A.C.E (Korean: 에이스; acronym for "Adventure Calling Emotions".[1]) is a South Korean boy band formed by Beat Interactive, and co-managed with Swing Entertainment. The group consists of five members: Park Jun-hee, Lee Dong-hun, Wow, Kim Byeong-kwan, and Kang Yu-chan. The group debuted on May 23, 2017, with the single "Cactus".
A.C.E first gained a following busking on the streets of the hip Hongdae district in Seoul, covering the dance choreography of popular groups.[2]
As of March 2024, the group have released 2 repackaged albums, 5 mini-albums, and 2 single albums.
History
Pre-debut
Jun trained under Jellyfish Entertainment alongside VIXX before transferring to CJ E&M.[3] He appeared on Mnet's I Can See Your Voice as Kangta's look-alike. Donghun competed on Superstar K5 prior to becoming a trainee under CJ E&M, and later appeared on I Can See Your Voice as well, winning the episode and earning high praise from Got7's JB. Wow trained at YG Entertainment alongside Winner[3] before later moving to CJ E&M, where he met Jun and Donghun.[3] Kim Byeong-kwan participated in the first season of K-pop Star but was eliminated during the final round of casting.[3] Before debut Yuchan used to be in a breakdance crew named Valentine Crew in highschool winning multiple competitions. He later joined Alive87 crew under the dance name AkaBuggy in which he specialized in popping. He was in a lot of dance competitions like Street Fighter Vol.2, Defender 16 and Cipher vol4.[4] Byeongkwan and Yuchan trained under JYP Entertainment before joining Beat Interactive.[3]
2017–2018: Cactus, Callin, and A.C.E Adventures in Wonderland
A.C.E at the 2018 Incheon Airport Sky Festival From left: Donghun, Chan, Wow, Kim Byeong-kwan, Jun
On May 23, 2017, A.C.E released their debut single album Cactus, a hardstyle song produced by Zoobeater Sound.[5][6]
A.C.E released their second single album Callin' on October 19, 2017.[7]
In October 2018, all group members participated in the survival shows The Unit and Mix Nine. Jun and Chan competed on The Unit, and Donghun, Wow, and Kim Byeong-kwan competed on Mix Nine under their given names. Kim Byeong-kwan and Donghun won 4th and 8th place respectively on Mix Nine in January 2018.[8] They began preparations to debut in a temporary boy group, but the debut was cancelled later that year.[9] Chan won 9th place on The Unit in February 2018. He debuted with the temporary boy group UNB on April 7, 2018, and they finished their promotions on January 27, 2019.
On March 15, 2018, the group released a special single titled "5TAR (Incompletion)", with the song serving as a gift to fans after their brief hiatus to join The Unit and Mix Nine.[10]
On June 7, 2018, A.C.E released their first repackaged album A.C.E Adventures in Wonderland with the title track "Take Me Higher".[11] Chan did not take part in the album due to his promotions with UNB.[12]
A.C.E featured on their first collaboration with French DJ Hcue for the track "I Feel So Lucky" released on September 14, 2018, aiming for a Moombahton sound fused with K-pop elements.[13]
2019–2020: Under Cover, Under Cover : The Mad Squad, and HJZM : The Butterfly Phantasy
A.C.E busking in Banpo-dong, November 2019 From left: Chan, Donghun, Jun, Kim Byeong-kwan, Wow
On May 17, 2019, A.C.E released their second extended play Under Cover with the title track of the same name.[14]
A.C.E released their third extended play Under Cover: The Mad Squad on October 29, 2019 with the title track "Savage".[15]
A.C.E released their fourth extended play HJZM: The Butterfly Phantasy on September 2, 2020 with the title track "Favorite Boys".[16] On December 18, 2020, A.C.E signed with Asian Agent for global management.[17]
A.C.E released a remix titled "Fav Boyz" on January 8, 2021 of their song "Favorite Boys" by American DJ Steve Aoki, featuring the Nigerian-American rapper Thutmose.[18][19]
2021–2022: Added management agency, Siren : Dawn, Changer : Dear Eris, and military enlistments
On February 5, 2021, it was announced that Swing Entertainment will co-manage A.C.E alongside Beat Interactive.[20] Swing Entertainment will be in charge of artist's domestic broadcasting appearances, while Beat Interactive is in charge of production, global marketing, artist care management and fan marketing.[21]
On April 16, 2021, A.C.E released the collaboration single "Down", featuring Grey.[22]
A.C.E released their fifth extended play Siren: Dawn on June 23, 2021 with the title track "Higher".[23] The EP showed their growing popularity. It charted at Number 1 in several countries across the world. The album peaked at Number 1 on the iTunes Worldwide Albums Chart two days after it was released. The countries where it reached Number 1 include (but are not limited to): Brazil, Belarus, Ecuador, Peru, Norway, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, Portugal and Malaysia. It also peaked at number 6 in the US iTunes chart and number 13 in the UK, two of the worlds biggest music markets. Within just 6 hours of release the album also peaked at number one on the K-Pop Albums Chart. Lead single "Higher" reached number 3 on the K-Pop Music Song chart.[24] The EP earned many strong reviews with NME praising the members, stating: “Keep an eye on this headstrong quintet, because there's no question they'll surprise us in the years to come.”[25]
A.C.E released "Spark" as part of the original soundtrack for boys' loveKorean dramaLight on Me on July 8, 2021. Their participation on the song showed support for the LGBTQ+ community. Leader Jun said of the release, "Just like how all of our fans, CHOICE, are different in their own special ways, we know that there [are] a range of different ways to love among all kinds of people in this world which we acknowledge and respect."[26][unreliable source?]
