5urprise
First South Korean actor group, debuted in 2014 mobile drama.
5urprise (Korean: 서프라이즈; pronounced surprise) was the first ever South Korean actor group, consisting of five actors: Yoo Il, Seo Kang-joon, Gong Myung, Kang Tae-oh, and Lee Tae-hwan. Launched by talent agency Fantagio in September 2013, the group was formed through Fantagio's 'Actor's League,' a program for discovering aspiring actors, and trained for two years before their entertainment debut. Unlike typical idol groups that begin as singers and later move into acting, 5urprise did the opposite, starting their careers with acting projects.
- formed
- September 2013
- disbanded
- Members departed Fantagio at different times, beginning in 2019
- field
- Actor group
- nationality
- South Korean
- known_for
- First South Korean actor group; debuted in 2014 mobile drama After School: Lucky or Not
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Alias
- Surprise
- Origin
- South Korea
- Genre
- K-pop
- Label
- Fantagio / King
- Years Active
- 2013–2020
- Website
- fantagio.kr/artists/5urprise
- Past Members
- Yoo Il / Seo Kang-joon / Gong Myung / Kang Tae-oh / Lee Tae-hwan
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
5urprise made their acting debut in After School: Lucky or Not, a 12-episode mobile drama that premiered in 2014 (not at their September 2013 debut), with each episode lasting 15 minutes, viewable through Nate Hoppin, BTV, and T-Store on smartphones and tablet computers. In the drama, they played five members of a high school club who encounter an outcast played by actress Kim So-eun, and as they complete missions, they build a friendship with her. The group released the single 'Hey U Come On' for the drama's soundtrack. Pre-debut, members also appeared in music videos of female pop group Hello Venus. In 2015, they released their first single, titled From My Heart.
Reader's Guide
5urprise holds significance as the first South Korean actor group, pioneering a model where performers debuted in acting rather than music, reversing the typical idol trajectory. Their launch through Fantagio's 'Actor's League' highlighted a structured approach to training actors for group-based projects. The group's debut in a mobile drama, After School: Lucky or Not, reflected the growing importance of digital platforms in the early 2010s. Their discography includes the soundtrack single 'Hey U Come On' and the 2014 single From My Heart. The group disbanded on March 31, 2020, when all five members decided to part ways with Fantagio. Their legacy lies in demonstrating that actor groups could exist alongside traditional idol groups, though their relatively short active period limited broader impact.
Did You Know?
- 5urprise was the first ever South Korean actor group.
- The group debuted in a mobile drama, After School: Lucky or Not, rather than as singers.
- Members were selected through Fantagio's 'Actor's League' program and trained for two years.
- Seo Kang-joon left Fantagio in 2019, and the remaining members' contracts ended at different times, not all on the same date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is 5urprise?
5urprise (pronounced "surprise") is a South Korean five-member actor group recognized as the first of its kind in the country. The group was assembled by talent agency Fantagio in September 2013 through the agency's "Actor's League" scouting program.
How is 5urprise different from a typical K-pop boy band?
Most idol groups train as singers first and later branch into acting, but 5urprise reversed that model by building their careers around acting projects from the start. They completed roughly two years of training at Fantagio before stepping into entertainment work, making their acting background their defining identity.
Who are the five members of 5urprise?
The group is made up of Yoo Il, Seo Kang-joon, Gong Myung, Kang Tae-oh, and Lee Tae-hwan. All five were selected and developed through Fantagio's Actor's League program for aspiring actors.
What was 5urprise's debut project?
The group made their first public appearance in 2014 with the mobile drama *After School: Lucky or Not*. This marked their official entertainment debut after finishing their two-year training period at Fantagio.
What happened to 5urprise as a group?
The members left Fantagio at different times beginning in 2019, which effectively ended the group's active period. Rather than disbanding all at once, each member departed separately to pursue individual acting careers.
More in South Korean boy bands 1-24
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