Infinite (band)

Infinite
Background information
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop Dance-pop Electronic
Years active	2010 (2010)–present
Labels	Woollim Entertainment Universal D
Associated acts	Infinite H Infinite F Toheart
Website	ifnt7.com
Members	Sungkyu Dongwoo Woohyun Hoya Sungyeol L Sungjong

Infinite (Korean: 인피니트) is a South Korean boy band formed in 2010 by Woollim Entertainment. The group is composed of Sungkyu, Dongwoo, Woohyun, Hoya, Sungyeol, L, and Sungjong. Their mini-album New Challenge sold over 160,000 copies in South Korea alone and was one of the best-selling albums of 2013. Their second full album, Season 2, was released in May 2014.

History

2010–2011: Debut, Over the Top, and Japanese debut

In 2010, Infinite first appeared in the Mnet reality show "You Are My Oppa." They made their debut on June 9. They performed songs from their first EP First Invasion with the singles "Come Back Again" and "She's Back".

Infinite in August 2011

On January 7, 2011, the band returned with the single Before the Dawn (BTD) from their second extended play Evolution.

Their first album Over The Top was released on July 21, 2011 along with the music video of their title track Be Mine (내꺼하자). They received their first music show first place award at M! Countdown on September 1, 2011 and received a "Double Crown" for winning two consecutive #1 places at M! Countdown. Following the success of "Be Mine" Infinite re-released a repackaged album titled Paradise, along with its title track with the same name, on September 26, 2011. On October 9, Infinite came first on Inkigayo for "Paradise." Infinite then won their second trophy with "Paradise" on October 13 on M! Countdown.

Infinite unofficially debuted in Japan with their first Japanese single To-Ra-Wa on January 26, 2011, which was a Japanese version of their Korean debut song, "Come Back Again". Immediately after its release, their Evolution album hit #3 on real-time charts for sales in Korea. The song was the top downloaded ringtone on the daily charts of the K-POP section of Japan’s top mobile website. Infinite released various rental singles including "She's Back", "BTD (Before The Dawn)", and "Nothing's Over" before they officially debuted in Japan. Infinite made their official debut with the release of the Japanese version of "BTD" on November 19, 2011. The B-side for the single is "Can U Smile", a remake of a track from their 2nd Mini Album EVOLUTION. It is the 3rd track of their first single album Inspirit.

In December 2011, they digitally released their first Christmas song "White Confession".

2012: First concert and Infinitize

Infinite performing at Cyworld Dream Music Festival in 2011

Infinite performed their very first Korean concert in front of approximately 8,000 fans on February 11–12 at the Seoul Olympic Park in Songpa District, eastern Seoul. The concert was titled Second Invasion, following up the band's debut album, First Invasion. Tickets to the concert sold out within 10 minutes after being released online on December 14.

The group focused on individual activities with Dongwoo featured in Baby Soul/Yoo Jia's new single "She's a Flirt" released on 18 January, L was cast in for the tvN TV drama Shut Up Flower Boy Band which started airing on 30 January, Hoya was cast in Reply 1997 that aired on the 24th of July, Woohyun was cast in The Thousandth Man which started airing on the 17th of August, L was cast in What is Mom that aired on October 8. Infinite sang the sitcom's OST, Fantasy.

The group's second Japanese single was released on April 18, 2012. It included the Japanese version of their song "Be Mine" as its title track, as well as a Japanese version of "Julia". It peaked at #2 both in Oricon Daily and Weekly Charts. Total reported sales amount to at least 54,218 copies.

The group's third mini album was INFINITIZE, which was awarded a "Triple Crown" for winning #1 in a week at all Music Programs. On June 14, 2012, Infinite won their first triple crown on M! Countdown for the "The Chaser" which achieved top spot on the charts for three consecutive weeks. At the end of the year, Billboard named "The Chaser" the number one KPOP song of the year.

2013: New Challenge and first World Tour

Infinite in 2013 at the K-POP World Festival in Changwon

On March 21, the group released their fourth mini album, titled New Challenge. "Man in Love", the title track of the mini album, won 7 music show awards in its promotion period.

The group released their Japanese debut album, Koi ni Ochiru Toki, on June 6. It took the #1 place on the Oricon’s albums chart for the week of June 3 to 9 with 69,647 copies sold.

