The pioneers of the 'precision dance' in K-pop, cherished for their throwback appeal, are making a comeback.

The late 2000s saw the rise of K-pop's 2.5 generation, with groups like SHINee, INFINITE, and TEEN TOP debuting around the same time as 2nd generation icons TVXQ, BIGBANG, and Super Junior. These groups laid the groundwork for the 3rd generation idols like EXO and BTS to reach a global audience. After a long hiatus, these 2.5 generation groups are now making their highly anticipated return. For fans eagerly waiting for their comeback, and for listeners who enjoyed their music, this news is a welcome respite.

The anticipation is particularly high as this marks a full-group comeback for many. Over the past few years, full-group activities had been sparse due to military service commitments and members pursuing solo careers under different agencies. However, with the recent resurgence of the 'Y2K' retro trend in popular culture, expectations for a full-group comeback are soaring.

INFINITE, beloved for their hits like "Be Mine," "Man In Love," and "The Chaser," have recently come together to establish a new agency, 'INFINITE Company,' with leader Kim Sung-kyu as the representative, in preparation for their comeback. The news that Lee Jung-yeop, the representative of their former agency Woollim Entertainment, transferred the trademark rights for INFINITE to the members free of charge has also been a hot topic.

Although INFINITE had not officially disbanded, their full-group activities seemed uncertain when members left Woollim Entertainment. However, celebrating their 13th debut anniversary this year, all members, including Kim Sung-kyu, Jang Dong-woo, Nam Woo-hyun, Lee Sung-yeol, L, and Lee Sung-jong, have united for INFINITE activities, making their comeback a tangible reality.

Since their debut in 2010, INFINITE ascended to stardom with the hit "Be Mine" released in 2011. The group received much love from K-pop fans for their unique emotional rhythm, lyrics, and powerful 'precision dance' performances, releasing various hits like "BTD (Before The Dawn)," "The Chaser," and "When a Man Falls in Love."

Since member Hoya's departure in 2017 and the remaining members leaving Woollim Entertainment to pursue solo singing and acting careers, the group hasn't been able to carry out full-group activities. The last song INFINITE released was "Clock" in 2019, and their last album was the 3rd regular album "Top Seed" in 2018. With the recent announcement of their 13th-anniversary live concert on their newly established official SNS, expectations are high for a new album, their first in five years.

TEEN TOP, who debuted alongside INFINITE, are also set to return this July after a three-year hiatus. Celebrating their 13th debut anniversary this year, TEEN TOP has been loved for their unique lyrics and addictive melodies in songs like "No More Perfume on You," "Miss Right," and "Crazy." The upcoming album will feature re-recorded versions of past hits and new songs.

However, TEEN TOP's full-group comeback has not been smooth. TEEN TOP debuted as a six-member group but continued as five after L.Joe's departure in 2017. Recently, the leader CAP decided to leave the group after receiving criticism for inappropriate behavior during a personal live broadcast, reducing the group Teen Top, another group that debuted alongside INFINITE, is also making a comeback this July, marking their return after three years. With unique song lyrics and addictive melodies like "No More Perfume on You," "Miss Right," and "Crazy," Teen Top is celebrating their 13th anniversary this year.

In March, they appeared on the MBC variety show "Hangout with Yoo" and treated viewers to a performance of their hit songs after a long time, sparking anticipation for their return. The album set to be released in July will feature re-recorded versions of past hits, as well as new songs.

However, the journey to Teen Top's full-group comeback wasn't entirely smooth. The group, which debuted as a six-member band, had been performing as a quintet since L.Joe's departure in 2017. More recently, CAP, the group's leader, decided to leave the band after receiving backlash for inappropriate behavior during a personal live broadcast, resulting in Teen Top reorganizing as a quartet.

Teen Top, which debuted in the music industry in 2010, was known for their fast-tempo dance hits, contributing significantly to the K-pop wave. Recently, as Teen Top's previous works have been making a resurgence, public interest in their full-group activities has increased, raising expectations for the new album.

SHINee, who had a long hiatus due to the military enlistment of their members, is also making a full-group comeback in celebration of their 15th debut anniversary. Last month, Taemin completed his military service, making SHINee a fully discharged 'military service idol group.' According to SM Entertainment, SHINee is planning to release their 8th regular album during the second quarter of this year, their first in over two years.

Before their comeback, SHINee will hold a solo fan meeting to celebrate their 15th anniversary, titled "Everyday is SHINee Day: Piece of SHINee," on the 27th and 28th at the Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium. This fan meeting will be the first time in about four years and eight months that SHINee, as a team, meets with their fans directly since their fan meeting in September 2018.

Since their debut in 2008, SHINee has released hit after hit with songs like "Replay," "Ring Ding Dong," "Lucifer," "Sherlock," and "View." The anticipation is high for what kind of performance the group will deliver now that they are back together after a long time.

In a situation where even newcomers can easily become 'million sellers' due to the growing global competitiveness of K-pop, the return of second-generation idols is drawing significant attention. Following the return of girl groups like Girls' Generation and KARA, who opened the door to the Hallyu wave last year, this year sees the return of boy groups who were at the origin of K-pop fandom. 

It will be interesting to see if these groups, known for their accessible and popular songs, can stir up nostalgia among their primary consumer group, now in their 30s, and demonstrate their continued relevance.

An industry insider from a music agency said, "Boy groups referred to as the 2.5 generation each have a clear team atmosphere and musical color. Especially with the current retro and reverse trends, it is expected that they will return with new albums filled with their unique colors, rather than seeking new music."

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