The group's name, WEi, combines the words "We" and "I", meaning that we are one and will make music as one.[1]
History
Pre-debut
Daehyeon and Donghan were contestants on the Mnet reality survival show Produce 101 Season 2. Donghan finished in 29th place, and Daehyeon in 83rd place. After the show, Donghan debuted in JBJ, while Daehyeon debuted in Rainz.[2][3] Both groups were active for a period of time and each eventually disbanded in 2018. Donghan and Daehyeon then made their solo debuts in June 2018 and July 2019 respectively.[4][5]
Yongha and Junseo were contestants in Under Nineteen and both became members of the debut lineup, finishing in 6th and 9th place respectively. They debuted as members of 1the9 on April 13, 2019, and officially disbanded as a group on August 8, 2020.[7]
Yohan and Seokhwa were contestants in Produce X 101. Yohan represented Oui Entertainment, despite having only three months of training beforehand.[8] Seokhwa competed as an individual trainee and was eliminated after finishing in 35th place.[9] He signed with Oui Entertainment a month later, under Yohan's recommendation.[10] Yohan finished in 1st place, and debuted as a member and the center of X1 on August 27, 2019.[11] However, X1 disbanded on January 6, 2020, due to the Mnet vote manipulation investigation.[12]
2020–2021: Debut with Identity series
The group was announced in May 2020 by Oui Entertainment, through individual profile videos, under the temporary name OUIBOYS.[13] The group's name was later announced to be WEi.[14] They debuted with their first EPIdentity: First Sight on October 5, 2020, with the lead single "Twilight".[15]
On February 24, 2021, WEi returned with their second EP Identity: Challenge and its lead single "All Or Nothing".[16]
On June 9, WEi released their third EP Identity: Action and its lead single "Bye Bye Bye".[17]
2022–2023: Love series, world tours, and Japanese debut
On March 16, 2022, WEi released their fourth EP Love Pt. 1: First Love and its lead single "Too Bad".[19]
On July 18, WEi announced their first world tour WEi WORLD TOUR: FIRST LOVE in September.[20] The group visited 15 cities in 6 countries, including Thailand, Japan, the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, and Chile.[21]
On August 11, WEi made their Japanese debut with the mini album Youth and its lead single "Maldives".[22]
On September 14, it was confirmed that WEi will make an official comeback in October.[23] Their 5th mini album Love Pt. 2: Passion and its lead single "Spray" was released on October 19.[24]
On December 10, WEi held a two-day fan concert Merry RUi Day, along with releasing a special Christmas album Gift For You.[25]
On February 27, 2023, WEi announced their second world tour WEi 2ND WORLD TOUR: PASSION in April.[26] The group visited 10 cities in 5 countries, including Japan, England, Germany, the United States of America, and Mexico.[27]
On May 29, it was confirmed that WEi will make an official comeback in June.[28] The group released their sixth EP Love Pt. 3: Eternally on June 29, along with holding a concert Eternal Sunshine on the day prior.[29]
2024–present: Japanese comeback, digital single album and 7th Mini Album
On January 18, 2024, it was confirmed that WEi will release their second Japanese mini album WAVE on February 14 along with holding two concerts titled THE WAVE in Japan.[30] Yohan will not be participating in the album promotions due to schedule conflicts.
On July 28, 2024 it was announced that WEi will release a digital single "LOVE2YOU" on August 30.[31]
On December 6, it was announced that WEi will make a comeback on January 15, 2025 with their seventh EP The Feelings, marking 1 year and 7 months since their last extended play. Yohan will not be participating in the album or promotions due to schedule conflicts.[32]
^Kim, Mi-ji (December 15, 2017). "[공식] 로엔 측 "JBJ 재계약? 심도 있게 논의 중"" (in Korean). Xportsnews. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
^Jeong, Ji-won (July 27, 2020). "[단독]원더나인, 8월 8일 끝으로 공식적 해산" (in Korean). Joynews24. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
^Park, Hee-ah (January 9, 2020). "X1 해체 후, 각 소속사에서 벌어지고 있는 일" (in Korean). GQ Korea. Archived from the original on December 26, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
^Jang, In-young (July 18, 2022). "위아이, 9월 데뷔 첫 월드투어 연다…'퍼스트 러브" [We.I to open their first world tour since their debut in September... 'First Love] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park, Sang-hoo (August 17, 2022). "위아이, 6개국 15도시 월드투어 개최 "글로벌돌 행보" [We.I to hold world tour in 15 cities in 6 countries "Global idol step] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, No-eul (September 14, 2022). "위아이 측 "10월 컴백 목표로 새 앨범 준비 중"[공식]" [We-I's side "Preparing for a new album with the goal of a comeback in October" [Official]] (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2022 – via Naver.
^Hyun, Jung-min (October 6, 2022). "위아이, 6개월 만에 컴백…초대장 보냈다" [We.I, comeback after 6 months... sent an invitation] (in Korean). Sports World. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Peaks on the Circle (formerly Gaon) Download Chart:
"Twilight": "2020년 41주차 Download Chart" [Week 41 of 2020 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). October 4–10, 2020. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
"All or Nothing": "2021년 09주차 Download Chart" [Week 09 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). February 21–27, 2021. Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
"Bye Bye Bye": "2021년 24주차 Download Chart" [Week 24 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). June 6–12, 2021. Archived from the original on June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
"Too Bad": "2022년 12주차 Download Chart" [Week 12 of 2022 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). March 13–19, 2022. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
^Ji, Min-kyung (June 22, 2022). "위아이, 탑클래스대표인물대상 수상..4세대 청춘 아이콘의 존재감" [Wei wins Top Class Representative Person Award... The presence of a 4th generation youth icon] (in Korean). Osen. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022 – via Naver.
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