Basic Info
Formed in 1996 by S.M. Entertainment, H.O.T. (High-five of Teenager) is a five-member male group with members Hee Jun (Moon Hee Jun), Woohyuk (Jang Woo Jyuk), Tony (Tony An), Kangta (Ahn Chil Hyun) and Jaewon (Lee Jae Won). The group debuted in 1996 and released several albums and a movie while they worked together. The group disbanded in 2001.
As implied by their group name, H.O.T. was geared towards adolescents, and the group is seen as a successful ancestor to contemporary Kpop “boy bands” and idol groups. H.O.T’s mix of ballads, rap, and rock songs, combined with their dancing prowess, also underscored the importance of the group’s ability to make Korean popular music mainstream and more accessible to larger audiences.
Although the group has disbanded, all members are still involved in the Korean entertainment industry. Hee Jun remained with SM Entertainment for a brief time while attempting a rock music career, and in 2005 he left the company to work with another label. After leaving S.M. Entertainment, three other members (Woohyuk, Tony, and Jaewon) created another group called JTL, which met with some success before the members went on to other business and entertainment ventures. Kangta remains with S.M. Entertainment as a solo artist.