4 K-Pop Groups Made For K-Dramas That We Wish Were Groups IRL

Feb 27, 2024

Imagine falling in love with a K-pop band that doesn’t actually exist—the devastation is so real! For fans of both K-pop and K-dramas, a show with a storyline revolving around a K-pop band can feel like a two-for-one special, but most of the time, these bands are formed exclusively for the show.

The downside is that you won’t be getting any upcoming concerts, variety shows, or new music once the show is over. Usually, some of the band members will be part of real groups, but it’s still bittersweet to want to join a fandom for a K-pop band that’s fictional (been there!).

Here are four K-pop groups made for K-dramas that were so good you can’t help but wish they were groups in real life.

LUNA in “Let Me Be Your Knight”

4 K-Pop Groups Made For K-Dramas That We Wish Were Groups IRL

“Let Me Be Your Night” centers around the five-member K-pop band LUNA and their moody but passionate musical genius leader Yoon Tae In (Lee Jun Young). Tae In suffers from sleepwalking due to stress, so their manager hires who he thinks is an in-house doctor with expertise in sleeping disorders.

His bandmates include guitarist and vocalist Seo Woo Yeon (Jang Dong Joo), bassist and vocalist/rapper Lee Shin (Kim Jonghyeon), keyboardist and vocalist Woo Ga On (AB6IX’s Kim Dong Hyun), and drummer and vocalist Kim Yoo Chan (Yoon Ji Sung). Make sure to add their songs “Beautiful Breakup” and “Love Paranoia” to your playlist.

Why it’s worth watching:
Though the story focuses on Tae In’s sleepwalking issues, all band members have their own storyline and must overcome something that directly relates to their profession as idols. It’s interesting to see some of the issues that musicians may face as idols in the limelight.

 

White Ocean in “Her Private Life”

4 K-Pop Groups Made For K-Dramas That We Wish Were Groups IRL

Behind her collected, business-woman persona, art gallery curator Sung Duk Mi (Park Min Young) is also a dedicated fangirl of K-pop group White Ocean and their leader Cha Shi An (Jung Je Won). She not only goes to fan events and does K-pop “pilgrimages” to places Shi An has been, but she is also a major fan photographer of Shi An. Duk Mi has to work even harder to hide her inner fangirl when her gallery ends up working on a project with—surprise, surprise—Shi An!

Though the show focuses on Duk Mi’s obsession with Shi An, the other White Ocean members are from SKYE (IN2IT), including Hyunuk, Inho, Inpyo, and Jiahn. SKYE is also the group behind White Ocean’s hit “Snapshot.”

Why it’s worth watching:
Seeing fans come together to gush over their favorite idol or group is so fun, and this show really proves that fans come in all shapes and sizes, from a successful career woman like Duk Mi to a business-owning mother like Duk Mi’s best friend Lee Seon Joo (Park Jin Joo). A K-pop group can be a common interest that brings different people together, and this series shows this in some very funny and relatable ways.

 

Crude Play in “The Liar and His Lover”

4 K-Pop Groups Made For K-Dramas That We Wish Were Groups IRL

Crude Play is a popular band made up of members Yoo Si Hyun (Sungjoo), Lee Yoon (Shin Je Min), Ji In Ho (Jang Ki Yong), and Seo Chan Young (Lee Seo Won). Kang Han Gyul (Lee Hyun Woo) is a talented composer who hides his identity from the public and goes by “K.” Though he was originally a member of the band, he now writes their music behind the scenes. Han Gyul gets unintentionally entangled with Yoon So Rim (Red Velvet’s Joy), an aspiring singer with a one-of-a-kind voice who is also a big fan of Crude Play.

The band’s version of Han Gyul’s “I’m Okay” is already so good, but a hidden gem you’ll find while watching the show is when Lee Hyun Woo performs a solo rendition for So Rim. Crude Play’s “Peter Pan” is another one to jam out to.

Why it’s worth watching:
A secret identity always guarantees some fun surprises, but another special thing about this show is how So Rim’s optimism, honesty, and pure kindness take Han Gyul by surprise. So Rim slowly helps him to see the beauty of being honest, with their music being a medium for understanding each other.

 

Eye Candy in “Shut Up: Flower Boy Band”

4 K-Pop Groups Made For K-Dramas That We Wish Were Groups IRL

If you’re into grunge and rock bands, Eye Candy gives you both in “Shut Up: Flower Boy Band.” This underground band of misfits includes Kwon Ji Hyuk (Sung Joon), Lee Hyun Soo (INFINITE’s Kim Myung Soo), Kim Ha Jin (Yoo Min Kyu), Jang Do Il (Lee Hyun Jae), Seo Kyung Jong (Kim Min Seok), and their eccentric leader Joo Byung Hee (Lee Min Ki).

A battle of the bands takes place when all the members of Eye Candy are transferred from their run-down school to a wealthy one where there’s already a school band on top. Along with fighting to find a place at their new school and in the music industry, an unexpected tragedy puts the band members’ friendship to the test.

Why it’s worth watching:
From thick eyeliner to skull prints and chunky jewelry, this band gives off strong 2000s grunge vibes with plenty of teenage angst. Besides the overall cool feel of the show and their catchy songs like “Wake Up” and “Jaywalking,” the closeness between the members and their loyalty to each other as friends is so strong. If you missed this gem of the 2012 era of K-dramas, definitely give it a try.

 

cr: Soompi

Tags: #The Liar and His Lover; #Her Private Life; #Let Me Be Your Knight; #Shut Up Flower Boy Band;
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