What do you get when you put together a group of teens with different cultural backgrounds that share the same dream? You get a rookie boy band that has a unique set of skills that show whenever they appear on variety shows or in behind the scenes footage. This unique group of teens comes from places all over the world. These are the talented young men that make up one of Korea’s most popular boy bands UKISS. The Group Debuted in mid to late 2008 as a six member boy-band in Seoul, South Korea with their first mini album titled "New Generation" the title song "Not Young," along with the music video that overflowed with the "Cuteness" concept during their rookie days. They became immensely popular with fans from all over the world mostly consisting of "Noona's" (Older women). soon they released a second Mini Album in early February of 2009, titled "Bring It Back To Old School" Shortly after they gained a new member (Kiseop) brought the group member count to 7. Their next mini album is what got them recognition in Korea and on the world wide music charts. 
The beloved “Man Man Ha Ni.” This albums concept drove fans wild as it was completely opposite of “Not Young” and went full blown with the "sexiness” and “manliness”concept. This Song and its accompanying music video became and overnight sensation on YouTube. Their First Full Album titled "Only One’ sold thousands of copies in stores as well as online. The Title song “Binguel Binguel”(Round and Round) had Fans Screaming their heads off at performances. During this time, the group made some reality TV shows, "U-Kiss Vampire”," U-kiss: Kiss the Dream” and “Chef's Kiss" and a short web series called “You know Ukiss?” and “All about U-Kiss” and several others over the years. Watching these shows allowed fans to see a different side of the members than what I have seen from their onstage interviews and performances. When we watch these shows we find that all of the members love to joke around with each other and have fun and are really kids at heart. Shortly after the release of the mini album “Break time” and its accompanying title song “Shut Up” music video along with promotions. In late March of 2011 the group underwent a member change. It was an extremely emotionally hard time for the members and fans alike. 
During this time as Kibum and Xander Left NH Media (there are rumors that they were forced to quit but I don't know the whole story) Xander went solo with the 3rd wave music company and released his first mini album titled “I Just.” It personally made me proud that he was taking things into his own hands, while Kibum went on and started a company with his older brother SS501's Kim Hyung-Jun called HnB Entertainment and produced the wildly popular Korean pillow (regular and neck ) Piro Piro as well as doing some solo music work in Japan.
In early March, after much anticipation from the fans, the group reviled their new Members: Paran's former “maknae” AJ as well as former taekwondo champ and ballad singer Hoon. It was hard for the fans to adjust to the new members because of the emotions that surfaced at Xander and Kibums parting. When an idol group undergoes a member change, the fans are put “in a pickle” as they say. About whether or not they should accept and support the new members as well as the former ones, or should they continue to only support the “original” group members and have bitter feelings towards the new ones. Soon after becoming members and finishing the promotions for the previous mini albums during the finishing promotion performances, I noticed that Hoon and AJ would add their voices to Xander and Kibum’s, becoming backup vocals instead of straight out taking over the part. This was their way of showing fans and anti-fans that they were not replacing the former members in any way. Rather that they were becoming part of the group, that says a lot about their characters and personalities. It made a big impression on me personally and convinced me that they did belong in the group and were the right people to join the group.
Soon after, the group began preparing for their comeback and second full-length album "Neverland". In 2012 they released another Mini album titled “Dora Dora". After promoting this album they released a special album for their fan base the KISS ME’S. This album was titled “A Special To Kiss Me’s” with the title song "Believe" it became an overnight sensation with fans, and after the music videos release it received over 500,000 views on YouTube before it was taken down because of a “mistake” in the editing and re-uploaded with a mistake free version which received just as many views maybe more (fans prefer the mistake version). Ukiss is the only group that I have known to release an entire mini album dedicated to their fans alone.
Fans Thoughts.
There are many things that can be said about both the PAST and PRESENT members of this group. One thing is for sure is that fans love them to pieces. Many of us save up our allowances, wages, etc. in order to see a live concert or to go to a fan signing event. But most of us do not have the time or money to do so. So we rely on the members twitter accounts and fan posts and other websites such as Facebook, YouTube, Tumbler, and Ameblo. As well as other SNS (Social Networking Sites) in order to know what is happening at the moment with the members and also to make sure that they are doing well. We know that because of their chaotic schedule they don't get much sleep and constantly worry about them and wonder if they are doing alright, and it seems the members know that we worry about them as they constantly post online what there currently doing and how they are. This just shows that the group understands and loves us fans just as much as we love them. It also shows that K-Pop idol groups or solo artist make an active effort to show their fans how much they appreciate the support and love that the fans give them. We all know that it can get lonely and extremely tough for idols from day one with things such as being homesick and missing family. But there is also something else that they have alongside the fans and that is the other members of their group. Videos of them playing around onstage and even crying with each other. These videos just show how close the members have become over the years. They may not be blood related but that does not change the fact that they ARE a Family for all intensive purposes.
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