Pioneering K-Pop Group H.O.T. Announces First Concert in 17 Years
Korean legends H.O.T. will return with their first show in 17 years this year. The iconic boy band hasn't performed together since breaking up back in 2001.
On Monday, South Korean concert promotion company PRM reportedly confirmed that H.O.T. will perform in October at Seoul's Jamsil Olympic Stadium. The concert follows the group’s first public reunion following their 2001 disbandment, when the five men appeared and performed on the popular Korean television show Infinite Challenge.
H.O.T. -- which stands for High Five of Teenagers -- is considered the first K-pop boy band. They were active from 1996-2001 under SM Entertainment. During their tenure together, they helped make Korean music popular throughout much of Asia, with hits like “Candy,” "We Are the Future,” “Full of Happiness,” "I Yah!" and "Warrior's Descendant." Since 2001, each of the members has remained active in the Korean entertainment industry, going on to pursue solo careers; the early '00s saw three members -- Jang Woo Hyuk, Tony An and Lee Jae Won -- form jtL.
Other old-school K-pop acts such as g.o.d, Sechs Kies, and S.E.S have also made returns in recent years, and fans have been anticipating H.O.T. to similarly making a comeback. It is unknown whether the quintet will release new music to go along with the concert.
Since the news came out, members of the group have shared the group's logo on Instagram with the hashtag #foreverhot.