F.Cuz

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 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.

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
WebsiteOfficial website
Members
  • Jinon
  • Kan
  • Yejun
  • Daegeon
  • Raehyun
Past members
  • LeeU

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 has come back with a new album called "Gorgeous" with the title track "Midnight Sun" on November 18, 2010. After eight months of hiatus, many fans were anticipating their comeback. Their single, "Midnight Sun" has become a huge hit and the group is earning more recognition. In order to prevent being labeled as a "failure group", F.Cuz released another single from their album, "친구졸업 (Friend's Graduation), renaming it as "Wanna Be Your Love". This song has a very cute and bubbly image that completely contradicts to the dark concept of "Midnight Sun" and F.Cuz is steadily gaining more popularity. Unfortunately, member Kan has recently been involved in a serious car accident after filming for the drama Athena: Goddess of War and going back to Seoul. 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 to focus Lee-U's 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 will be adding 2 new members 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, they released "꿈꾸는" (Dreaming I), a single.

In April, 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
[upper-alpha 1]		 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
[upper-alpha 2]		 JPN
[41]		 JPN Hot.
[upper-alpha 3]
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
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!. (March 13, 2014). Retrieved on March 21, 2014.
  2. "이유그룹' 포커즈, 베일벗고 멤버 전원공개 '가요계 중심될까? (Will F.cuz become the focus of the music industry?)" (in Korean). Newsen. December 10, 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  3. "F.Cuz(포커즈), 오늘 첫 디지털 싱글 'JIGGY' 발매" (in Korean). 매일경제. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  4. 신예 포커즈 '뮤직뱅크'통해 데뷔…안무+가창력 '완벽' (in Korean). Asia Economy. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  5. Official F.Cuz Korean Site / 포커즈 이유 탈퇴 관련 공지. (May 21, 2011). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  6. Star News / 포커즈, '탈퇴' 이유 없이 3인조로 日활발 활동. (November 11, 2011). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  7. BARKS / 新メンバー加入F.CUZ、3ヵ月連続リリース発表. (April 20, 2012). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  8. Official F.Cuz Korean Site / 팬클럽 이름 관련 공지. (March 7, 2012). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  9. Official F.Cuz Korean Site / F.CUZ 팬클럽 공식 색상. (March 5, 2012). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  10. 이유그룹’ 포커즈, 경력도 화려 ‘비 소속 댄스팀출신 3명포진’ (in Korean). Newsen. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  11. "F.Cuz Jinon - "Those words from Kwon Sang Woo made me..."". Daily KPOP News. March 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  12. '리틀 에릭' 김래현 "진짜 배우 기대해 주세요"(인터뷰) (in Korean). Asiae. 6 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  13. "'포커즈 이유 "가수 되려 한달만에 28kg 감량" 깜짝고백'" (in Korean). Newsen. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  14. "설운도 아들 이승현, 아이돌그룹으로 가수 데뷔 (Sul Woon Do's Son, Lee-U, Debut in an Idol Group)" (in Korean). My Daily. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  15. "설운도 아들' 이승현,스타 부상… "가수 U(唯)로 인정받을 것" (in Korean). Chosun. 28 May 2007. Archived from the original on 2013-11-06. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  16. 5인조 재편 포커즈 새멤버 대건 래현 소개합니다(인터뷰①) (in Korean). Newsen. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  17. 설운도 아들 '이유' 속한 4인조 男그룹 베일 벗다! (in Korean). TV Daily. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  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. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  19. 신예 아이돌 '포커즈', 첫 뮤직비디오 촬영 "너무 떨려요" (in Korean). TV Daily. 14 December 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
  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. Retrieved 8 January 2010.
  22. "F.cuz新年新氣象 簽約台灣經紀公司進軍華語圈市場". Korea Star Daily. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  23. 포커즈 앨범, 대만-홍콩 라이선스 발매 ‘중화권 진출 본격화’ (in Korean). Newsen. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  24. 포커즈 멤버 이유(이승현), 팀에서 탈퇴 향후 솔로활동 가닥. Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). May 22, 2011. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  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. (April 27, 2012). Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  28. "이유". Naver Music. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  29. 2010년 13주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  30. 2010년 48주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  31. 2012년 18주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  32. 2014년 39주차 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  33. F.CUZのアルバム売上ランキング. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  34. 2012년 04월 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  35. 2014년 09월 Album Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  36. 2010년 04주차 Digital Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  37. 2010년 13주차 Digital Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  38. 2010년 49주차 Digital Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  39. 2012년 19주차 Digital Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  40. 2012년 33주차 Digital Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  41. F.CUZのシングル売上ランキング. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  42. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  43. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  44. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  45. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  46. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  47. "Billboard Japan Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). Hankyu Hanshin Holdings. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
  48. 2012년 04월 Download Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  49. 2012년 08월 Download Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  50. 2014년 14주차 Download Chart (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  51. オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」　－CD・ブルーレイ・DVD・書籍・コミック－. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  52. 국가가 부른다 OST Part.2. Melon (in Korean). LOEN Entertainment. May 31, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  53. KBS 어린이 드라마 마법천자문 OST Part. 1 (어느 별에서). Melon (in Korean). LOEN Entertainment. August 7, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  54. 나의 유감스러운 남자친구 OST Part 1. Melon (in Korean). LOEN Entertainment. April 10, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  55. 나의 유감스러운 남자친구 OST. Melon (in Korean). LOEN Entertainment. May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  56. 미싱코리아 OST Part.1. Melon (in Korean). LOEN Entertainment. November 6, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  57. 미싱코리아 OST. Melon (in Korean). LOEN Entertainment. November 13, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
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