H1-Key (/haɪ-kiː/; Korean: 하이키; RR: Haiki; read as High-key; stylized as H1-KEY) is a South Korean girl group formed and managed by Grandline Group (GLG) and Sony Music Korea. The group is composed of four members: Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo and Yel. Sitala left the group on May 25, 2022, and Hwiseo was introduced as a new member, replacing Sitala on June 14, 2022. They made their debut with the release of their first single album, Athletic Girl, on January 5, 2022.
On November 18, 2021, Naver News revealed that Grandline Group (GLG), the newly-established sub-label of the now defunct hip-hop based label Grandline Entertainment (GRDL), were planning to debut a new girl group on January 5, 2022. On November 20, 2021, the group opened their official social media accounts.[6]
On November 23, 2021, Yel was announced as the group's first member through a self-choreographed cover video of "Bad Habits" by Ed Sheeran.[7] On November 26, 2021, Seoi was introduced as the group's second member. On November 29, Riina, a former Produce 48 contestant and WM Ggumnamu member,[citation needed] was revealed as the third member. On November 30, Sitala was introduced as the group's fourth member. Later the members made their first full group appearance in a dance cover video for the song "Me So Bad".[8]
When GLG unveiled the group's Thai member Sitala in November 2021, various K-pop fans in Thailand called for her removal, as her late father was a known supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy, a military tyranny that ousted two democratic-elected civilian governments in the 2006 and 2014 military coup d'états. In response to the backlash, GLG issued a statement on December 8 saying that Sitala cannot be held responsible for her father's actions, which do not reflect her individual merits or political views.[9]
2021–2022: Debut with Athletic Girl, Sitala's departure and Run[edit]
On December 21, 2021, it was announced via social media that the group make their debut with their first single album, Athletic Girl, with the title track of the same name. Prior to the release, it was announced that the group would be partnering with Sony Music for international promotions.[10][11]
The album was released on January 5, 2022. They held a press showcase for the album on the same day.[12] H1-Key made their broadcast debut on January 7, at KBS2's Music Bank.[13][14]
On May 25, GLG announced that Sitala had left the group due to personal circumstances.[15][16]
On June 7, it was announced that the quartet would be releasing their first maxi single album titled Run on July 6, with the addition of a new member, Hwiseo.[17][18] On December 6, H1-Key confirmed their comeback on January 5, 2023, the anniversary of their debut.[19]
2023–present: Rose Blossom, Seoul Dreaming, H1-Keynote Project and Love or Hate[edit]
On January 5, the quartet released their first extended play titled Rose Blossom, with the title track of the same name.[19]
In June 2023, members Riina and Hwiseo were participants in the Mnet girl group survival show Queendom Puzzle.[20] Riina was eliminated in the second elimination round in episode 9,[21] while Hwiseo finished in first place, debuting in the female supergroup El7z Up.[22]
The group released their second extended play Seoul Dreaming on August 30, led by the title track "Seoul (Such a Beautiful City)".[23] The single "Time to Shine", a pre-release of the EP, was released on August 23.[24] The group subsequently took their first music show win on The Show on September 5.[25]
The group would launch a music project titled H1-Keynote, beginning with the release of the digital single "Thinkin' About You" on January 19, 2024,[26] followed by the second digital single of the project "Deeper" on February 27.[27]
The group released their third extended play Love or Hate on June 19, 2024.[28]
^Ji-eun, Jang (2021-11-25). "[인터뷰] 하이키 옐 "롤모델은 이효리 선배님, 무대를 장악하는 모습이 멋있다"" [[Interview] High-key Yel "Your role model is Lee Hyori-sunbaenim, it's cool to see you dominate the stage"]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-27 – via Naver.
^Ji-min, Kyung (2021-11-30). "하이키, 마지막 멤버는 시탈라.."'태국의 별'로 불리고파" [일문일답]" [H1-KEY, the last member is Sitala.."I want to be called the 'Star of Thailand'" [Q&A]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-27 – via Naver.
^지, 민경 (2021-11-26). "하이키 서이『롤모델은 현아, 무대 장악력과 끼 닮고파』[일문일답]" [H1-KEY Seoi "My role model is Hyuna, I want to resemble her stage control and talent" [Q&A]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-27 – via Naver.
