Shinhwa

This article is about the South Korean boy band. For information about Korean myths, see Korean mythology.

Shinhwa
Shinhwa in 2018
Shinhwa in 2018
Background information
OriginSouth Korea
Genres
Years active
  • 1998–present
Labels
  • SM
  • Good
  • Shinhwa Company
SpinoffsShinhwa WDJ
Members
WebsiteShinhwa Company
Korean name
Hangul
신화
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSinhwa
McCune–ReischauerSinhwa

Shinhwa (Korean: 신화; Hanja: 神話) is a South Korean six-member boy band based in Seoul, composed of Eric Mun, Lee Min-woo, Kim Dong-wan, Shin Hye-sung, Jun Jin, and Andy Lee. Launched by SM Entertainment on March 24, 1998, the group signed with Good Entertainment in 2004 before creating their Shinhwa Company to manage their career as a band. The band struggled initially with their first album before finding commercial success with their sophomore album T.O.P. (April 1999). When their contract with SM Entertainment expired in July 2003, all six members signed with Good Entertainment and assumed creative control with the release of Brand New (August 2004). That same year, members began to pursue individual careers.

After a four-year hiatus due to majority of the members completing their mandatory military service, the sextet established the Shinhwa Company to facilitate their group career. The release of their tenth album The Return (2012) made them the first Korean boy band to continue performing after the members' mandatory military services. Shinhwa is also the first K-pop idol group to lead a successful career after leaving its original agency, despite being embroiled in legal battles with SM Entertainment over the name "Shinhwa" for several years. Over the course of their twenty-year career, Shinhwa have released thirteen Korean studio albums, one Japanese album, and various compilation albums.

The group is the longest-running boy band in the history of K-pop[1][2][3][4] and is often referred to as part of the "First Generation of K-pop", alongside H.O.T., S.E.S., g.o.d, Fin.K.L, among others.[5][6] Their work and longevity have served as influences to future generations of K-pop idol groups, leading many to describe the band itself as "legendary".[7][8]

  1. ^ He, Amy (July 23, 2013). "What the Backstreet Boys Could Learn From K-Pop". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  2. ^ Hong, Grace Danbi (July 26, 2013). "The Atlantic Tells Backstreet Boys to Learn from Shinhwa". enewsWorld. CJ E&M. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  3. ^ Lee, Sun-min (July 27, 2013). "Shinhwa keeps leading way". Joongang Daily. Archived from the original on December 17, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  4. ^ Huh, Yoon-jin (July 29, 2013). "Shinhwa's longevity introduced in US magazine". Korea Times. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
  5. ^ "Shinhwa to hold fan event in celebration of 20th anniv". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on August 25, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  6. ^ Han, Eun-Hwa; Park, Hyun-Taek (March 2, 2015). "Shinhwa at it again with 12th album". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).