Relive your youth! A roundup of nostalgic K-pop boy groups that were popular back in the day

The K-pop idols we passionately supported in our youth still sparkle brightly in our hearts, don’t they? Now a global phenomenon with worldwide popularity, K-pop has come a long way.

In this feature, we’ll introduce the male groups of the second generation—the ones who brought a fresh breeze to Japan’s music scene and captivated audiences with overwhelming performances—starting from the very first generation that began it all! Many of these groups are still going strong in the Reiwa era, and plenty of members are active as actors or even label CEOs.

So whether you listened to them in real time back then, or you’re a younger K-pop fan today, be sure to check them out.