Fantasy Boys (Korean:판타지 보이즈;RR:Pantaji Boijeu; stylized in all caps) is a South Korean multinational boy band formed through MBC TV's reality competition series of the same name in 2023, and managed by PocketDol Studio and M25. The group consists of ten members: Kang Min-seo, Lee Han-bin, Hikari, Ling Qi, Hikaru, Kim Woo-seok, Hong Seong-min, Oh Hyeon-tae, Kim Gyu-rae, and Kaedan.[1] Originally 11 members, but K-Soul was announced he was leaving the group. They debuted on September 21, 2023, with the extended play (EP) New Tomorrow.
In 2016, Ling Qi was a member of the pre-debut Chinese boy group X-Time and in 2018 he participated in the survival competition show Idol Producer.[2] He was eliminated in episode 8 and finished 58th overall.[citation needed]
In 2022, Yu Jun-won was a contestant on Hybe Label Japan's survival show &Audition – The Howling, but was eliminated in the final episode and did not make it into the final lineup of the boy group, &Team.[3]
2023–present: Formation through Fantasy Boys, debut and K-Soul’s departure
Fantasy Boys was formed through MBC TV's reality competition show Fantasy Boys, which aired from March 30 to June 8, 2023.[4][5] The show brought 55 contestants from around the world, primarily in South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, and the United States, to compete and to debut in a multinational boy group.[6] Out of 55 contestants, only the top twelve would make the final lineup. All members were announced on the finale episode, which was broadcast live on June 8, 2023.[5] On August 14, 2023, it was announced that the group would be debuting in September.[7] On August 23, it was announced that Fantasy Boys will debut as an 11-member group without Yu Jun-won due to disagreement between his parents and the agency.[8] On September 16, Fantasy Boys performed "One Shot" from their debut EP on Show! Music Core.[9] Fantasy Boys released their debut EPNew Tomorrow on September 21, 2023.[10] They held a media showcase at Blue Square Mastercard in the same day.[11][12] On the next day, the group made their debut stage on the Music Bank.[13][14]
on November 16, the group promoted the song "Potential", which will be featured on their upcoming second EP of the same name on M Countdown.[15] The EP was released on November 23, along with the music videos for the lead track of the same name and "Get It On".[16][17]
Kang Min-seo and Lee Han-bin participated in JTBC's reality competition show Project 7.[18] Hong Sung-min, Hikari, and Ling Qi participated in IQIYI's reality competition show Starlight Boys.[19] On December 20, Kang Min-seo and Lee Han-bin were eliminated in the third elimination round in episode 11, finished in 22nd and 23rd place respectively.[20] On December 21, Hikari was eliminated in the second elimination round in episode 9 and ranked 19th in the show.[21] On December 28, Hong Sung-min and Ling Qi were eliminated in the final round in episode 10.[22]
On January 25, 2025, it was announced via fan café post that K-Soul will no longer be part of Fantasy Boys with his ongoing 15 month hiatus. K-Soul confirmed he found out by the post and left Pocketdol too. Thus making the group ten members going forward.[23]
Members
Hikari (ヒカリ; 히카리)
Kang Min-seo (강민서)
Lee Han-bin (이한빈)
Ling Qi (凌崎; 링치)
Hikaru (ヒカル; 히카루)
Kim Woo-seok (김우석)
Hong Sung-min (홍성민)
Oh Hyeon-tae (오현태)
Kim Gyu-rae (김규래)
Kaedan (케이단)
Former member:
K-Soul (苏尔; 소울)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions, and sales
↑ Jang Ae-ri (June 9, 2023). 소년판타지 최종 12인 확정→'판타지 보이즈'로 데뷔[Boys Fantasy final 12 confirmed → Debut as 'Fantasy Boys']. Viva100 (in Korean). Retrieved June 15, 2023.
↑ 偶像练习生凌崎成八组亲弟弟 60万网友为其加油[Idol trainee Ling Qi became eight groups of brothers, 600,000 netizens cheered for him]. music.china.com.cn (in Chinese). Retrieved June 10, 2023.
