a True Story’ from its very name is expected that the artists would sing about a unique story or stories that probably they personally experienced or about someone else’s experience.
All in all, although no further details have been released, this album is definitely going to be something that people can relate with and an EPIC album for sure.
Before the album is released, a documentary named ‘Epik High is Here’ will be released on January 15, 2021. “Based on A True Story” ft. HEIZE and “ROSARIO” ft. CL and Zico will drop on the 18th of January 2021, Korean Standard Time. Which song are you most excited for? Tell us everything in the comment section and stay connected with us to know more.
2 weeks ago
We all know how much netizens love their OST’s (Original Soundtracks from KDramas) but sometimes, OST’s sung by our beloved K-Pop idols slip under the radar and hence, we are here to bring some of those beautiful OSTs to your attention.
2 weeks ago
January 12th, 2021
Alternative hip hop band Epik High is one of the oldest bands in the Korean Industry as they have been together for almost two decades. Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, the members, formed the band in 2001 and are known worldwide for merging different kids of music. They even marked history by becoming the very first Korean act to perform at Coachella in 2016. In 2018, after six years the group left YG Labels and made a comeback under William Morris Endeavor in 2019 and now, they are back again!
On October last year, Epik High released a video message announcing their comeback and on January 12, Epik High finally announced all information regarding the artists that they are collaborating with and the songs that will be included in part 1 of their new double album, ‘Epik High is Here’. The album is set to release on January 18, 2021 and has an amazing collaborations.
Line up 1 – CL and Zico
Line up 2 – Heize, Nucksal, ChangMo, and Kim Sa Wol
Line up 3 – Gsoul, Woo, Miso, and B.I
Epik High has been active on Instagram and Twitter, updating the public about their new album and even revealed the names of all their 10 songs. After the long wait, all the artists to be featured has finally been announced. The first song that is more likely to have its MV teaser released soon is ‘ROSARIO’, a title track that features CL and Zico. A combination that has set the fans on high expectation. Fans are also really excited to see Zico on the list as he is currently performing his military duties and will be inactive until 2022.
Further, fans have also extended their warm greetings to former leader of YG boygroup, iKON, B.I, as he prepares to make a comeback in the entertainment industry after an 18-month hiatus. Winner of ‘Song Writer of the Year,’ Kim Han Bin (B.I.) in September 2020 was appointed as on of the executive directors of IOK Company. “I would be lying if I deny that he is currently preparing for his return. However, whether he is coming back as solo, group, or producer, and other particular details are still undecided” representative from IOK disclosed.
The song list evidently shows that this album is going to be a culmination of a variety of genres revolving around the ongoing pandemic. Tracks like ‘Social Distance 16’ and ‘End of the World’ clearly back this up. Covid-19 has affected people in different ways and each song title sounds like a story to tell. The song ‘Based on a True Story’ from its very name is expected that the artists would sing about a unique story or stories that probably they personally experienced or about someone else’s experience.
All in all, although no further details have been released, this album is definitely going to be something that people can relate with and an EPIC album for sure.
Before the album is released, a documentary named ‘Epik High is Here’ will be released on January 15, 2021. “Based on A True Story” ft. HEIZE and “ROSARIO” ft. CL and Zico will drop on the 18th of January 2021, Korean Standard Time. Which song are you most excited for? Tell us everything in the comment section and stay connected with us to know more.
November 29th, 2020
Last updated on December 19th, 2020 at 04:11 pm
Look out K-Pop stans, because 2021 is going to be the comeback year for our favorite 2nd generation boy groups. Military service is a phase which all of us are well aware of and we are always dreading for it to arrive. However, at the end of the dark tunnel, the day finally arrives when we get to see our idols active again doing what they and we love. In 2020, several members from groups like Infinite, 2PM, SHINee and BTOB are being discharged from their military service and it has been truly a good year for us.
November 28th, 2020
Sometimes the OSTs add more beauty to K-Dramas that the combination adds so much gravity
1 month ago
Last updated on December 13th, 2020 at 12:41 pm
NamasteHallyu is back with another week of new music releases!
2 months ago
November 29th, 2020
2020 has been a year of staying home and for the K-Drama and K-Pop fans, it became a little easier to follow that as we got a lot of new and interesting Korean content from time to time to keep ourselves entertained without going out of our homes and we are loving it !
