Sobangcha
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Entertainment |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Daesung Enterprise |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
Area served | South Korea |
| Products | Dance pop music |
Sobangcha () is a South Korean dance pop trio originally created by Daesung Enterprise. The group consists of Kim Tae-hyung, Jeong Won-gwan, and Lee Sang-won, with former member Go Dun-woo leaving in 1990. Recognized as one of the pioneering K-pop ensembles, Sobangcha played a significant role in shaping the genre's future performers.
Their career began in 1987 with the release of "Tell Her." Lee Sang-won participated briefly after recording the lead single for their sophomore album, On the Phone, before departing. The group dissolved in 1990 following a compilation album. In 1994, the original members reunited to launch G Cafe, but disbanded once more in 1996 after issuing their fifth studio record. Sobangcha reformed as a duo in 2005, and then Jeong Won-gwan returned in 2012 while Lee Sang-won chose not to rejoin.
Discography
- Fire Truck Vol. 1 (1987)
- Fire Truck Vol. 2 (1988)
- Fire Truck Vol. 3 (1989)
- KBS cartoon movie 'Wonder Kiddy in the Universe in 2020 (1989)
- Best (1989)
- Again (1995)
- Fire Truck Vol. 5 Sobangcha 96 Forever (1996)
- 05 Man's Life (2005)
Controversy
Sobangcha encountered accusations of imitating the Japanese boy band Shonentai. Their hit track from 1988, "On the Phone Call," bore strong resemblance to Shonentai's 1986 release "Diamond Eyes" in terms of musical arrangement, attire, and dance routines. This situation underscored early challenges faced by the Korean music scene regarding creativity and intellectual property rights. The group's fourth studio album was titled G Cafe (1995).