F.Cuz

F.Cuz
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
Years active2010 (2010)–present (present)
Labels
  • CAN&J Entertainment (South Korea)
  • Seedmusic (Taiwan)
  • Tunes Tracks/e-SUM (Japan)
  • Tunes-Will Entertainment (South Korea)
  • Independent
Members
  • Jinon
  • Kan
  • Yejun
  • Daegeon
  • Raehyun
  • LeeU
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

F.CUZ (Korean: 포커즈, "Focus"), is a South Korean boy band that used to be managed by Tunes-Will Entertainment,[1] and is now promoting as an independent group (before 2014 by CAN Entertainment).[2] The group made their debut on January 8, 2010, with their first single, "Jiggy" on Music Bank.[3][4] F.Cuz originally debuted as a four-member group (Jinon, LeeU, Kan, and Yejun), but LeeU made his departure on August 23, 2011, to pursue a solo career.[5] F.Cuz promoted shortly as a three-member group in Japan, but were joined by new members Daegeon and Raehyun in 2012.[6][7] Their contract with Tunes-Will expired in September 2016, and they are now independent. The official fanclub for F.Cuz is 'For U' and their color is Twinkle Light Silver.[8][9] The meaning of the group is "A five-points star" as in five members that complete F.CUZ, and "U+U = F.CUZ+FORU" as in the group and their fans being one.

History

Pre-debut

Jinon, Raehyun, Kan, and Yejun all attended the Anyang High School of Arts in Anyang; Jinon was their senior while Raehyun, Kan, and Yejun were in the same graduating class. While in Anyang, Jinon, Kan, and Yejun all participated in a dance team that had included famous K-Pop star Rain.[10] Out of all the F.Cuz members who attended school in Anyang, Jinon had one of the busier pre-debut careers. In 2005, Jinon joined a project group named GM6, now known as Supernova, and began trainee activities.[11] However, Jinon withdrew before their debut and suffered major health issues as a result; he battled depression and several eating disorders.[11] Jinon also pursued acting and achieved some notoriety due to his similarities to Kwon Sang Woo.[11] In 2009, he appeared in Cinderella Man as a younger version of Kwon Sang Woo's character.[10] Jinon also had a role in SG Wannabe's "Gashiri" music video alongside T-ara's Eunjung.[10]

Like Jinon, Raehyun and Kan also pursued acting. Raehyun's pre-debut career includes several dramas (Gloria, Over the Rainbow, Chosun Police (Season 3), Beautiful Life, and Rock, Rock, Rock), an appearance in the movie See You After School, and a Samyang ramen CF.[12] Kan appeared in the dramas Soul and Assorted Gems.

LeeU had always been a witness to the music industry due to his father, the famous trot singer Sul Woon Do. From an early age, LeeU had wanted to pursue a singing career, so much so that he lost sixty pounds in one month during his first year of junior high.[13] Later, LeeU became a successful ulzzang and appeared on many variety programs with his father.[14] LeeU also had a short solo career under the name "U" (Korean: 唯);[15] he appeared on the SBS Drama Gourmet OST with "Listen to You" (Korean: 그대를 듣죠) and featured on a song with Taru (Korean: 타루) called "오! 다시 (Oh! Again)."

Daegeon began his idol career under Xing Entertainment, a company most known for housing future members of U-KISS, Beast, and The Boss.[16] Daegeon eventually moved on to Golden Goose Entertainment and debuted as a member of Double B 21, now known as Apeace.[16] He participated in their S.O.S. promotions, but left the group shortly after.

