Boys Republic (band)
| Company type | Boy band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | June 5, 2013 |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
| Products | Music |
| Owner | Universal Music, Happy Tribe Entertainment |
Boys Republic () is a South Korean boy band consisting of five members: Onejunn, Sunwoo, Sungjun, Minsu, and Suwoong. The group is managed by Universal Music alongside Happy Tribe Entertainment and holds the distinction of being Universal Music's inaugural K-pop idol ensemble. Their debut occurred on June 5, 2013, with the release of the single "Party Rock." On September 12, 2018, they declared an indefinite hiatus.
Pre-debut
Prior to their official debut in 2013, Boys Republic underwent a two-year training period under the guidance of Universal Music and Jung Hae IK from Happy Tribe Entertainment, a company recognized for cultivating first-generation idol groups such as g.o.d, H.O.T, and S.E.S. The members received comprehensive training in vocal performance, dance, acting, and foreign languages. Their principal music advisor, Keun Tae Park, collaborated with the Norwegian production team Dsign Music, known for their work with artists like TVXQ, Girls' Generation, and EXO.
Before joining Universal Music’s training program, several members had experience with other entertainment companies: Sunwoo (vocals), formerly known as Dabin, was part of the boy group Touch under YYJ Entertainment and trained with Cube Entertainment. On July 10, 2014, he officially changed his stage name from Choi Dabin to Choi Sun Woo. Sungjun (rap and dance) previously trained at JYP Entertainment, while Suwoong (vocals) was affiliated with Big Hit Entertainment during his trainee period.
In March 2013—three months ahead of their debut—Boys Republic became promotional ambassadors for Jeju Air, releasing their brand anthem "Orange Sky" as part of their initial endorsement activities.
2013: Debut single "Party Rock" and mini-album Identify
Boys Republic launched their career with the single "Party Rock," which achieved the No. 1 spot on iTunes charts across Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. On June 2, they made their live stage debut before an audience of nearly 20,000 K-POP enthusiasts at the K-POP Festival 2013 Live in Kumamoto, Japan. SBS MTV broadcasted an eight-episode reality series titled "Rookie King: Boys Republic" throughout June and July. The group also secured a second endorsement deal as representatives for Michiko London Koshino in 2013.
Building on their initial success, Boys Republic released their debut EP IDENTITY on October 8, featuring lyrics penned by leader Onejunn. They showcased the album domestically at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul. The title track "You Are Special" reached the top position on Malaysia’s KKBOX Chart in 2013. Fans selected them to close the U.O.X. 2013 event organized by Celcom in Malaysia, where they officially debuted with an "I'm Ready" Showcase held in Kuala Lumpur.
In November, Boys Republic teamed up with fellow South Korean boy band VIXX as ambassadors for the "Eye Camp Expedition," a charitable project supporting visually impaired individuals in Vietnam. This campaign was documented in a four-episode SBS MTV reality program. Furthermore, Boys Republic were appointed as 2014 ambassadors by the Korean Federation of Youth to advocate for youth development through educational institutions and training programs.
2014: Fantasy trilogy and MTV World Stage in Malaysia
On February 5, 2014, Boys Republic announced their return with the "Fantasy Trilogy," aiming to reveal a complete transformation of their image. Each member adopted a superhero persona for teaser promotions: Onejunn portrayed Spiderman; Sunwoo took on Wolverine; Sungjun appeared as Ironman; Minsu represented Batman; and Suwoong embodied Super Mario. The first single from this trilogy, "Video Game," released on February 20, showcased Hybrid-Electronic Trap elements characterized by powerful electronic basslines and gaming sound effects. The choreography-focused dance version of the music video was choreographed by Nana School. To commemorate their 300th day since debut, they unveiled a story version depicting challenges akin to game levels centered around winning love.
Five months later, on July 14, Boys Republic revealed plans for their second comeback in 2014 with the next installment of the "Fantasy Trilogy," collaborating with production duo Duble Sidekick. On July 25, they released "Dress Up," an electronic pop track emphasizing themes of romantic dedication, accompanied by a music video featuring comedian Lee Suji.