↑ Ahn Yun-ji (March 17, 2023). '소년판타지', 23일→30일로 첫 방송 날짜 연기 [공식]['Boys Fantasy', the first broadcast date postponed from the 23rd to the 30th [Official]]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved June 10, 2023.
1 2 3 Kwon Hye-mi (June 8, 2023). [TVis] '소년판타지' 강민서·김규래·문현빈, 탈락 위기? '10~12위'[[TVis] 'Boys Fantasy' Kang Min-seo·Kim Gyu-rae·Moon Hyun-bin, in danger of being eliminated? '10th to 12th place']. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved June 10, 2023.
↑ Park Seo-hyun (February 20, 2023). '소년판타지', 프로필 영상→사진 오늘(20일) 공개..한동철 PD 제작['Boys Fantasy', profile video → photo released today (20th)..Produced by Han Dong-chul PD]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved June 10, 2023– via Naver.
↑ Noh, Han-bin (August 14, 2023). "판타지 보이즈, 9월 정식 데뷔 확정..."기대해도 좋아" [공식]"[Fantasy Boys confirms official debut in September..."You can look forward to it" [Official]] (in Korean). My Daily. Retrieved September 29, 2023– via Naver.
↑ Jung, Ha-eun (October 18, 2024). "'프로젝트7', 참가자 100인 공개…김시훈-마징시앙-전민욱 등 익숙한 얼굴 대거 등장 [TOP이슈]"['Project 7', 100 participants revealed... Familiar faces such as Kim Si-hoon, Ma Jingxiang, and Jeon Min-wook appear [TOP Issue]] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Retrieved October 21, 2024– via Naver.
↑ Son, Jina. "베일 벗은 '스타라이트 보이즈', 양동화·뚜안 싱싱 등 한중일 연습생 총출동"['Starlight Boys' unveiled, Yang Dong-hwa, Duan Xingxing, and other Korean, Chinese, and Japanese trainees all gathered together]. MK Sports (in Korean). Retrieved November 18, 2024.
オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 2023年10月09日～2023年10月15日[Oricon Weekly Digital Album Ranking October 9, 2023 – October 15, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 18, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
↑ Peak chart positions on the Circle Download Chart:
"New Tomorrow". Circle Chart (in Korean). September 17–23, 2023. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
↑ Yoo Jung-min (June 16, 2023). "데뷔 1주일"...'소년판타지' 판타지 보이즈, 토크쇼 팬심 '정조준'["One week since debut"... 'Boys Fantasy' Fantasy Boys, talk show fan heart 'Jung Aim']. MBC News (in Korean). Retrieved July 26, 2023– via Naver.
↑ Kim, Jin-seok (July 24, 2023). "판타지 보이즈, 日 도쿄 팬 콘서트 25일 SBS M 방송"[Fantasy Boys, Japan Tokyo fan concert broadcast on SBS M on the 25th]. JTBC News (in Korean). Retrieved July 27, 2023– via Naver.
↑ Lee, Ha-na (April 10, 2024). "대상 주인은 스트레이 키즈, TXT 4관왕→트레저·더보이즈 3관왕(종합][ASEA 2024]"[Grand Prize winner is Stray Kids, TXT 4 wins → Treasure and The Boyz 3 wins (Overall)[ASEA 2024]]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
↑ Lee, Tae-soo (February 18, 2024). 한터뮤직어워즈 대상에 NCT 드림·세븐틴 등[Hanteo Music Awards Grand Prize Winners: NCT Dream, Seventeen, etc.] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024– via Naver.
↑ Jeong, Ha-eun (January 3, 2024). 역사상 첫 해외 개최, 대상은 엔시티 드림 “2년 연속 수상 영광…시즈니 덕분”[제33회 서울가요대상][Held overseas for the first time in history, the grand prize was awarded by NCT Dream "Honored to be awarded for the second year in a row...Thanks to Czennies" [The 33rd Seoul Music Awards]] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024– via Naver.
External links
Media related to Fantasy Boys at Wikimedia Commons
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