TST, formerly known as Top Secret (Korean일급비밀; RRIlgeubbimil), is a South Korean boy band formed by JSL Company (now known as KJ Music) in 2017.[1] They debuted on January 4, 2017, with Time's Up.

TST
TST at an autograph event at Lotte Mall in Gimpo, November 2018 L–R: Yonghyeon, Wooyoung, Ain, Junghoon, Yohan (former), K
TST at an autograph event at Lotte Mall in Gimpo, November 2018
L–R: Yonghyeon, Wooyoung, Ain, Junghoon, Yohan (former), K
Background information
Also known asTop Secret
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
Years active2017 (2017)–2020 (2020)
LabelsKJ Music
Past members
  • K
  • Ain
  • Yohan
  • Wooyoung
  • Junghoon
  • Yonghyeon
  • Kyeongha

History

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2017–2018: Debut, name change and Kyeongha's departure

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On January 4, 2017, Top Secret debuted as a seven member group under KJ Music Entertainment[2] with the mini album Time's Up.[3] The group then later came back with the mini album Wake Up on June 4, 2017.[4]

On April 3, 2018, the group changed their name from "Top Secret" to "TST".[5] On May 23, 2018, TST released their first single "Love Story". This was Kyeongha's last release with the group.

On May 24, 2018, it was reported that Kyeongha was found guilty of sexual assault.[6] The victim stated that Kyeongha told her that she aroused his sexual desire while walking on the sidewalk, and when she ran away from him, he followed her into a building and sexually assaulted her in December 2014. His management agency denied the accusation, when the victim's online post began to circulate after his debut with the group. The victim then filed a lawsuit in April 2017. Kyeongha and his agency, JSL Company, denied the allegations and filed an appeal on May 29.[7] On May 31, 2018 he received a prison sentence of 18 months in prison, with a probation period of three years, along with 40 hours of treatment program for sexual offenders.[8] After news broke out, M Countdown decided to cancel TST's appearance on the show.[9] On June 11, 2018, it was announced that Kyeongha left the group.[10]

On November 1, 2018, the group returned as a six member group with the single "Paradise".[11]

2019–present: Wooyoung's hiatus, Wake Up, K's military enlistment and Yohan's death

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On February 11, 2019, TST released the extended play Wake Up, which shares the same name as their second mini album.[12] Wooyoung didn't take part in the EP and in the subsequent releases due to health issues.[13]

On February 20, 2019, KJ Music reported through TST's fan cafè that member K would be enlisting in the military to complete his mandatory service on March 21, 2019.

On January 2, 2020, TST released the single "Countdown" as four members.[14]

On June 16, 2020, Yohan died at the age of 28. The cause of death wasn't revealed.[15][16]

Former Members

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  • Ain (아인)
  • K (케이)
  • Wooyoung (우영)
  • Junghoon (정훈)
  • Yonghyun (용현)
  • Kyeongha (경하)
  • Yohan (요한)

Discography

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Extended plays

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Title Album details Peak chart positions Sales
KOR
[17]
Time's Up
  • Released: January 4, 2017
  • Label: JSL Company, OGAM Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
Track listing
  1. Time's Up
  2. She
  3. Something Special
  4. Don't Call Me (이름 부르지도 마)
  5. Without You
23
Wake Up
Track listing
  1. Can't Wait (못견디게)
  2. Mind Control
  3. Dumb (좋다니까)
  4. Up & Down (하루 열댓번)
  5. Yesman
27

Singles

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Title Year Peak chart
positions
Sales (DL) Album
KOR
[19]
"She" 2017 Time's Up
"Mind Control" Wake Up
"Love Story" 2018 Love Story
"Paradise" Paradise
"Wake Up" 2019 Wake Up
"Countdown" 2020 Countdown
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

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  1. ^ 일급비밀 프로필 (in Korean). Naver.
  2. ^ Kim, Ha-jin (January 3, 2017). "새해 첫 데뷔 그룹"…일급비밀, 실력에 끼까지 갖췄다 (종합) (in Korean). Ten Asia. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  3. ^ "일급비밀, 첫번째 'Time's Up' 실체 및 티저이미지 공개". M.mediapen.com (in Korean). 26 December 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ "'엠카운트다운' 일급비밀, 'Wake Up' 넘치는 흥으로 가득 채운 무대 '카리스마'". Archived from the original on 2020-01-04. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  5. ^ "일급비밀(TST), 5월 중순 완전체로 컴백 "현재 녹음에 박차 가하는 중"". Entertain.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ Park, Se-hyun (May 31, 2018). "[POP이슈]"강제추행 혐의→실형→항소" 일급비밀 경하, 결국 활동중단(종합)". Pop Herald (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  7. ^ Lee, Narin (May 31, 2018). "[SBS Star] TST Kyeongha Gets Sentenced for Sexual Assault". SBS News. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  8. ^ Kim, Min-young; Moon, Je-won (May 31, 2018). [단독]아이돌그룹 ‘일급비밀’ 이경하 강제추행 혐의로 징역1년6월·집행유예3년. Asia Economy Daily (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  9. ^ Park, So-hyun (May 31, 2018). [공식입장] 일급비밀, '엠카' 출연 취소…경하, 강제추행 선고 여파. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  10. ^ [단독] '강제추행 혐의' 일급비밀 경하, 결국 팀 자진탈퇴. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  11. ^ "일급비밀 우영, 건강 이상으로 활동 중단 치료에 전념 중". The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). 28 January 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  12. ^ "일급비밀(TST), 'WAKE UP' 11일 발매 '청량 매력 자랑' - 채희지 기자". Topstarnews.net (in Korean). 11 February 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. ^ "[MK이슈] 유키스 기섭·일급비밀 케이, 오늘(21일) 입대...사회복무요원 복무". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). 21 March 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  14. ^ "'뮤직뱅크' 일급비밀, 팬들 사로잡는 'COUNTDOWN' 시작". Joongboo.com (in Korean). 3 January 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  15. ^ "일급비밀 요한, 16일 사망…국내외 팬들 '충격'". N.news.naver.com. June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  16. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (17 June 2020). "K-pop singer Yohan dies aged 28". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart.
  18. ^ a b "국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Music Chart.
  20. ^ "2018년 5월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  21. ^ "2018년 11월 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
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