On August 16, Boys Republic represented South Korea at the 6th MTV World Stage Live held in Malaysia before an audience of approximately 15,000 people. Their setlist included popular songs such as "I'm Ready," "You Are Special," a remix of "Video Game," their debut track "Party Rock," and Onejunn's composition "몽유" (Somnambulance). They also performed "Dress Up," inviting the winner of their Girlfriend contest onto the stage. During their visit to Malaysia, they engaged with media outlets from across Southeast Asia and organized fan events including autograph sessions and laser tag activities.
Throughout September and October, Boys Republic participated in over twelve live performances and guest appearances at concerts like South Korea's Hallyu Dream Concert and K Festival in Incheon. The final chapter of the "Fantasy Trilogy" was marked by the release of their mini-album Real Talk on November 12. The lead single "The Real One," produced by Duble Sidekick with rap verses written by Minsu, presented a concept blending Victorian elegance with contemporary style under the theme "Modern vs. Classic." The album featured previous singles "Video Game" and "Dress Up," alongside ballad "Like a Doll" and Onejunn's self-composed track "Somnambulance." Industry figures such as Ghana-born broadcaster Sam and boy group VIXX expressed support for this release.
On November 27, Boys Republic held their inaugural Japanese showcase at Tower Records Shibuya before an audience of around 1,000 fans where they performed selections from Real Talk as well as earlier hits. Returning to South Korea afterward, they received the Teen Artist Award at the 22nd Korean Cultural Entertainment Awards.
Towards the end of 2014 and amid ongoing promotional activities, Boys Republic engaged in philanthropic efforts. Vocalist Sunwoo contributed to the "Save the Children" campaign by knitting hats intended for newborns in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Pakistan. On December 20, the group volunteered alongside Seoul’s Salvation Army by offering free hugs and raising funds aimed at supporting underprivileged communities.
2015: Return with "Hello" and European Royal Tour
Boys Republic began 2015 by performing at Megaworld Lifestyle Malls in the Philippines, following a press conference held at Marco Polo Ortigas on January 9. They connected with fans through meet-and-greet sessions in Manila and made an appearance on ABS-CBN's ASAP program before wrapping up their local engagements in Quezon City. During their introductions, they notably covered Vice Ganda's "Boom Panes." On Valentine's Day, the group took part in Japan's "Sweet Valentine's Live," and returned in March to participate in the Pops in Seoul concert, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations alongside U-Kiss and HOTSHOT.
As an April Fool's prank, Boys Republic temporarily transformed into Girls Republic across their official social media channels, adopting female alter egos as a promotional tactic.
In May, they announced the "European Royal Tour 2015," covering eight cities across seven different countries. Beginning on May 27, teaser materials for their June comeback were unveiled, including the cover art and tracklist for their fourth single album titled "Hello." At the Dream Concert held in Seoul on May 23, they offered a preview of the new song. The music video for "Hello" premiered on June 3, followed by the official release of the single and album on June 5, coinciding with their second anniversary. The album includes acoustic and instrumental versions of "Hello," a track expressing subdued feelings of yearning for a former lover.
2016: Third Mini-Album BR: Evolution, Japan Tour, and Debut Japanese Single Only Girl
On March 29, Boys Republic unveiled the music video for "Get Down," the lead track from their third mini-album BR: Evolution. This song features intense bass drum rhythms and electronic elements driven by the 808 synthesizer. Besides "Get Down," the album contains three additional new songs: "Eyes on Me," "V.I.P," and Onejunn’s inaugural solo piece "A Song for You," along with an instrumental version of the title track. The album was characterized as a "complete metamorphosis," highlighting the group's determination and defiance to overcome challenges.
The "Get Down" video received a 19+ rating due to suggestive imagery and graphic battle scenes involving blood splatter, drawing inspiration from the film Mad Max. A censored version excluding these sequences was released on April 5. Boys Republic promoted "Get Down" extensively over two months on various South Korean music programs.
Starting May 14, Boys Republic embarked on their Japan promotional activities with a solo event titled Royal Memorial Ceremony Vol. 0 at Yamano Hall in Tokyo. Due to overwhelming interest, this event was divided into two sessions. Their 2015 single "Hello" was re-recorded in Japanese and released on May 13 through iTunes Japan and other digital platforms. On June 8, they issued BR: Evolution (Japan edition) alongside a compilation album titled Shōnen Kyōwakoku 2013-2015 Best, which compiled fan favorites from 2013 to 2015 including both versions of "Hello." The group launched their Boys Republic Japan Tour 2016 in July to further promote their work.
