SoohyunLeader
신수현- Name
- Shin Soo-hyun
- Born
- 11 March 1989
Released a solo digital single in May 2023 to open the 15th anniversary project.
Their story
How it started
U-KISS debuted under NH Media in August 2008, with "Not Young" on M Countdown and the EP New Generation. The name is short for Ubiquitous Korean International Idol Super Star. Eli is one of the original 2008 members still in the group. The group won the Asian Rookie Award at the Asia Song Festival in their debut year. From the start the line-up changed often, with new members joining as others left.
The breakthrough
The song that made them known was "Man Man Ha Ni", the lead of the EP ContiUKiss in November 2009. It went viral for its chorus and its dance, although it never won a music show. Kiseop joined the same year, and Hoon followed in 2011. "Neverland" reached No. 4 on Billboard's World Digital Song Sales chart in 2011. Their first music show win came much later, with "Playground" on The Show in 2015.
Their sound and style
Japan became a second home. U-KISS signed with Avex in 2011 and debuted there in December with "Tick Tack". In September 2012 they sold out the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo for about 10,000 fans. In Japan they released eight studio albums, and Action (2015) topped Oricon's daily album chart. In Korea their title tracks ran from "0330" and "Neverland" to "Stop Girl", written by Ryan Jeon, and "Stalker" in 2016. Members also wrote material, and Eli co-wrote the rap lyrics of "Playground".
Where they are now
In January 2022 Soohyun, Kiseop and Hoon signed with Tango Music and kept the group going. For the 15th anniversary in 2023, Alexander, AJ and Eli returned for the mini album PLAY LIST. The 2024 line-up of Soohyun, Alexander, Eli, Kiseop and Hoon released Let's Get Started in June 2024, with a reworked "Man Man Ha Ni". There has been no group release since then and no disbandment announcement. In November 2025 Hoon and Kiseop formed the unit UX1 with former member Kevin, with concerts in Japan.