2010: Jiggy, No One, overseas activities, and Gorgeous

F.Cuz was officially announced by CAN&J Entertainment on December 6, 2009.[17] Following the announcement, each day one member would introduce themselves to the public through a short video that showcased their talents; the videos amassed over 30,000 views.[18] In anticipation of their debut, F.Cuz began filming the music video for "Jiggy," their debut release, on December 15, 2009.[19] "Jiggy" was digitally released on January 8, 2010, and they held their debut performance the same day on KBS' Music Bank.[20][21] In February, it was announced that F.Cuz had signed with Taiwanese label SEEDMUSIC to pursue activities overseas.[22] On March 8, "Jiggy" was digitally released in Taiwan and Hong Kong.[23] On March 11, 2010, F.Cuz made their Korean comeback with their first mini-album and title song "No One."[23]

F.Cuz returned with a new album called "Gorgeous" with the title track "Midnight Sun" on November 18, 2010. They released another single from the album, "친구졸업 (Friend's Graduation), with the English title "Wanna Be Your Love". This song has a cute and bubbly image that completely contradicts the dark concept of "Midnight Sun". In January of 2011, member Kan was involved in a serious car accident going back to Seoul after filming for the drama Athena: Goddess of War. He, his manager, and four other people in the car received major and minor injuries after the car slipped on ice and crashed, forcing the group to halt activities for their new song.

2011–13: LeeU's withdrawal, For Century Ultimate Zest, Hello Again

On May 21, 2011, Can Entertainment announced that Lee-U would be leaving the group in August after releasing their Japanese debut single. The record company cited musical differences and Lee-U's desire to focus on a career as a solo singer. Can Entertainment and Lee-U's agency, Castle J Enterprise, came to an agreement to withdraw him from the group.[24] The group added two new members, Daegeon and Raehyun, to replace Lee-U.

On April 27, 2012, F.Cuz released their new mini album "For Century Ultimate Zest." They made their comeback with promotions for the title track "NO. 1."

In August of 2012, they released "꿈꾸는" (Dreaming I), a single.

In April of 2013, F.Cuz returned to Japan with the single "Hello Again" along with a music video. On October 31, 2013, they released their 5th Japanese single, titled "Change". F.Cuz spent the rest of 2013 promoting in Japan.

2014–2016: One Love, Bargaining for Love, Two of Us, Contract Expiration and U Concert

F.Cuz released a Korean single titled "One Love" on March 27, 2014. This marked their Korean comeback after almost 2 years since they spent most of 2013 promoting in Japan. The group left to Japan in July to promote the Japanese version of "One Love", "Feeling My Soul".

F.Cuz then released its fourth mini-album titled Bargaining for Love with the title track "Cha-Ga-Wa". The former peaked at number 18 on the Gaon Album Chart.

In December 2014, F.Cuz released its seventh Japanese single "もう一度だけ" (Remind). On July 21, 2015, F.Cuz released their 8th Japanese single "Two of Us." It reached a peak of #3 on the Oricon chart on July 25.

On September 12, 2016, it was announced through F.Cuz's fan-club that the members would not renew their contracts once they expired on September 30, leading them into becoming an independent group.[25]

In October 18, they changed their logo and the meaning behind it to "A five-points star" as in five members that complete F.CUZ, and "U+U = F.CUZ+FORU" as in the group and their fans being one.

In November 1, they announced their Japanese Concert called 'U', and have been actively promoting since then.

Members

Current

  • Jinon (진온)
  • Kan (칸)
  • Yejun (예준)
  • Daegeon (대건)
  • Raehyun (래현)[26][27]

Former

Discography

Extended plays

Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[A] 		JPN
[33]
No One 10 —
Gorgeous
  • Released: November 18, 2010
  • Label: CAN&J Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
 11 140
For Century Ultimate Zest
  • Released: April 27, 2012
  • Label: Tunes-Will Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
 15 161 KOR: 2,413[34]
Bargaining for Love
  • Released: September 17, 2014
  • Label: Tunes-Will Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download
 18 — KOR: 1,583[35]

Singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Sales Album
KOR
[B] 		JPN
[41] 		JPN Hot.
[C]
Korean
"Jiggy" (지기; Jigi) 2010 111 — — No One
"No One" 69 — —
"Midnight Sun (Original Ver.)" 125 — — Gorgeous
"No.1" 2012 132 — — For Century Ultimate Zest
"Dreaming I" (꿈꾸는 I; Kkumkkuneun I) 140 — — Non-album single
"One Love" 2014 — — —
"Cha-Ga-Wa" — — — Bargaining for Love
"Don't Touch (Korean Ver.)" 2015 — — — Non-album single
"Love Or Truth" 2017 — — —
"Shine" 2020 — — —
"Summer Days" — — —
Dear.Me" 2024 — — —
Japanese
"Never Let You Go" 2011 — 37 — Non-album single
"Luv Holic/Around You" — 53 —
"Drawing Heart" 2012 — 39 —
"Hello Again" 2013 — 15 100
"Change" — 11 53
"Feeling My Soul" 2014 — 9 26
"Mō Ichido Dake (Remind)" (もう一度だけ ～Remind～, "Just Once More (Remind)") — 7 30
"Two of Us" 2015 — 9 23
"Forever" 2016 — 13 52
"Wonder World" — — —

Soundtrack appearances

List of soundtrack songs, showing year released and soundtrack name
Title Year Album Ref.
"Let Me Love" (사랑하게 해주세요; Saranghage Haejuseyo) 2010 Secret Agent Miss Oh OST Part.2 [52]
"What Planet" (어느 별에서; Eoneu Byeoreseo) 2014 KBS The Magic Thousand-Character Classic OST Part. 1 (What Planet) [53]
"This Is Love" (이게 사랑인가봐; Ige Sarangingabo) 2015 My Regrettable Boyfriend OST Part 1
My Regrettable Boyfriend OST 		[54]
[55]
"I Wanted to Say to You" (너에게 하고픈 말; Neoege Hagopeun Mal) Missing Korea OST Part.1
Missing Korea OST 		[56]
[57]

Notes

  1. ^ Week references for Gaon Album Chart: No One,[29] Gorgeous,[30] For Century Ultimate Zest,[31] Bargaining for Love.[32]
  2. ^ Week references for Gaon Digital Chart: "Jiggy",[36] "No One",[37] "Midnight Sun (Original Ver.)",[38] "No.1",[39] "Dreaming I".[40]
  3. ^ Week references for Billboard Japan Hot 100: "Hello Again",[42] "Change",[43] "Feeling My Soul",[44] "Mō Ichido Dake (Remind)",[45] "Two of Us",[46] "Forever".[47]

References

  1. ^ Newsway Korea / 남성 5인조 아이돌그룹 포커즈, 새 소속사에서 새로운 출발! Archived 2015-09-27 at the Wayback Machine. (March 13, 2014). Retrieved on March 21, 2014.
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  6. ^ Star News / 포커즈, '탈퇴' 이유 없이 3인조로 日활발 활동 Archived 2017-06-21 at the Wayback Machine. (November 11, 2011). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
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  18. ^ "대형신인 포커즈, 유투브 인기동영상 등극 "2010년 가장 기대되는 그룹 (F.Cuz appears on YouTube under Popular Videos: Most Anticipated Group of 2010)" (in Korean). Newsen. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  19. ^ 신예 아이돌 '포커즈', 첫 뮤직비디오 촬영 "너무 떨려요" (in Korean). TV Daily. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ "F.Cuz(포커즈), 오늘 첫 디지털 싱글 'JIGGY' 발매" (in Korean). 매일경제. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  21. ^ 가수 윤하, 퇴원 후 첫 무대서 공개사과 (in Korean). My Daily. 8 January 2010. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
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  25. ^ 【大切なお知らせ】F.CUZオフィシャル ファンクラブよりF.orUの皆さまへ. F.Ciz Japan Official Website (in Japanese). Will-Be. September 12, 2016. Archived from the original on September 17, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  26. ^ CAN Entertainment Official Website / Member Biographies Archived 2013-11-05 at the Wayback Machine. (April 27, 2012). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  27. ^ SEEDMUSIC Official Website / Member Biographies Archived 2017-06-11 at the Wayback Machine. (April 27, 2012). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
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  32. ^ 2014년 39주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
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