On September 28, they released their Japanese single album Only Girl. To celebrate their debut in Japan, a special film named Only Girl, featuring all members, was screened for one day exclusively in Japan.
2017–2018: Japanese singles, participation in The Unit, and hiatus announcement
On January 5, 2017, Boys Republic expanded their activities in the Japanese market by releasing the single Closer. Later that year, in August, every member took part in KBS's idol reboot program The Unit. On September 12, 2018, both the group and their management declared an indefinite hiatus, which took effect after their concluding live show on September 30.
Members
- Onejunn ()
- Sunwoo ()
- Sungjun ()
- Minsu ()
- Suwoong ()
Studio albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart ranking |
Sales figures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||||
| Japanese releases | ||||
| Beginning |
|
65 |
| |
Extended plays
| Title | Album information | Peak chart position |
Sales figures |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| Identity |
|
9 |
|
| Real Talk |
|
10 |
|
| BR: Evolution |
|
14 |
|
Single albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart positions |
Sales figures | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | JPN | ||||
| Korean releases | |||||
| Dress Up |
|
11 | rowspan="2" Template:N/A |
| |
| Hello |
|
10 |
| ||
| Japanese releases | |||||
| Only Girl |
|
rowspan="5" Template:N/A | 32 |
| |
| Hello Sunshine |
|
55 | |||
| Daisuki Da Yo |
|
58 | |||
| Closer - Kiss Made Dorekurai? |
|
35 |
| ||
| Nagareru Hoshi Ni Hanataba Wo |
|
30 |
| ||
Compilation albums
| Title | Album information | Highest chart ranking |
|---|---|---|
| JPN | ||
| Shōnen Kyōwakoku 2013-2015 Best |
|
221 |
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart rankings |
Sales figures | Album association | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | JPN | ||||
| Korean releases | |||||
| "Party Rock" (전화해 집에) | 2013 | 120 | rowspan="7" Template:N/A |
|
Identity |
| "You Are Special" (넌 내게 특별해) | 167 | rowspan="6" Template:N/A | |||
| "Video Game" | 2014 | 246 | Real Talk | ||
| "Dress Up" (예쁘게 입고 나와) | 164 | ||||
| "The Real One" (진짜가 나타났다) | 282 | ||||
| "Hello" | 2015 | 213 | Hello | ||
| "Get Down" | 2016 | — | BR: Evolution | ||
| "Ending Credit" | 2018 | — | — | — | Template:N/A |
| Japanese releases | |||||
| "Only Girl" | 2016 | rowspan="5" Template:N/A | 32 | rowspan="5" Template:N/A | Only Girl |
| "Hello Sunshine" | 2017 | 55 | Hello Sunshine | ||
| "Daisuki Da Yo" (Template:Nihongo2) | 58 | Daisuki Da Yo | |||
| "Closer" (Template:Nihongo2) | 35 | Closer - Kiss Made Dorekurai? | |||
| "Nagareru Hoshi Ni Hanataba Wo" (Template:Nihongo2) | 30 | Nagareru Hoshi Ni Hanataba Wo | |||
| The symbol "—" indicates titles that did not chart or were unavailable in that territory. | |||||
Soundtrack appearances
| Year | Song title | Associated drama |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Candle Love (촛불) | A Daughter Just Like You |
Reality Shows
| Year | Network | Program | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | SBS MTV | Rookie King: Boys Republic | Featured in 8 episodes |
| Eye Camp Expedition | Appeared in 4 episodes | ||
| 2017 | KBS | The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project | Confirmed participation |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Asian Model Festival Award | New Star Award |
| Annual Korean Entertainment Arts Award | Newcomer Award | |
| Korean Cultural Entertainment Award | Teen Artist Award |
External links
- K-pop music groups
- South Korean boy bands
- South Korean dance music groups
- Musical groups established in 2013
- Universal Music Group artists
- South Korean musical quintets
- 2013 establishments in South Korea
- Musical groups disbanded in 2018
- 2018 disestablishments in South Korea
- Musical groups disestablished in 2018