DGNA (Korean: 대국남아; Japanese: 大国男児), also known as The BOSS, was a three-member boy group under XING Entertainment. Originally as five, they debuted on March 4, 2010 with the single album "Admiring Boy", under Open World Entertainment.
The group went on an indefinite hiatus since and officially disbanded in 2023 as the remaining members re-debuted in ASC2NT.
Their name The BOSS stands for "The Boys of Super Space".
History
2010: Debut with "Admiring Boy" & first comeback with Awake
On March 4, 2010, the group made their debut with their first single album "Admiring Boy", under Open World Entertainment.
On June 17, 2010, they released their first mini album Awake.
2011: Popsicle, Japanese debut with "Love Power", "Love" series & Korean comeback with "Lady"
On January 13, 2011, their first sub-unit Popsicle, consisting of Karam, Jay and Mika, made their debut with the self-titled single album "Popsicle".[1]
On April 13, 2011, they made their Japanese debut with the single album "Love Power". The single kickstarted their "Love" series, which was followed by the single albums "Love Bingo!" on June 15, 2011, "Love Parade" on September 21, 2011 and "Love Days" on December 7, 2011.
On October 26, 2011, they returned to promotions in Korea with the single album "Lady".
2012: Love Letters, "Jumping", cancelled album Shadow & "Honki Magic"
On January 18, 2012, the group released their first Japanese studio album Love Letters, which was the fifth and final part of their "Love" series. This was followed by the release of their fifth Japanese single album "Jumping" on March 28, 2012.
In April 2012, the group started teasing their first Korean studio album Shadow, set for release on the 17th of the same month.[2] However, just three days before the comeback, Open World Entertainment's CEO Jang Seok-woo got arrested for sexual harassment, assault, and rape of his singers and trainees. With this, the group had to issue an apology on their official Japanese website and the album was cancelled altogether.[3]
On August 1, 2012, they returned to the Japanese music scene with the single album "Honki Magic".
2013: "Valentine Fighter", On The Way, POOM Entertainment & Chapter II
On February 6, 2013, they released their seventh Japanese single album "Valentine Fighter". This was followed by their second Japanese studio album On The Way on March 13, 2013.
On September 11, 2013, it was reported that they had departed from Open World Entertainment and joined POOM Entertainment.[4] With this, they released their second Korean mini album Chapter II on November 28, 2013.
2014-2016: "Rilla Go!", "Who?", XING Entertainment, "Oh My Girl!"
On October 15, 2014, they released their third Korean single album "Rilla Go!".
On February 25, 2015. they group returned with their first digital single "Who?". Sometime after this, it was revealed that they had departed from POOM Entertainment and joined XING Entertainment.
On March 30, 2016, the group released "Oh My Girl!", which was their first Japanese single in three years.
2017-2018: Indefinite hiatus, Hyunmin and Mika's departure
In May 2017, during their live show in Osaka, Japan, the members announced that the group would be going on an indefinite hiatus as some of the members were enlisting in the military.[5] During this time, the members focused on individual activites. Hyunmin was the first member to enlist and left the group after his discharge from the military to become a painter.[6]
On December 3, 2018, Mika announced his departure from the group and the music industry.[7]
2023: Peak Time & disbandment
In 2023, Karam, Injun and Jay participated in the survival show Peak Time as Team 23:00. During their appearance on the show, Karam revealed that they disbanded as their contracts with the agency ended.[8]
On April 7, 2023, Peak Time's production team released an official statement announcing that Team 23:00 would be stepping down from the show, following alleged past photos of Karam hanging out with Japanese AV actresses surfaced online.[9]
On December 21, 2023, NEWWAYS COMPANY announced that Karam, Injun and Jay have signed an exclusive contract with the agency and would be re-debuting in their upcoming boy group in 2024, effectively disbanding DGNA.[10] The group was later revealed to be named ASC2NT.[11]
Aftermath
- Karam, Injun and Jay re-debuted as members of ASC2NT with their first single album "Expecting Tomorrow" on May 7, 2024.
- Hyunmin became active as a painter following his discharge from the military in 2019 and held several art exhibitions.[6]
- Mika announced his return to the music industry, under the stage name MikaL, on January 22, 2024.[12] He later made his solo debut with the Japanese digital single "Wake Up" on December 20, 2024.
Members
| Name | Position(s) | Year(s) active | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English | Korean | Japanese | ||
| Mika | 미카 | ミカ | Leader, Main Vocalist | 2010-2018 |
| Karam | 가람 | カラム | Lead Dancer, Sub-Vocalist | 2010-2023 |
| Hyunmin | 현민 | ヒョンミン | Lead Vocalist | 2010-2017 |
| Injun | 인준 | インジュン | Sub-Vocalist | 2010-2023 |
| Jay | 제이 | ジェイ | Main Rapper, Main Dancer, Maknae | 2010-2023 |
Sub-units
- Popsicle (2011-2017)
Discography
Korean
Studio albums
- Shadow (unreleased) (2012)
Mini albums
- Awake (2010)
- Chapter II (2013)
Single albums
- "Admiring Boy" (2010)
- "Lady" (2011)
- "Rilla Go!" (2014)
Digital singles
Participation releases
- Peak Time - 1 Round <Rival Match> Pt.1 ("Shine" as TEAM 23:00) (2023)
- Peak Time - 2 Round <Union Match> Pt.2 ("Behind You" as Vocal Team B)[Notes 1] (2023)
- Peak Time - 3 Round <Originals Match> ("Chamomile" as TEAM 23:00) (2023)
Japanese
Studio albums
- Love Letters (2012)
- On The Way (2013)
Single albums
- "Love Power" (2011)
- "Love Bingo!" (2011)
- "Love Parade" (2011)
- "Love Days" (2011)
- "Jumping" (2012)
- "Honki Magic" (2012)
- "Valentine Fighter" (2013)
- "Oh My Girl!" (2016)
Filmography
Reality shows
- Peak Time (JTBC, 2023) - contestant
Trivia
- All of the members are former members of XING.
- Mika and Hyunmin are former members of Singing In The Rain.
Gallery
- Main article: DGNA/Gallery
Notes
References
- ↑ Allkpop: The Boss to create a 3-member unit for promotions
- ↑ Soompi: The Boss Releases Second Teaser for "SHADOW" Featuring Karam
- ↑ Star News Korea: The Boss cancels their album release after arrest of president
- ↑ (KR) FN News: 대국남아, 조성모 소속사 품엔터테인먼트에 새둥지 ‘국내활동 임박’
- ↑ @daikoku_arar on Twitter (May 31, 2017)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 (KR) Top Star News: [톱스타 리턴즈] "후회되는게 있다면..." 아이돌 대국남아 현민 / " What I regret is..." idol DGNA's HyunMin
- ↑ @Mika90628 on Twitter (December 3, 2018) (deleted)
- ↑ Peak Time Episode 1
- ↑ Soompi: "Peak Time" Announces Team 23:00's Departure From The Show
- ↑ Soompi: DGNA’s Karam, Injun, And Jay To Redebut In New Group With Additional Members
- ↑ Soompi: New Boy Group ASC2NT With DGNA’s Karam, Injun, And Jay Releases Profile Photos Ahead Of Debut
- ↑ @MikaL_official on Twitter (January 22, 2024)
Official links
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