WEi (Korean위아이; RRWi Ai; Japanese: ウィーアイ) is a South Korean boy band formed by Oui Entertainment. The group consists of six members: Daehyeon, Donghan, Yongha, Yohan, Seokhwa, and Junseo. The group made their debut on October 5, 2020, with their extended play Identity: First Sight.

WEi
WEi in March 2022
Top: L-R: Junseo, Donghan, Seokhwa,
Bottom: L-R: Yongha, Yohan, Daehyeon
Background information
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop
Years active2020–present
LabelsOui
Members

Name

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The group's name, WEi, combines the words "We" and "I", meaning that we are one and will make music as one.[1]

History

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Pre-debut

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Daehyeon and Donghan were contestants on the Mnet reality survival show Produce 101 Season 2. Donghan finished in 29th place, and Daehyeon in 83rd place. After the show, Donghan debuted in JBJ, while Daehyeon debuted in Rainz.[2][3] Both groups were active for a period of time and each eventually disbanded in 2018. Donghan and Daehyeon then made their solo debuts in June 2018 and July 2019 respectively.[4][5]

Seokhwa was a YG Entertainment trainee who participated in YG Treasure Box, but did not make it into the show's final debut lineup.[6]

Yongha and Junseo were contestants in Under Nineteen and both became members of the debut lineup, finishing in 6th and 9th place respectively. They debuted as members of 1the9 on April 13, 2019, and officially disbanded as a group on August 8, 2020.[7]

Yohan and Seokhwa were contestants in Produce X 101. Yohan represented Oui Entertainment, despite having only three months of training beforehand.[8] Seokhwa competed as an individual trainee and was eliminated after finishing in 35th place.[9] He signed with Oui Entertainment a month later, under Yohan's recommendation.[10] Yohan finished in 1st place, and debuted as a member and the center of X1 on August 27, 2019.[11] However, X1 disbanded on January 6, 2020, due to the Mnet vote manipulation investigation.[12]

2020–2021: Debut with Identity series

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The group was announced in May 2020 by Oui Entertainment, through individual profile videos, under the temporary name OUIBOYS.[13] The group's name was later announced to be WEi.[14] They debuted with their first EP Identity: First Sight on October 5, 2020, with the lead single "Twilight".[15]

On February 24, 2021, WEi returned with their second EP Identity: Challenge and its lead single "All Or Nothing".[16]

On June 9, WEi released their third EP Identity: Action and its lead single "Bye Bye Bye".[17]

On October 1, WEi released the promotional single "Starry Night (Prod. Dress)" through Universe Music for the mobile application, Universe.[18]

2022–2023: Love series, world tour, and Japanese debut

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On March 16, 2022, WEi released their fourth EP Love Pt. 1: First Love and its lead single "Too Bad".[19]

On July 18, WEi announced their first world tour WEi WORLD TOUR: FIRST LOVE in September.[20] The group visited 15 cities in 6 countries, including Thailand, Japan, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and Chile.[21]

On August 11, WEi made their Japanese debut with the mini album Youth and its lead single "Maldives".[22]

On September 14, it was confirmed that WEi will make an official comeback in October.[23] Their 5th mini album Love Pt. 2: Passion and its lead single "Spray" was released on October 19.[24]

On December 10, WEi held a two-day fan concert Merry RUi Day, along with releasing a special Christmas album Gift For You.[25]

On February 27, 2023, WEi announced their second world tour WEi 2ND WORLD TOUR: PASSION in April.[26] The group visited 10 cities in 5 countries, including Japan, England, Germany, the United States of America, and Mexico.[27]

On May 29, it was confirmed that WEi will make an official comeback in June.[28] The group released their sixth EP Love Pt. 3: Eternally on June 29, along with holding a concert Eternal Sunshine on the day prior.[29]

2024–present: Japanese comeback and digital single album

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On January 18, 2024, it was confirmed that WEi will release their second Japanese mini album WAVE on February 14 along with holding two concerts titled THE WAVE in Japan.[30] Yohan will not be participating in the album promotions due to schedule conflicts.

