TST (band) explained

TST
Landscape:yes
Alias:Top Secret
Origin:Seoul, South Korea
Years Active:
Label:KJ Music
Past Members:
  • K
  • Ain
  • Yohan
  • Wooyoung
  • Junghoon
  • Yonghyeon
  • Kyeongha

TST, formerly known as Top Secret, is a South Korean boy band formed by JSL Company (now known as KJ Music) in 2017.[1] They debuted on January 4, 2017, with Time's Up.

History

2017–2018: Debut, name change and Kyeongha's departure

On January 4, 2017, Top Secret debuted as a seven member group under KJ Music Entertainment[2] with the mini album Time's Up.[3] The group then later came back with the mini album Wake Up on June 4, 2017.[4]

On April 3, 2018, the group changed their name from "Top Secret" to "TST".[5] On May 23, 2018, TST released their first single "Love Story". This was Kyeongha's last release with the group.

On May 24, 2018, it was reported that Kyeongha was found guilty of sexual assault.[6] The victim stated that Kyeongha told her that she aroused his sexual desire while walking on the sidewalk, and when she ran away from him, he followed her into a building and sexually assaulted her in December 2014. His management agency denied the accusation, when the victim's online post began to circulate after his debut with the group. The victim then filed a lawsuit in April 2017. Kyeongha and his agency, JSL Company, denied the allegations and filed an appeal on May 29.[7] On May 31, 2018 he received a prison sentence of 18 months in prison, with a probation period of three years, along with 40 hours of treatment program for sexual offenders.[8] After news broke out, M Countdown decided to cancel TST's appearance on the show.[9] On June 11, 2018, it was announced that Kyeongha left the group.[10]

On November 1, 2018, the group returned as a six member group with the single "Paradise".[11]

2019–present: Wooyoung's hiatus, Wake Up, K's military enlistment and Yohan's death

On February 11, 2019, TST released the extended play Wake Up, which shares the same name as their second mini album.[12] Wooyoung didn't take part in the EP and in the subsequent releases due to health issues.[13]

On February 20, 2019, KJ Music reported through TST's fan cafè that member K would be enlisting in the military to complete his mandatory service on March 21, 2019.

On January 2, 2020, TST released the single "Countdown" as four members.[14]

On June 16, 2020, Yohan died at the age of 28. The cause of death wasn't revealed.[15] [16]

Former Members

Discography

Extended plays

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsSales
KOR
[17]
Time's Up
  • Released: January 4, 2017
  • Label: JSL Company, OGAM Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
23
Wake Up 27
  • KOR: 1,116

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart
positions
Sales (DL)Album
KOR
[19]
"She"2017Time's Up
"Mind Control"Wake Up
"Love Story"2018
  • KOR: 1,204 (CD)[20]
Love Story
"Paradise"
  • KOR: 1,236 (CD)[21]
Paradise
"Wake Up"2019Wake Up
"Countdown"2020Countdown
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: http://people.search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&sm=tab_ppn&query=%EC%9D%BC%EA%B8%89%EB%B9%84%EB%B0%80&os=5305558&ie=utf8&key=PeopleService. ko:일급비밀 프로필. Naver. ko.
  2. News: Kim. Ha-jin. http://tenasia.hankyung.com/archives/1101933. ko:"새해 첫 데뷔 그룹"…일급비밀, 실력에 끼까지 갖췄다 (종합). Ten Asia. ko. January 3, 2017. May 31, 2018.
  3. Web site: 일급비밀, 첫번째 'Time's Up' 실체 및 티저이미지 공개. 26 December 2016. M.mediapen.com. ko. 10 September 2020.
  4. Web site: '엠카운트다운' 일급비밀, 'Wake Up' 넘치는 흥으로 가득 채운 무대 '카리스마' . 2020-01-04 . 2020-01-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200104003245/http://star.hankookilbo.com/News/Read/201902150131784191 . dead .
  5. Web site: 일급비밀(TST), 5월 중순 완전체로 컴백 "현재 녹음에 박차 가하는 중". Entertain.naver.com. ko. 10 September 2020.
  6. News: Park . Se-hyun . [POP이슈]"강제추행 혐의→실형→항소" 일급비밀 경하, 결국 활동중단(종합) ]. May 31, 2018 . Pop Herald . May 31, 2018 . ko.
  7. News: Lee. Narin. [SBS Star] TST Kyeongha Gets Sentenced for Sexual Assault ]. May 31, 2018 . SBS News . May 31, 2018.
  8. News: Kim . Min-young . Moon . Je-won . ko:[단독]아이돌그룹 ‘일급비밀’ 이경하 강제추행 혐의로 징역1년6월·집행유예3년 . http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2018053111030806002 . May 31, 2018 . Asia Economy Daily . May 31, 2018 . Ko.
  9. News: Park . So-hyun . ko:[공식입장] 일급비밀, '엠카' 출연 취소…경하, 강제추행 선고 여파 . http://www.xportsnews.com/?ac=article_view&entry_id=980741 . May 31, 2018 . Xports News . May 31, 2018 . ko.
  10. News: ko:[단독] '강제추행 혐의' 일급비밀 경하, 결국 팀 자진탈퇴 . http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003800977 . June 10, 2018 . Naver . ko.
  11. Web site: 일급비밀 우영, 건강 이상으로 활동 중단 치료에 전념 중. 28 January 2019. The Korea Economic Daily. ko. 10 September 2020.
  12. Web site: 일급비밀(TST), 'WAKE UP' 11일 발매 '청량 매력 자랑' - 채희지 기자. 11 February 2019. Topstarnews.net. ko. 10 September 2020.
  13. Web site: [MK이슈] 유키스 기섭·일급비밀 케이, 오늘(21일) 입대...사회복무요원 복무]. 21 March 2019. Maeil Business Newspaper. ko. 10 September 2020.
  14. Web site: '뮤직뱅크' 일급비밀, 팬들 사로잡는 'COUNTDOWN' 시작. 3 January 2020. Joongboo.com. ko. 10 September 2020.
  15. Web site: 일급비밀 요한, 16일 사망…국내외 팬들 '충격'. June 17, 2020. N.news.naver.com. June 17, 2020.
  16. Web site: K-pop singer Yohan dies aged 28. Ben. Beaumont-Thomas. 17 June 2020. 10 September 2020. Theguardian.com.
  17. Web site: Gaon Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart.
  18. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. ko. 10 September 2020.
  19. Web site: Gaon Digital Chart. Gaon Music Chart.
  20. Web site: 2018년 5월 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. January 11, 2019.
  21. Web site: 2018년 11월 Album Chart. Gaon Chart. ko. January 11, 2019.