A.C.E released their second repackaged album Changer: Dear Eris on September 2, 2021 with the title track "Changer".[27]
On August 20, 2021, it was announced that Wow would enlist for his mandatory military service on September 10, 2021 as a public service worker. On September 23, 2021, Donghun enlisted for his military service as a public service worker.[28] On February 7, 2022, Jun enlisted for his military service as an active duty soldier. On April 11, 2022, Kim Byeong-kwan enlisted for his military service as a member of KATUSA, the second K-Pop idol to do so after DAY6's Young K.[29][30] On August 16, 2022, Chan enlisted for his military service as an active duty soldier.[31][unreliable source?]
On June 9, 2023, Wow was officially discharged from military service.[32] On June 22, 2023, Donghun was discharged from military service, and on the 25th, he completed his first schedule with Wow after returning.[33][34] On August 6, 2023, Jun was discharged from military service, and on the 8th, he completed his first schedule with Wow after returning.[35][36] On October 13, 2023, Kim Byeong-kwan completed his first schedule after being discharged from military service.[37] On February 15, 2024, Kang Yu-chan completed his first schedule after being discharged from military service.[38]
2023–present: Returning projects following mandatory military service, My Girl: "My Choice" and "Supernatural"
On August 12, 2023, Beat Interactive announced that members Donghun, Jun, and Chan would begin using their given names Lee Donghun, Park Junhee, and Kang Yuchan for promotion.[39] Wow would be the only remaining member to use a stage name.
On November 7, 2023, A.C.E released the first pre-release single "Effortless" for their sixth mini-album.[40][41]
On November 11, 2023, A.C.E held their first fan concert after their completion of their military service, titled Overturn.[42] Kang Yuchan did not perform at the concert due to his military service. They performed their newly released pre-release single "Effortless" as well as their then-upcoming pre-release single "Angel" for the first time.
On November 16, 2023, A.C.E released the second pre-release single "Angel" for their 6th mini album.[43]
On February 22, 2024, A.C.E released their sixth mini album My Girl: "My Choice" with the lead single "My Girl".[44] Kang Yuchan did not take part in the album due to his military service. Their album release project, titled "PetFlix", included the opening of an official website designed with an OTT site concept.[45][46] The project also featured a 5 member busking event (including Yuchan, who returned from enlistment the day prior) on February 16 at COEX Mall before the release.[47]
In April 2024, A.C.E held a fanmeeting "Home Sweet A.C.E" for the first time in 3 years in Korea.[48] Later in April the band toured in Japan [49] before releasing the special single "Supernatural" on May 31, 2024, as a full unit, marking member Kang Yuchan's first official release since his return from military enlistment.[50] Supernatural gained popularity in the US giving A.C.E their first entry in the TOP 100 'Mainstream TOP40 Airplay' chart, where it ranked 93rd by the 40 largest radio stations in the U.S. It also ranked 63rd in the 'Media Base TOP40' music chart following BTS, BLACKPINK, New Jeans, TXT and Monsta X.[51]
In June 2024, A.C.E toured the US with their "Rewind:US" tour covering 14 cities and performed at KCON in Los Angeles.[52]
In July 2024, A.C.E announced Latam and European dates for the "Rewind:US" tour.[53]
^Choi, Seoyoung (January 27, 2018). '믹스나인' 女신류진·男우진영 1등, 데뷔는 소년팀. Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
^Kim Saet-byul (February 18, 2022). "에이스 김병관, 영케이 조언 힘입어 카투사 합격 "4월 입대" [Ace Kim Byung-kwan passed KATUSA Soldier thanks to Young K's advice, "Enlistment in April] (in Korean). The Fact. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via Naver.