The group then released their second single, Destiny, on July 16. The group first performed "Destiny" at the 2013 Mnet 20's Choice Awards on July 18 and began promotional performances on MBC's July 20 episode of Show! Music Core and various music programs.

Infinite began their 1st World Tour named One Great Step on August 9 in Seoul. The tour included 22 shows in Asia, North America, Europe and Dubai. The group concluded their world tour with an encore concert, "One Great Step Returns" in Seoul on February 2014. On November 22, 2013, Infinite won the best male group on MAMA (Mnet Asian Music Awards) 2013 and additionally received the "Sony MDR Worldwide Performer" award.

2014: Season 2

On January 16, Mnet released a preview for the group's new reality show, "This is INFINITE", and on February 6, the show aired its first broadcast. This was their first variety show as a group since Ranking King in 2012.

After performing in 15 countries for their world tour, "One Great Step", Infinite held an encore concert titled "One Great Step Returns" to wrap up their world tour. The encore concert was held for 2 days on February 28 and March 1 at Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul. A new sub unit, Toheart, made their debut on March 10.

On April 10, Infinite released The Origin, an instrumental album of the band's most representative songs, and the first album of its kind by a Korean artist. Prior to the release of The Origin, Infinite released the instrumental music video for their song "BTD (Before the Dawn)", which featured never-before-seen footage from the original "BTD" music video.

On May 12, Woollim Entertainment confirmed in an interview with Newsen that Infinite's second studio album, Season 2 will be released on May 21. Prior to the release of the album, Infinite held a showcase in South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, titled 1.2.3. The group held the first showcase in Japan on May 19 and Taiwan on May 20 before performing in South Korea on May 21. On May 21, the music video for "Last Romeo" was released. Infinite then made their comeback with the repackaged album Be Back, on July 22. Infinite performed their first live performance of the title song, "Back", on KBS's Music Bank on July 18.

On September 11, the band had their first Billboard No. 1, with their single "Last Romeo" topping the Billboard Twitter Emerging Artists chart, becoming the first Korean act to do so, and also hitting No. 33 on Billboard Twitter Top Tracks.

On December 18, Infinite released the music video their new Japanese single, "Dilemma", composed by renowned Japanese musician and guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei. The single was subsequently released on December 24 and used as the centerpiece of their upcoming "Dilemma Tour" in Japan in early 2015.

2015: Reality and Second World Tour

On January 24, Infinite teased fans with the official trailer for their Dilemma Tour. The tour commenced on February 1 in Fukoka, with planned concerts in Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi. On May 20, Infinite released their teaser for their Japanese single, '24 Hours'! It includes individual shots of the boys dressed in white to depict angels on earth, a short snippet of the upcoming track is teased to add onto the already heightened anticipation.

On April 29, revealed promotional video (PV) for 24 Hours. Moreover, there is another short PV which was released. This time, the boys cannot be seen throughout the video and rather a couple being sweet together is visible. It exhibits cute scenarios usually done by persons committed in a relationship. At the end, the boy sweetly sung part of the song in a cappella. 24 Hours, has come in 3rd on the Oricon Weekly Chart with 56, 266 copies sold.

At 2015 summer kpop festival

On June 30, Infinite released comeback teaser photos for the release of new mini album Reality. On July 2, they announced that the track Bad would be the title song from Reality, the first music video teaser appeared on July 6 the song itself together with its video was released on July 12, with the release of Reality following on July 13.

On July 21, Infinite released their teaser for Infinite Effect World Tour. Holding a flag with an infinity logo, leader Sung-kyu leads his fellow members through the doors, signaling their invasion into other countries through the teaser video. With the use of fire in the background, tarot cards, coffins, and zombie face makeup, Infinite seems to be going with a dark concept, which has been a strength for the group for their promotions.

"Infinite Effect" will be the group’s second world tour since their first (One Great Step) held in 2013. The tour kickstarted in Seoul for over the course of 2 days on August 8 and 9. On August 24, the band announced several other stops for the concert. More stops for their second world tour has since been announced.

On November 25, MBC Every1 released some teasers for the group's new reality show, "INFINITE SHOWTIME", and on December 10, the show aired its first broadcast on 6 P.M. KST at MBC Every 1. This was their first variety show as a group since "This Is INFINITE" in 2014.

