Up10Tion
Up10tion (Korean: 업텐션; pronounced eobtensyeon for up tension, acronym for Unbelievable Perfect 10 members Teenager Idol Open Now) is a South Korean boy band formed by TOP Media in 2015.
The group currently consists of seven members: Kuhn, Kogyeol, Bitto, Sunyoul, Gyujin, Hwanhee and Xiao. The group debuted with their first extended play Top Secret. In 2017, they made their Japanese debut with EP ID. Originally as ten, Jinhoo, Lee Jin-hyuk and Kim Woo-seok departed from the group on February 28, 2023.
Up10tion | |
|---|---|
 Up10tion at KBS Music Bank in 2019 L–R: Gyujin, Sunyoul, Hwanhee, Xiao, Jinhoo, Bitto, Kogyeol and Kuhn | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2015–2022 |
| Labels |
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| Members |
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| Past members | |
| Website | u10t up10tion |
History
Pre-debut
In July 2015, Up10tion introduced its members through a parody of MBC's King of Mask Singer.
2015–2016: Debut and early days
On September 9, Up10tion held a debut showcase at AX Concert Hall in Seoul which 500 fans attended. Up10tion released their debut EP Top Secret, which includes the debut single "So, Dangerous", was released on September 11, 2015. The album debut at number 9 and peaked at number 7 on Gaon Album Chart. They made their official music program debut on September 10 through Mnet's M Countdown, performing their debut single "So, Dangerous".[unreliable source] They also had their debut album showcase in Beijing, China on September 22. The "So, Dangerous" music video was ranked 9th place in Billboard's Most Viewed K-pop Videos in America for the month of September 2015.
On November 26, Up10tion released their second EP Bravo! with the lead single "Catch Me!", which was produced by Iggy and Yong Bae, who produced Ailee's "Heaven" and GFriend's "Me Gustas Tu". It also includes the track "Party2nite", which was written and composed by Teen Top's Changjo. The album peaked at number 5 on Gaon Album Chart.
Up10tion released their third EP Spotlight with the lead single "Attention" on April 18.
On August 5, Up10tion released their fourth EP Summer Go! with the lead single "Tonight".
Up10tion released their fifth EP Burst with the lead single "White Night" on November 21.
2017: Japanese debut and Star;dom
Up10tion released their Japanese debut single "ID" (アイディー) on February 27. They launched their first Japan tour titled "Zepp Tour 2017 ID" in May.
On June 6, TOP Media issued a statement regarding Wooseok's hiatus. It was stated that his psychological condition had worsened due to the mental stress that he had been receiving since the end of 2016, due to a controversy that alleged he had inappropriately touched his "The Show" co-host, Jeon So-mi, near her chest area during a video. There were official statements released by both parties' agencies that denied these claims, along with the production staff from "The Show".
With Wooseok on hiatus, Up10tion continued their activities as nine members. They released their sixth EP Star;dom on June 29. The EP contained six tracks, including lead single "Runner". On October 12, the group released 2017 Special Photo Edition, containing two tracks, including lead single "Going Crazy".
2018: Invitation, first world tour and Laberinto
On January 20, Up10tion released their second Japanese single album "Wild Love".
On March 15, Up10tion released their first studio album Invitation with title track "Candyland" which contain 10 other tracks. Wooseok returned to the group which ended his 8-month hiatus.
In May, Up10tion started their first tour Up10tion Japan Live Tour 2018. In June, the group started their second tour, "Up10tion 1st US Meet & Live Tour "Candyland" in 8 cities.[unreliable source]
On August 8, Up10tion released their third Japan single album "Chaser". On August 20, Up10tion released 2018 Special Photo Edition with the single "So Beautiful".
On September 19, Up10tion started their third tour, Up10tion Europe Tour.
On December 6, Up10tion released their seventh EP Laberinto, with the lead single "Blue Rose".
2019–2020: Produce X 101 and promotion as septet
On May 31, Up10tion started their 4th tour "Laberinto Tour in North America" without Wooseok and Jinhyuk.[unreliable source] Jinhyuk and Wooseok were contestants on Produce X 101, with Wooseok being a finalist and in August, became a member of the new boy group X1. The group subsequently disbanded due to the Mnet vote manipulation investigation.
On August 22, Up10tion released The Moment of Illusion with the lead single "Your Gravity", which was promoted without Wooseok and Jinhyuk. Jinhyuk meanwhile debuted as a soloist in November.
On April 7, TOP Media announced Jinhoo will go on a hiatus due to health concerns. They also announced the group will be having a summer album but it did not happen until the comeback was announced in late August.[unreliable source]
Up10tion's new EP, Light Up with the single "Light", was released on September 24. On November 23, it was announced that Jinhoo would begin his mandatory military service on the same day.
On November 27, Up10tion released "Destiny" which was part of their Light Up album.
On November 29, Bitto tested positive for COVID-19. On December 1, Kogyeol also tested positive for COVID-19. On December 15, Xiao tested positive for COVID-19.
As of December 30, all 3 members have recovered from COVID-19.
2021–2022: Connection, Novella and Code Name: Arrow
On June 14, 2021, Up10tion returned with their second studio album Connection with the accompanying lead single "Spin Off".
On January 3, 2022, Up10tion released their tenth EP Novella with "Crazy About You" serving their accompanying track.
On May 22, member Jinhoo was discharged from the military service.
On September 15, Up10tion announced would comeback on October 12, with their eleventh extended play Code Name: Arrow.
2023–present: Boys Planet, line-up changes and departure from TOP Media
On December 29, 2022, Hwanhee and Xiao became contestants on Boys Planet. On March 9, it was announced by TOP Media that Hwanhee would be leaving the show permanently due to his health issues.
