ENHYPEN (엔하이픈) is a South Korean boy band formed by Belift Lab, a joint venture between CJ ENM and Hybe Corporation. The group emerged from the 2020 survival competition show I-Land aired on Mnet. Enhypen consists of seven members: Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon (the leader), and Ni-ki. They debuted on November 30, 2020, with the extended play Border: Day One. The name Enhypen symbolizes “Connection, Discovery, & Growth,” akin to how a hyphen connects words to create new meanings.
Enhypen’s formation journey began in March 2019, with Belift Lab’s establishment and subsequent auditions worldwide. The selected trainees participated in I-Land, which started on June 26, 2020. The show was divided into two parts, culminating in the selection of the final seven members during the live broadcast of the finale on September 18, 2020.
The group quickly garnered attention, amassing over a million followers on social media platforms before their debut. Their debut EP, Border: Day One, saw significant pre-order numbers and strong sales, charting at number two on the South Korean Gaon Album Chart and achieving notable success internationally. Enhypen’s debut live performance took place on KBS’ Music Bank on December 4, 2020.
In February 2021, Border: Day One received platinum certification from the Korea Music Content Association. Enhypen’s subsequent releases continued their commercial success. Their second EP, Border: Carnival, released in April 2021, topped the Oricon Albums Chart and debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard 200. Enhypen made their Japanese debut with the single Border: Hakanai in July 2021, featuring tracks linked to anime and collaborations.
Their first studio album, Dimension: Dilemma, released on October 12, 2021, marked their first million-selling album. Following releases like the repackaged album Dimension: Answer and the EP Manifesto: Day 1 in July 2022 solidified their position in the K-pop industry with multiple chart-topping hits and music show wins.
Enhypen embarked on their first world tour, Manifesto, in September 2022, and continued to expand their global presence with concerts across Asia and the United States. They also engaged in various collaborations and endorsements, becoming global ambassadors for brands such as Ami Paris, Abib, Nike, and Prada.
In 2023, Enhypen released their fourth EP, Dark Blood, which achieved over 1.1 million sales on its first day. The group announced their second world tour, Fate, which included performances at prestigious venues like the Tokyo Dome. Enhypen also released their third Japanese single, You, in September 2023.
Enhypen’s discography includes their Korean albums Dimension: Dilemma (2021) and Romance: Untold (2024), and their Japanese album Sadame (2022). They continue to achieve significant milestones in their career, breaking records and gaining a loyal global fanbase. Their journey reflects their name’s ethos of connection, discovery, and growth, as they continue to evolve in the dynamic world of K-pop.