On July 28, 2024 it was announced that WEi will release a digital single "LOVE2YOU" on August 30.[31]

Members

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Discography

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Extended plays

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Title Details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[32]
JPN
[33]
JPN
Hot

[34]
Korean
Identity: First Sight 3 59
  • KOR: 67,501[35]
  • JPN: 1,525
Identity: Challenge
  • Released: February 24, 2021 (KOR)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao M
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
4 21
Identity: Action
  • Released: June 9, 2021 (KOR)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
3 20
Love Pt. 1: First Love
  • Released: March 16, 2022 (KOR)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
5 39
Love Pt. 2: Passion
  • Released: October 19, 2022 (KOR)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
3 36
Love Pt. 3: Eternally
  • Released: June 29, 2023 (KOR)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
9 33
Japanese
Youth
  • Released: August 11, 2022 (JPN)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Imx Inc
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
3 44
Wave
  • Released: February 14, 2024 (JPN)
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, KISS Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
20 13
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Single albums

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List of single albums, with selected details
Title Details
Gift for You
  • Released: December 12, 2022
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
LOVE2YOU
  • Released: August 30, 2024
  • Label: Oui Entertainment, Kakao Entertainment
  • Formats: digital download, streaming

Singles

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Title Year Peak position Album
KOR
Down.

[48]
Korean
"Twilight" 2020 18 Identity: First Sight
"All or Nothing" (모 아님 도) 2021 127 Identity: Challenge
"Bye Bye Bye" 27 Identity: Action
"Starry Night" (Prod. Dress) (반 고흐의 밤)[A] Non-album single
"Too Bad" 2022 76 Love Pt.1: First Love
"Spray" 147 Love Pt.2: Passion
"Gift for You" Gift for You
"Overdrive" (질주) 2023 42 Love Pt.3: Eternally
"Love2You" 2024 Non-album single
Japanese
"Maldives" 2022 Youth
"Fake Love" 2024 Wave
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Videography

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Music videos

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Title Year Director(s) Ref.
Korean
"Twilight" 2020 Hong Wonki, HYEYA (Zanybros) [49][50]
"All or Nothing" (모 아님 도)
(Prod. Jang Daehyeon)
2021 Hong Wonki (Zanybros) [51]
"Bye Bye Bye" Lee Gi-baek (Tiger Cave Studio) [52]
"Starry Night" (반 고흐의 밤)
(Prod. Dress)
kinotaku [53]
"Too Bad" 2022 Ha Junghoon (SUSHIVISUAL) [54]
"Spray" HEADHEAD [55]
"Overdrive" (질주) 2023 Kim Joo Sun (Apple-Juice) [56]
Japanese
"Maldives" 2022 Kim Joo Sun (Apple-Juice) [57]

Filmography

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Web show

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2020–present OUI GO UP WEi-based reality show, 3 seasons [58][59]

Concerts and tours

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Headlining tour

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  • WEi World Tour [FIRST LOVE] (2022)
  • WEi 2nd World Tour [PASSION] (2023)

Concert

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Title Date Venue Network
2022 WEi Concert [First Love] April 16, 2022 KBS Arena KAVECON
April 17, 2022
WEi Fan Concert [Merry RUi Day] December 10, 2022 YES24 LIVE HALL KAVECON
STAYG
December 11, 2022
WEi Showcase Concert [Eternal Sunshine] June 28, 2023 YES24 LIVE HALL KAVECON
STAYG
2024 WEi Japan Concert [THE WAVE] February 17, 2024 Matsushita IMP Hall
February 25, 2024 JAPAN PAVILION Hall A

Awards and nominations

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Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremony Year Category Nominee(s)/work(s) Result Ref.
APAN Music Awards 2020 APAN Choice New K-Pop Icon WEi Won [60]
Asia Artist Awards 2021 Male Idol Group Popularity Award Nominated [61]
U+ Idol Live Popularity Award Nominated [62]
Brand Customer Loyalty Awards 2021 Best Male Rookie Award Nominated [63]
Brand of the Year Awards Rookie Male Idol Award Nominated [64]
Gaon Chart Music Awards New Artist of the Year - Physical Identity : First Sight Nominated [65]
Global Environment International Conference Awards 2022 Top Class Representative Person Award WEi Won [66]
Golden Disc Awards 2021 Rookie Artist of the Year Nominated [67]
Hanteo Music Awards 2022 Emerging Artist Won [68]
Korea First Brand Awards 2021 New Male Artist Award Nominated [69]
2022 Male Idol Rising Star Award Nominated [70]
2023 Male Idol Rising Star Award Won [71]
Mnet Asian Music Awards 2020 Best New Male Artist Nominated [72]
Artist of the Year Nominated
Worldwide Icon of the Year Nominated
MTV Europe Music Awards 2021 Best Korean Act Nominated [73]
Seoul Music Awards 2021 Rookie of the Year Nominated [74]
K-wave Popularity Award Nominated
Popularity Award Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^ "Starry Night (Prod. Dress)" was released as a promotional single in collaboration with Universe.

References

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  37. ^ Cumulative physical sales for Identity: Challenge:
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  44. ^ Cumulative Sales of Love Pt. 3: Eternally:
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