UNVS (Korean유엔브이에스; Chinese: UNIVERSE 世界少年) is a boy band based in South Korea. Originally consisting of Sihoon, IL, Changgong, Yongyong, and Minho, the quintet debuted in Taiwan, where they released the digital singles "Uni-verse" and "Hacker" in 2016 and 2017, respectively. UNVS signed with Chitwn Music in its home country with founding members Changgyu (formerly Changgong) and YY (Yongyong), and new additions Jun H., Eunho, and Jen. They released their debut single album Debut Single: Timeless and its lead single "Timeless" domestically on February 23, 2020.

UNVS
UNVS at the MBC Dream Center, March 21 2020; from left: Jen, Changgyu, Eunho, Jun H., YY
Background information
Also known asUniverse 世界少年
OriginSeoul, South Korea
GenresK-pop
Years active2016 (2016)–present
LabelsChitwn Music
Members
  • Jun H.
  • YY
  • Eunho
  • Changgyu
  • Jen
Past members
  • IL
  • Minho
  • Sihoon
Websitechitwnmusic.com

History

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Universe (UNVS), which also serves as a portmanteau of "unique" and "verse", was formed in South Korea and managed by Media Asia Music.[1] They decided on the name in hopes of having "universal appeal" and becoming a "pop group beloved by the people". The initial lineup compromised South Korean leader and main vocalist Sihoon, vocalist Changgong, and dancer Minho, as well as Chinese rapper IL and vocalist Yongyong; the quintet trained together for one year. UNVS spent the first three months of their career in Taiwan to establish a following of Chinese speakers.[2] Their first single "Uni-verse" was written by lyricist Francis Lee and digitally released on December 21, 2016. UNVS became the first Korean idol group to make their debut in the country.[1] They released their second single "Hacker" on January 1, 2017.[3] UNVS departed from Taiwan two months later and were scheduled to debut in their home country and Japan later that year.[4]

Leader and rapper Jun H., main vocalist Eunho, and rapper Jen joined UNVS alongside YY (formerly Yongyong) and Changgyu (Changgong).[5] The new lineup trained together for two years.[6] They signed with Chitwn Music in South Korea and the company introduced the group by publishing a promotional poster on February 9, 2020.[7] SBS MTV rebooted its television series Rookie King after seven years and began airing episodes on February 20. It featured the quintet in midst of their domestic debut.[8] UNVS released their debut single album Debut Single: Timeless and its lead single "Timeless" on February 23, 2020.[9] In response to the decision of South Korea's government to upgrade the alert level to its highest amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the record label followed the recommendation to avoid gathering people and canceled UNVS's scheduled showcase for reporters the following day; the event was live streamed without an audience instead.[10][11] UNVS began performing "Timeless" on weekly music programs on February 25.[12] From April 8, they promoted the followup track "Solar Eclipse".[13] Rookie King aired episode 14 two days later, the final with the group in the series.[14] UNVS released their second single album Soundtracks for the Lost & Broken : Give You Up and the pop-EDM track "Give You Up" on May 15.[15]

Members

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List of members and roles.[5]

  • Jun H. (준현) – leader, rap
  • YY (와이와이) – vocals
  • Eunho (은호) – main vocals
  • Changgyu (창규) – vocals
  • Jen () – rap

Former members[2]

  • IL (아이엘) – rap
  • Minho (민호) – dance
  • Sihoon (시훈) – leader, main vocals

Discography

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Single albums

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Title Album details Peak
positions
Sales
KOR
[16]
Debut Single: Timeless 68
Soundtracks for the Lost & Broken : Give You Up
  • Released: May 15, 2020
  • Label: Chitwn, Genie
  • Formats: Digital download

Singles

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Title Year Album
Taiwan
"Uni-verse" (你的名字是我唯一的詩) 2016 I'll Be Here
"Hacker" 2017 Hacking the Universe
South Korea
"Timeless" 2020 Debut Single: Timeless
"Solar Eclipse" (절대 모를거야; Jeoldae Moreulgeoya)
(featuring room102)
"Give You Up" Soundtracks for the Lost & Broken : Give You Up

Filmography

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Television series
Title Network Year Role Notes Ref.
Rookie King UNVS SBS MTV 2020 Themselves 14 episodes [14]

References

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  1. ^ a b UNIVERSE世界少年 誓言以最誠懇態度來台. MyMusic (in Chinese). December 23, 2016. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Liu, Kuan-lin (January 18, 2017). "A brand-new Universe". The China Post (in Korean). The China Post Group. pp. 1–3. Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  3. ^ 韓團世界少年登《大熱門》超緊張 練到深夜不回家!. ETtoday (in Chinese). Eastern Broadcasting Company. December 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  4. ^ 韓團世界少年結束寶島Long Stay 粉絲喚再回來. China Times (in Chinese). China Times Group. March 13, 2017. Archived from the original on March 25, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  5. ^ a b [Full Ver.] Rookie King UNVS EP.1 (신인왕 UNVS 1회- 풀버전) (video). The K-pop. February 20, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  6. ^ Kim, Ye-seul (April 30, 2020). [임팩트 루키] Meet the UNVS. Media SR (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 5, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Kim, Pul-ip (February 10, 2020). UNVS(유엔브이에스), 23일 정식 데뷔…"영원히 존재할 것". TVreport (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  8. ^ Park, Seo-yeon (February 13, 2020). '신인왕 방탄소년단' 이을 '권장채널: 신인왕 UNVS' 20일 첫 방송. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  9. ^ Yu, Byeong-cheol (February 10, 2020). UNVS(유엔브이에스), 데뷔 싱글 'Timeless' 발매…감성 퍼포먼스돌' 도약 위한 첫걸음. Korea Economic Daily TV (in Korean). Korea Business News Company. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  10. ^ Ji, Min-kyeong (February 24, 2020). UNVS, 오늘(24일) 데뷔 쇼케이스 취소.."코로나19 확산 여파" (전문)[공식]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  11. ^ Hwang, Jee-young (February 24, 2020). UNVS, 코로나19 여파로 쇼케이스 취소…오후 7시 온라인 대체. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). JTBC Plus. Archived from the original on March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Kang, Mi-hwa (February 25, 2020). '신인왕' UNVS, 데뷔 쇼케이스 성료…오늘(25일) '더쇼'서 음방 첫 무대. Maeil Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  13. ^ Jeon, Hyo-jin (April 8, 2020). UNVS, 후속곡 'Solar Eclipse' MV 공개…뇌쇄적 카리스마. Sports Dong-a (in Korean). The Dong-a Ilbo Company. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Lee, Seung-hun (April 9, 2020). '신인왕' UNVS, "모든 스케줄 중 유일한 낙..일탈하는 느낌" 마지막 촬영 소감. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  15. ^ Sohn, Bong-seok (May 15, 2020). UNVS(유엔브이에스) 새 싱글 타이틀곡 'Give you up' 음원·뮤직비디오 공개. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Kyunghyang Company. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  16. ^ "Gaon Chart - Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  17. ^ 2020년 03월 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
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