Kiss (South Korean group)

Kiss
OriginSouth Korea
GenresPop
Years active2001–2002, 2016
LabelsJ-Entercom
MembersMini
Jini
Umji

Kiss (Korea International Super Star, stylized as KISS) was a South Korean female pop trio. Their debut single "Because I'm a Girl" (Korean: 여자 이니까; RR: Yeoja Inikka) was a 2001 hit.[1][2] The music video stars actress Goo Hye-Jin, and actor Shin Hyun-joon, which increased initial public interest in the song.[3] The song remained a karaoke staple in Korea for many years.[4]

This helped to launch the career of Kiss, with an album quickly following. However, the group quickly disbanded afterwards, due to internal conflict that could not be resolved.[5]

After the group's break-up, Umji became an actress[2] and married,[6] Jini returned to the States and continued her singing career.[7]

"Because I'm a Girl" has been covered by numerous artists, including South Korean female duo 2NB[1] and solo singer Ben.[8]

The group reunited to perform their main hit "Because I'm a Girl" on June 21, 2016 through variety show Two Yoo Project Sugar Man (Episode 36). It was revealed on the show the reason for the group's breakup was surfacing of news that one of the members was dating,[6][9] a matter that Korean label companies usually controls tightly on their talents.

  1. ^ a b (in Korean) 투앤비, 키스 ‘여자이니까’ 리메이크 (2NB Remakes Kiss' "Because I'm a Girl") Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine. Paran. May 30, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  2. ^ a b (in Korean) 우금지 "강지환은 `카페인` 같은 배우"(인터뷰) (Woo Geum-ji, "Kang Ji-hwan is a "Caffeine-Like" Actor" (Interview))[permanent dead link‍]. EDaily. October 27, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  3. ^ (in Korean) 키스, 신현준 덕에 '홍보는 절로' (Kiss Becomes Popular Due to Shin Hyun-jun). The Korea Times. November 23, 2001. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  4. ^ (in Korean) 리메이크, 불황 가요계 구원투수 될까? (Will Remakes Resuscitate Pop Music?). INews24. July 11, 2007. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  5. ^ "2001년 '여자이니까' 부른 '키스' 돌연해체...왜? (Kiss, Who Sang "Because I'm a Girl"...Why a Break-up?)" (in Korean). Seoul News Korea. 2009-11-10. Retrieved January 25, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "키스의 해체 이유 = 남자친구 '연애하면 해체된다!' 슈가맨 36회". Youtube. JTBC Entertainment. 21 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  7. ^ "Jini's Facebook page". Facebook. @OfficialJiNi. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
  8. ^ "벤, 오늘(4일) 리메이크 싱글 '여자이니까' 발매". Naver Entertain. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  9. ^ "KISS reunites on 'Sugar Man', sings "Because I'm A Girl", reveals reason they broke up". Asian Junkie. Retrieved July 4, 2016.