On February 28, 2023, Lee Jin-hyuk would leaving TOP Media after deciding not to renew his contract which expires on March 11. It was also announced that Kuhn, Kogyeol, Bitto, Sunyoul and Gyujin would also be leaving the agency, but Up10tion would continue with its current seven-member lineup, confirming Jinhoo, Lee Jin-hyuk and Kim Woo-seok departure from the group as well.
In March 2023, TOP Media announced that members Kuhn and Kogyeol will be enlisting in the military on March 27 and April 10, respectively.
On March 20, 2023, Top Media announced that Hwanhee's contract has ended. Xiao subsequently left the agency on March 31, after wrapping up his participation in Boys Planet. He would be the last among the seven current members to depart from the agency.
Members
Adapted from their Naver profile
Current
- Bitto (비토) – rapper
- Sunyoul (선율) – vocalist
- Gyujin (규진) – vocalist
- Hwanhee (환희) – vocalist
- Xiao (샤오) – vocalist
Inactive
- Kuhn (쿤) – co-leader, rapper, vocalist (inactive due to military service)
- Kogyeol (고결) – vocalist (inactive due to military service)
Former
- Jinhoo (진후) – leader, vocalist
- Lee Jin-hyuk (formerly known as Wei) (이진혁) – rapper
- Kim Woo-seok (formerly known as Wooshin) (김우석) – vocalist
Timeline
- Yellow = Active
- Black = Inactive / Hiatus
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | JPN | |||
| Invitation |
| 2 | 14 |
|
| Connection |
| 3 | — |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | Sales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | JPN | |||
| Top Secret |
| 7 | — |
|
| Bravo! |
| 5 | — |
|
| Spotlight |
| 4 | 5 |
|
| Summer Go! |
| 1 | 8 |
|
| 3 | — | ||
| Burst |
| 1 | 25 |
|
| Star;dom |
| 1 | 18 |
|
| 2017 Special Photo Edition |
| 9 | 31 |
|
| 2018 Special Photo Edition |
| 3 | 29 |
|
| Laberinto |
| 4 | 17 |
|
| The Moment of Illusion |
| 5 | — |
|
| Light Up |
| 4 | — |
|
| Novella |
| 2 | 12 |
|
| Code Name: Arrow |
| 12 | — |
|
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | ||||
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Sales | Certifications | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | KOR Hot. | JPN | JPN Hot. | US World | |||||
| Korean | |||||||||
| "So, Dangerous" (위험해) | 2015 | — | — | — | — | 9 | Top Secret | ||
| "Catch Me!" (여기여기 붙어라) | 119 | — | — | 17 | Bravo! | ||||
| "Attention" (나한테만 집중해) | 2016 | — | — | — | 3 | Spotlight | |||
| "Tonight" (오늘이 딱이야 (夜半逃走)) | — | — | — | 1 | Summer Go! | ||||
| "White Night" (하얗게 불태웠어) | — | — | — | 5 | Burst | ||||
| "Runner" (시작해) | 2017 | 56 | — | — | 18 | Stardom | |||
| "Going Crazy" (미치게 해) | — | — | — | — | 22 | 2017 Special Photo Edition | |||
| "Candyland" | 2018 | — | — | — | — | 9 | Invitation | ||
| "So Beautiful" | — | — | — | — | 29 | 2018 Special Photo Edition | |||
| "Blue Rose" | — | 90 | — | — | 12 | Laberinto | |||
| "Your Gravity" | 2019 | — | — | — | — | 3 | The Moment of Illusion | ||
| "Light" | 2020 | — | — | — | — | 15 | Light Up | ||
| "Destiny" | — | — | — | — | 29 | ||||
| "Spin Off" | 2021 | — | — | — | — | 4 | Connection | ||
| "Crazy About You" (너에게 미쳤었다) | 2022 | — | — | — | — | 18 | Novella | ||
| "What If Love" | — | — | — | — | — | Code Name: Arrow | |||
| Japanese | |||||||||
| "ID" (アイディー) | 2017 | — | 4 | 3 | 3 |
|
| Non-album single | |
| "Wild Love" | 2018 | — | — | 3 | 3 | — |
| ||
| "Chaser" | — | — | 2 | 3 | — |
| |||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region. | |||||||||
Videography
Music videos
| Year | Music video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Korean | ||
| 2015 | "So, Dangerous" | Unknown |
| "Catch Me!" | ||
| 2016 | "Attention" | |
| "Tonight" | ||
| "White Night" | ||
| 2017 | "Runner" | |
| "Going Crazy" | ||
| 2018 | "Candyland" | |
| "Blue Rose" | ||
| 2019 | "Your Gravity" | |
| 2020 | "Light" | |
| "Destiny" | ||
| 2021 | "Spin Off" | |
| 2022 | "Crazy About You" | |
| "What If Love" | ||
| Chinese | ||
| 2015 | "So, Dangerous" | Unknown |
| Japanese | ||
| 2017 | "ID" | Unknown |
| 2018 | "Wild Love" | |
| "Chaser" | ||
Tours
- 2017: Up10tion "Zepp Tour 2017 ID"
- 2018: Up10tion JAPAN Live Tour 2018 CANDYLAND
- 2018: Up10tion 1st Us Meet & Live Tour "Candyland"
- 2018: Up10tion Europe Tour
- 2019: Laberinto Tour in North America
Awards and nominations
| Award ceremony | Year | Category | Nominee / Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melon Music Awards | 2015 | Best New Artist | Up10tion | Nominated | |
| Seoul Music Awards | 2017 | Bonsang Award | Spotlight | Nominated | |
| Hallyu Special Award | Up10tion | Nominated | |||
| Popularity Award | Nominated |