Members

• Kim Sung-kyu
• Jang Dong-woo
• Nam Woo-hyun
• Hoya
• Lee Sung-yeol
• L
• Lee Sung-jong

Sub-Units

Infinite H

Main article: Infinite H

Infinite H (hangul: 인피니트H) is the first official sub-group of South Korean boy group, Infinite formed under Woollim Entertainment in 2013. The sub-group consists of Infinite members Dongwoo and Hoya. The sub-group debuted with their mini album titled Fly High and released their second EP, Fly Again, on January 26, 2015. They also held a press conference and a showcase on the same day at AX Korea, in Seoul. Promotions for the album started on January 31, on M! Countdown and Music Bank.

Infinite F

Main article: Infinite F

Infinite F (hangul: 인피니트F) is a sub-group of South Korean boy group Infinite, formed under Woollim Entertainment in 2014, consisting of Infinite members Sungyeol, L and Sungjong. They first performed as an unofficial unit at Infinite's 1st Inspirit Inauguration on August 17. The trio did a cover of Orange Caramel's "Bangkok City" which was well received by fans and officially announced at the One Great Step Returns encore concert, held February 28 and March 1. Infinite F performed a new song, titled "Heartbeat" on the concert.

On November 25, the album cover for Azure was revealed, closely followed by the announcement that Infinite F would be debuting in Korea the following week. On November 30, Infinite F debuted in Korea with their first single album, Heartbeat. The sub-group made their official music show debut on Music Bank on December 5.

Discography

Main article: Infinite discography

• Over the Top (2011)
• Koi ni Ochiru Toki (2013)
• Season 2 (2014)
• For You (2015)

Tour and Concert

World Tour

• 2013 Infinite 1st World Tour "One Great Step" (2013–2014)
• 2015 Infinite 2nd World Tour "INFINITE EFFECT" (2015–2016)

Korean Tour

• Infinite Second Invasion (2012)
• 2012 Infinite Concert: That Summer (2012)
• 2014 Infinite Concert: That Summer 2 (2014)

Japan Tour

• Infinite Japan 1st Live - Leaping Over (2011)
• Infinite 1st Arena Tour in Japan - Second Invasion Evolution Plus (2012)
• 2015 Infinite Japan Tour - DILEMMA (2015)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role
2012	Infinite Concert: Second Invasion Evolution the Movie 3D	as themselves
2014	Grow: Infinite's Real Youth Life

TV series

Year	Title	Network	Role
2011	Wara Store	Tooniverse	Themselves (voices)

Variety shows

Year	Title	Network	Notes
2010	Infinite! You Are My Oppa	Mnet	Pre-debut reality show with Lovelyz's Jiae
	Days of Infinite
2011	Infinite's Sesame Player
2012	Infinite's Ranking King
2013	Infinite's Japan Story
2014	This Is Infinite
2015	Infinite Showtime	MBC Every1

Awards and nominations

Golden Disk Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result
2012	Disk Bonsang Award	Over the Top	Won
	Most Popular Artist Award	Be Mine	Nominated
	MSN Most Popular Artist Award		Nominated
	Hallyu Icon Award	Infinite	Won
2013	Disk Bonsang Award	Infinitize	Won
	Best Group Performance	Infinite	Won
2014	Disk Bonsang Award	New Challenge	Won
	Popularity Award	Destiny	Nominated
2015	Disk Bonsang Award	Season 2	Won

Seoul Music Awards

Year	Category	Recipient	Result
2010	Popularity Award	Infinite	Nominated
2011	Bonsang Award	Be Mine, Paradise	Nominated
	Popularity Award	Infinite	Nominated
2014	Bonsang Award	Destiny	Won
	Popularity Award	Infinite	Nominated
2015	Bonsang Award	Season 2	Won
	Special Hallyu Award	Infinite	Won

Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA)

The Mnet Asian Music Awards (abbreviated as MAMA), formerly "M.net KM Music Festival" (MKMF) (1999–2008), is a major K-pop music award show that is held by Mnet Media annually in South Korea.
Daesang Award (Grand Prize) is equivalent to Artist of the Year.

