NRG (South Korean band)

NRG
NRG in 2017
Background information
Origin	South Korea
Genres	K-pop dance-pop
Years active	1997–2005 2017–2018
Labels	Music Factory
Past members	Lee Sung-jin Chun Myung-hoon Noh Yoo-min Moon Sung-hoon Kim Hwan-sung

NRG, acronym for New Radiancy Group (Hangul: 엔알지), was a South Korean pop music group. Originally a five-member boy band consisting of Chun Myung-hoon, Lee Sung-jin, Noh Yoo-min, Moon Sung-hoon, and Kim Hwan-sung, NRG debuted in 1997 and underwent sporadic periods of activity and hiatus between 2000 and 2008 before going on an extended hiatus. In 2017 they regrouped as a trio to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their debut and released an extended play.

Lee Sung-jin and Chun Myung-hoon originally debuted in 1996 as duet under the name HamoHamo and released one album with moderate success from the singles, "Papillion" and "Pangpang". Moon Sung-hoon and Noh Yoo-min originally backup dancers for HamoHamo. They were discovered by music producer Kim Tae-hyung (ko).^[1] Due to the success of the five-member idol group H.O.T, Kim Tae-hyung decided that they should become a four-member dance group. Kim Hwan-sung, who had previously been part of a quartet called Kkaebi Kkaebi and then a project group with Shoo of S.E.S. and Son Ho-young and Danny Ahn of g.o.d, was later added to the line-up.

NRG debuted on October 28, 1997, on the cable music program Music Tank (ko) with the single "I Can Do It" (할 수 있어). Two weeks after their debut, the group held an MC spot for ten weeks on the show. Their first album New Radiancy Group sold over 200,000 copies in South Korea. At the 1998 SBS Popular Song Awards, NRG won the New Face Award (Best Male New Artist). According to H.O.T members Moon Hee-joon and Tony An, they had initially considered NRG their professional rival rather than Sechs Kies as NRG introduced acrobatic stunts into their choreography, which was considered groundbreaking at that time.

NRG's second album Race was released that same year, and featured more high energy dance songs like "Messenger", selling over 300,000 copies in South Korea. With the second album, NRG was also able to find success outside of Korea, selling albums in both China and Japan.^[2] NRG became the first South Korean musical group to actively market themselves in China, where they have sold over 100,000 copies. Today, NRG is widely credited as one of the pioneers of the Korean Wave (Korean Hallyu) that first swept through Asia in the late 1990s.^[3]

At a press conference on August 26, 1999, Sungjin and Myunghoon announced that they would be leaving the group, with Sungjin stating that their departures had nothing to do with "discord within the group", but that it was a voluntary decision by both.^[4] Sungjin pursued a career in acting and hosting, while Myunghoon took a less visible role in the group by choreographing their dance routines and writing and composing rather than performing. They released their third album, NRG 003 as well as a Christmas album that year titled Kiss In Christmas.

Tragedy struck when Hwansung died suddenly of a virus infection on June 15, 2000. He had been admitted to the hospital on June 6 but his condition quickly deteriorated to the point where he was placed on life support.^[5] On July 6, 2000, it was announced that the group would be continuing their previously announced tour in China, with members Lee Sungjin and Chun Myunghoon set to return.^[6][7]

NRG's fourth album Sorrow (悲) was released in 2001 with the title track written for them by former H.O.T. member Kangta.^[8] In August 2001, NRG held their first concert in Korea, which also served as a tribute to Kim Hwan-sung.^[9]

1 year and six months after the release of Sorrow, NRG returned with their fifth album Hit Song in February 2003.^[10] The album accumulated over 300,000 pre-orders in China,^[11] and had sold 130,000 copies domestically by May.^[10] Its lead single, "Hit Song", earned the group their first ever #1 win on a music program—during the ceremony, the members dedicated their win to Kim Hwan-sung.^[12] The song "Forgiveness" also gained popularity, and the group promoted both it and "Hit Song" at once.^[11] They were also named in the Teen's Choice Top 10 Singers at the MBC Gayo Daejejeon (then the Top 10 Singer's Song Festival) music awards, where recordings of Kim accompanied their performance.^[13][14]

In 2004, NRG released their sixth album New Radiancy 6 Group. The title track placed 4th in the pop charts as the World Cup neared, and was fitting for the occasion.

