K-pop’s so-called 2.5 generation boy bands are making a long-awaited comeback this summer after years of hiatus due to military service.

Typically referred to as gunbaekgi, the slang term is a portmanteau of the Korean words for military and hiatus. Gunbaekgi refers to the years of hiatus boy bands take so that all members can finish their mandatory military service and come back as a whole.

All Korean men are required to complete about a year and a half of military service between the ages of 18 and 28, and male idols, as they’re referred to in Korea, are no exception. Typically, if a group's members are serving, it goes into gunbaekgi and pauses activities.

There is no concrete distinction between the generations, but 2.5 generation boy bands are considered to have debuted in the late 2000s — after the early 2000s, first-generation K-pop bands such as TVXQ and Girls’ Generation and before the third-generation acts like BTS and Blackpink.

The best-known 2.5 generation boy bands include SHINee, Beast — now known as Highlight —, Infinite, Teen Top, Block B, B1A4 and girl groups such as 2NE1, T-ara, miss A, Girl’s Day, Sistar and Apink.

Their songs from the late 2000s and early 2010s were focused on catchy choruses and singalong lyrics, exciting large crowds beyond their fanbases. Many hits from back then are still popular, and even now, these groups stimulate memories and nostalgia of "the good old days" in many people’s hearts.

“Because these groups debuted when all their members were in their teenage years, it is about time for all members to be finished their military service,” said pop music critic Park Jun-woo.

The first in line is boy band Teen Top, which celebrates its 13th anniversary this year. With members Niel, Changjo, Ricky and Chunji, Teen Top is returning with a new album for the first time in three years since it released “To You 2020.”

It was announced that the upcoming album in July will include new songs, as well as remakes of old hits. Teen Top’s hit songs from the early 2010s include “No More Perfume on You” (2011), “Miss Right” (2013) and “Crazy” (2012), which were known for their distinctive and funny lyrics.

In March, the band appeared on the MBC variety show “Hangout with Yoo” (2019-) and performed a medley of its hit songs, thrilling old fans. Many commented that these songs from 2012 to 2013 brought back fond memories.

Though it was initially planned for all five members to return together, due to controversy related to ex-leader C.A.P., Teen Top has decided to comeback as a four-member group.

Infinite is another boy band that debuted around the same time as Teen Top. Famous for hits like “Be Mine” (2011) and “The Chaser” (2012), the band announced it would make its comeback through a YouTube live broadcast on the debut of its anniversary — June 9.

The six members — Sungkyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Sungyeol, L and Sungjong — have established their own entertainment agency, Infinite Company, with leader Sungkyu as the president. It was revealed that Lee Jung-yeop, CEO of Woollim Entertainment, their former agency, transferred all of Infinite’s trademark rights to the members free of charge, a move which attracted much attention.

“K-pop has a long history, but this is the first time since boy band Shinhwa where members created their own company and made a comeback together,” said critic Park.

Infinite has been silent since its third full-length album “Top Seed” released in 2018.

“Due to military service and individual activities, their hiatus was quite long, which makes their comeback even more exciting,” added Park.

An even older boy group, U-Kiss, is coming back as a complete group in June for its 15th debut anniversary. After debuting in 2008, U-Kiss put out many hits: “Bingeul Bingeul” (2010), “Shut Up!!” (2010) and "Am I That Easy?” (2009).

Along with the original members — Hoon, Kiseop, Soohyun — three new members are being added.

Hoon released a solo song on May 19 in the lead up to the comeback. Soohyun will drop a solo song at the end of May, ahead of the release of U-Kiss’ mini album in June and a concert in Osaka and Tokyo in July.

Since “Ready for U” in 2017, it is the first time U-Kiss has released a new song.

SHINee, who also had a long hiatus due to military service, is preparing for a group comeback within the second quarter of this year. Taemin, the youngest member, was the last to be discharged from the military last year, finally making SHINee a gunpildol group, meaning that all members have completed their military service.

“This is SHINee’s year,” member Taemin said in an interview last month, “We’re working hard on this album and preparing many special events, so please look forward to it.”

This eighth full-length album will be the first in two years since “Don’t Call Me” in 2021.

To celebrate the band’s 15th debut anniversary, SHINee is holding a fan meeting “Everyday is SHINee Day: Piece of SHINE” on May 27 and 28.



BY ISABELLA KIM, EO HWAN-HEE [kjdculture@joongang.co.kr]