^Byung-gil, Ahn (2021-11-18). "GLG 첫 걸그룹 하이키, 내년1월5일 뜬다 [공식]" [GLG's first girl group H1-Key to be released on January 5th next year [Official]]. Sports Khan (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-01-09 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Byung-gil (2022-01-02). "'GLG X 소니뮤직' 하이키, 해외시장 뜬다" ['GLG X Sony Music' Hi-Key, Overseas Market]. Sports Khan (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-27 – via Naver.
^Kyung, Ji-min (2022-01-02). "GLG, 소니뮤직과 손잡았다..신예 하이키 해외 시장 진출" [GLG and Sony Music join hands.. H1-KEY entering overseas markets]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-27 – via Naver.
^"하이키(H1-KEY) 넘치는 에너지와 탄탄한 몸매로 '시선집중' [MD동영상]" [H1-KEY 'focused attention' with full of energy and a strong body [MD video]]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-01-09 – via Naver.
^Shim, Min-kyung (2022-01-07). "[뮤직뱅크] '당당돌' 하이키(H1-KEY) 당당하고 자신감 넘치는4인4색 매력 ♪애슬레틱 걸" [[Music Bank] 'Dangdang Idol' H1-KEY Four-members, four-color charms ♪ Athletic Girl]. KBS Entertainment (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-06-27 – via Naver.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Oh, Yoon-joo (2022-05-25). "하이키, 태국인 멤버 시탈라 팀 탈퇴『개인 사정』[공식]" [H1-KEY, Thai member Sitala leave team "personal circumstances" [Official]]. Naver News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-05-25.
^Kang, Kyung-yun (May 25, 2022). "그룹 하이키 측, '부친 논란' 태국인 멤버 시탈라 탈퇴 발표" [Group H1-Key announces departure from Thai member Sitala over 'father controversy'] (in Korean). SBS Entertainment News. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seul (2022-06-07). "하이키, 시탈라 탈퇴→새 멤버 영입..7월6일 컴백 확정 [공식입장]" [Sitala leaves H1-KEY→ Recruitment of new members... Confirmed comeback on July 6th [Official position]]. Daum News/Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-06-07 – via Daum.
^ abJeong, Ga-young (December 6, 2022). "하이키, '데뷔1주년' 맞아 2023년1월5일 컴백" [Highkey to make a comeback on January 5, 2023 to mark the ‘1st anniversary of their debut’] (in Korean). Sports World. Retrieved December 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Lee, Soo-hyun (August 9, 2023). "'퀸덤 퍼즐', 나나→휘서14인 파이널 진출…파이→보라7인 탈락" ['Queendom Puzzle', Nana → Huiseo advances to the 14-member final... Fye → Bora 7 eliminated]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved August 9, 2023.
^Lee, Min-ji (August 1, 2023). "하이키, 30일 미니2집 발매…'건사피장' 인기 잇는다 [공식]" [H1-Key, to release 2nd mini album on (August) 30... trickled public interest with "Rose Blossom" [Official]] (in Korean). Newsen. Retrieved August 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^Go, In-hye (August 23, 2023). "'중소돌의 기적' 하이키, 오늘 '불꺼마' 선공개" ['Small-Medium Idols' Miracle' H1-Key, to pre-release 'Time to Shine' today] (in Korean). Newsis. Retrieved August 23, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Seul (September 6, 2023). "하이키, 초동10배 상승·음악방송 첫1위…'커리어 하이' 달성" [H1-Key, first week orders increased by 10 times·first music show win... 'career high'] (in Korean). XportsNews. Retrieved September 6, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ji, Seung-hoon (January 11, 2024). "'역주행 신화' 하이키, 새해 첫 출격 '띵킨 어바웃 유' 19일 발매" ['Chart Reversal' H1-Key, first release of the new year 'Thinkin' About You' on January 19] (in Korean). Maeil Kyungje. Retrieved January 15, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jeon, Hyo-jin (February 20, 2024). "하이키, 27일 '기뻐' 발매…흑백 포스터 공개" [H1-Key, to release 'Deeper' on 27 (February)... reveals black and white poster] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Retrieved February 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Ha-na (May 31, 2024). "하이키, 본격 컴백 카운트다운...다양한 콘텐츠 예고" [H1-Key, full-fledged comeback countdown... preview of a variety of contents] (in Korean). MBN. Retrieved May 31, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abcde"H1-KEY: 네이버 통합검색" [H1-KEY: Naver Integrated Search]. m.search.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
^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. Retrieved January 3, 2024 – via Naver.