On September 29, 2005, NRG held a press conference to announce that they would be holding a "farewell concert", for their fans on October 27 at Xenia Club in Chaoyang, Beijing to say goodbye to their fans before their upcoming enlistment, though the group had promised they would not disband.^[15]

On October 16, Music Factory announced that NRG would be releasing their seventh album as a trio, noting that the album contained several duet and solo tracks in order to allow the group and members to continue promoting during the upcoming military period.^[16] In response to fans questioning Sunghoon's exclusion from the album, Music Factory announced on October 26 that Sunghoon had withdrawn from the group to pursue "an internet related business".^[17] The album, One of Five, released on November 22, 2005, with the group brancing into more individual activities in 2006 as part of the album's concept.^[18][19]

In April of 2006, Myunghoon's TV appearances were suspended as a result of a legal battle with Music Factory regarding his contract, with Myunghoon settling and returning to the company on July 31.^[20] On July 20, it was belatedly reported that Sungjin had begun his mandatory military service as an industrial technician at a defense company the week prior.^[21] He would later withdraw from the group permanently as he was being investigated over a gambling scandal.^[22] Member Yoomin later stated in 2009 that he believed the group had "effectively disbanded" during their enlistment, and announced plans to "maintain the NRG brand" by reuniting with Myunghoon and returning to live broadcasts, though no group reunion would occur.^[23]

NRG's debut single "You Can Do It" was remade by the cast of Handsome Boys of the 20th Century and the new version charted on the Gaon Digital Chart.

On October 22, 2016, NRG held a fan meeting and announced that NRG would be getting back together with all the members except for Moon, although they stayed in contact with him throughout the years.^[1] On September 27, 2017, it was announced NRG would participate in the 2017 Dream Concert, marking their first performance since their disbandment 11 years ago.^[24] On October 19, the first teaser images were revealed. One week later, it was revealed the track and the new album, 20th Century (20세기), were released under Genie Music. 20th Century charted in the Gaon Album Chart, peaking at #39.^[25]

In March 2018, Moon joined the other NRG members on the talk show Video Star. It was the first time in thirteen years all four members were on television together and, for the first time in over fifteen years, publicly spoke about how Kim's death had affected them.^[26] Lee, Chun and Noh also appeared on the MBC documentary series Human Documentary: Good People (ko) and met up with Kim's parents.^[27]

On July 9, 2021, member Lee Sungjin stated that he did not believe NRG would reunite again, following his public confession regarding past "negative experiences" with the group members, as well as internal disputes over ownership of the copyright of the group's name.^[28]

NRG is considered to be the pioneers of dance pop in the K-pop industry and their repertoire has been described as "high energy dance music".^[29] Their songs notably sample elements of Eurobeat and electronic music. They are also the earliest known K-pop group to incorporate acrobatic stunts into their choreography.

• Lee Sung-jin (Hangul: 이성진) – leader, vocals (1997–1999; 2000–2006; 2017–2018)
• Chun Myung-hoon (Hangul: 천명훈) – vocals, rap (1997–1999; 2000–2006; 2017–2018)
• Noh Yoo-min (Hangul: 노유민) – vocals (1997–2006; 2017–2018)
• Moon Sung-hoon (Hangul: 문성훈) (1997–2005)
• Kim Hwan-sung (Hangul: 김환성) (1997–2000; died 2000)

• "I Can Do It" (할 수 있어) (New Radiancy Group)
• "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (티파니에서 아침을) (New Radiancy Group)^[38]
• "Making Love" (사랑만들기) (Race)
• "Messenger" (Race)
• "You! Me!" (NRG 003)
• "Face" (NRG 003)
• "Sorrow" (비) (Sorrow)^[39]
• "Hit Song" (Hit Song)
• "Friend" (친구) (Hit Song)
• "Hurray for a Virile Son of Korea" (대한건아 만세) (New Radiancy 6 Group)
• "A Bonus Book" (One of Five)
• "20th Century Night" (20th)
• "On the Phone: Clean Ver." (통화 중)
• "Line Is Busy"
• "Go to the Pyeongchang"

• List of South Korean idol groups (1990s)

• NRG profile on EPG (in Korean)
• NRG profile on empas people (in Korean)
• Music Factory Entertainment (in Korean)