U-KISS
Anyone who knows me knew that this article was inevitable.
U-Kiss is a Korean idol group that was formed back in 2008 with six members. U-Kiss is also an acronym of one of more cringy K-Pop group acronym, standing for Ubiquitous Korean International/Idol Super Star. If you have eyes, you can look above and see that there are also six people in the picture. Those aren't the full original six.
If you have eyes, you can look above and see that there are also six people in the picture. Those aren't the full original six.
The first six members consisted of Alexander Lee Eusebio, Shin Soohyun, Kim Kibum, Eli Kim, Kevin Woo and Shin Dongho. And in 2009 the addition of Lee Kiseop made them a group of seven.
By 2009 they had 4 mini-albums released and were starting to generate a little bit of fame to their name, tough though when you debut around the same time as superstar group SHINee. And in the span of one year, they did 2 'reality' shows, "Vampire Kiss" and "Chef's Kiss", both centered around showing the group working and living with one another as well as some other shenanigans. And February of 2010 their first full-length album, Only You was released, an album which I'm not only proud to own, but also proud to say, it's just as cringy as any K-Pop fan might think.
Around 2011 the group made a big shift with Alexander and Kibum leaving to pursue education, or that's what the community was told. Other speculations were made, but that's a tale for another time. The line-up now consisted of Soohyun, now taking on the role of leader, Kiseop, Eli, Kevin, Dongho and the two newbies, AJ (Jaeseop) Kim and Yeo Hoonmin (Hoon). With this new line-up, they put out a mini-album called "Bran New Kiss", signifying they were fresh with new members and had something new for us in the next coming years - and now, that is not a typo, the album is literally called "Bran New Kiss".
In that same year, they put out their second full-length album, "Neverland" which most KissMe's would agree, is their best work and cannot be beat.
Moving into 2012 the group signed on with a record label in Japan, Avex Trax, where the group took off. They had more popularity in Japan than Korea and generally still do - they really have more popularity everywhere but Korea, it's a really sad thing honestly. And unlike many regular groups, U-Kiss started doing original songs, not Japanese versions of their Korean ones which I find sets them apart from the rest. Yes, they're my special snowflakes. Ha ha.
From 2012 on they did a number of tours in Japan, Korea, took part in Music Bank France and became the first K-Pop group to perform in South America. After that, they readied themselves for a US tour that was only 3 cities and one was disgustingly close to me but I couldn't go. Cry me an effing river. Please.
After this US tour, AJ studied and got accepted into Columbia University in New York where he studied psychology and decided to never come back. Literally.
2015 came and Dongho quit for health reasons, plus he got married and had a little baby. Dongho was soon replaced with Lee Junyoung (Jun). And Jun is out little baby pancake. So cute. So cute. He's 18/19. I'm his noona. Ayooo.
And here we are in 2016 - remember when I said AJ left and didn't come back, well that is true. His contract ended this year, and he decided to leave for good - I hope he's happy with whatever job he has next. Bless his little heart.
And now you know more about U-Kiss than you probably wanted to. You're welcome.
Trivia
> Eli Kim is the source of my current username, not because he's my bias, I just really like his name.
> Eli has also been married in 2014 and kept it a secret from his fans and bandmates until 2015 when he announced it via Instagram and was met by his fans feeling betrayed - which in my personal opinion is bullshit. If you're his fan and you care about him, you should be happy for him.
> Eli also has a baby boy. So cute.
> Soohyun once Engrished so hard he said, "Would you like a cock?" instead of "Would you like a coke?"
> Once in a Japanese game show, Kiseop was asked to name a fruit, and he said chicken wings.
> Kevin owns pink underwear
> Hoon reported that since he and Soohyun lived together, Soohyun would often steal his underwear and wear it.
> Kiseop can fit large coins up his nose.
> Eli has an impression of a pigeon that has cost him to lost all dignity and is now referred to as the group pigeon.
> Hoon jiggles when he talks.
> Kiseop sleep talks.
> Alexander knows like seven languages and is sassier than this entire website. He's also been in a movie which I have yet to see.
> Eli likes to walk around naked in the group dorms when they're in them.
> When group members are fighting, Soohyun makes them literally kiss and make up.
> Jun's debut song was "Quit Playing" and the music video was rated 19+, he was 17/18 at the time.
> Kiseop is the king of selcas/selfies
> Kiseop, Soohyun, Hoon and Kevin often take part in musicals.
> Kevin hosts After School Club.
> Eli hosts Simply KPop
> Eli has been in multiple dramas.
> Kiseop and Dongho both starred in an English teaching drama called "Real School."
> Kevin, Eli and Alexander hosted "Pops in Seoul."
> U-Kiss is a bunch of idiots.
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