Bout	Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
12th	2010	Come Back Again	Best New Male Artist Award	Nominated
13th	2011	Be Mine
			Song of the Year	Nominated
			Best Dance Performance by a Male Group	Nominated
14th	2012	The Chaser
			Song of the Year	Nominated
			Best Music Video	Nominated
			Best Dance Performance by a Male Group	Nominated
15th	2013	Infinite	Best Male Group	Won
		Man In Love	Best Dance Performance – Male Group	Nominated
		1st World Tour - One Great Step	Sony MDR World Wide Performer	Won
16th	2014	Last Romeo	Best Dance Performance – Male Group	Won
		Infinite	K-pop Fan's Choice - Male	Won
		Season 2	BC – UnionPay Album of the Year	Nominated
		Last Romeo	Song of the Year	Nominated
17th	2015	Infinite	Best Dance Performance - Male Group	Nominated
		Infinite H	Best Collaboration & Unit	Nominated
		Bad	Best Music Video	Nominated
			UnionPay Song of the Year	Nominated

Korean Music Awards

Bout	Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
9th	2012	Over the Top	Group Musician of the Year by Netizens	Won
12th	2015	Season 2	Group Musician of the Year by Netizens	Won

Melon Music Awards

Melon Music Awards use only digital sales and online votes to judge winners.
Daesang Award (Grand Prize) is equivalent Artist of the Year.

Bout	Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
3rd	2011	Infinite	2011 Top 10	Nominated
4th	2012		2012 Top 10	Won
			Daesang - Artist of the Year	Nominated
7th	2015	Infinite	Netizen Popularity Award	Nominated
		Kim Sungkyu	Rock Award	Won

Mnet 20's Choice Awards

Bout	Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
7th	2013	Infinite	Best Global Touring Artist	Won
			20’s Mwave Global Star	Nominated

Other

Year	Award	Category	Nominated Work	Result
2010	18th Korean Culture Entertainment Awards	New Generation Popular Music Teen Singer Award	Infinite	Won
2011	Mnet M! Countdown	Idol Dance Competition	Hoya and Dongwoo	Won
	The Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club (SFCC) PR Awards	Performance Group	Infinite	Won
	Mnet M! Countdown Awards	Best Action Performance	Before the Dawn (BTD) "Scorpion Dance"	Won
	OBS Idol Stars Awards	Idol Growth No.1	Infinite	Won
2012	Billboard Korea	Best K-Pop Song of 2012	The Chaser	Won
	SBS MTV Best of the Best Awards	Best Dance Music Video		Won
2013		Best Unit	Infinite H	Won
	13th Republic of Korea National Assembly Awards	Popular Music of the Year	Infinite	Won
	SBS Inkigayo Half-Year Wrap Up Special	Viewer's Choice Award (Popularity)	Man In Love	Won
	SBS Gayo Daejun SOTY Poll	#1 Group People Want to Meet	Infinite	Won
2014	SBS Gayo Daejun	Best Performance Chosen by Viewers		Won
		Top 10 award		Won
2015	21st Republic of Korea Entertainment Art Awards	Best Male Group		Won
	iQiyi All Star Carnival	Best Asia Performing Group Best Music Award Of The Year		Won
2016	Korea Cable TV Awards	Best Singer		Won

Music Program Awards

These are the collection of Infinite's wins on Korea's televised music program shows.
M! Countdown is aired on Korean cable channel M.net, Music Bank on KBS, Inkigayo on SBS, Show Champion on MBC Music, Music Core on MBC and The Show on SBS MTV.

Inkigayo

Year	Date	Song
2011	October 9	"Paradise"
2012	June 3	"The Chaser"
	June 10
2013	March 31	"Man in Love"
	April 7
	July 28	"Destiny"

M! Countdown

Year	Date	Song
2011	September 1	"Be Mine"
	September 8
	October 13	"Paradise"
2012	May 31	"The Chaser"
	June 7
	June 14
2013	April 4	"Man in Love"
	July 25	"Destiny"
2014	May 29	"Last Romeo"
	June 5
2015	July 23	"Bad"

Music Bank

Year	Date	Song
2012	June 1	"The Chaser"
2013	April 5	"Man in Love"
	April 12
2014	May 30	"Last Romeo"
	June 13
2015	July 24	"Bad"

MBC Music Show Champion

Year	Date	Song
2012	June 5	"The Chaser"
2013	April 3	"Man in Love"
	July 31	"Destiny"
2014	May 28	"Last Romeo"
	June 4
2015	July 22	"Bad"

The Show

Year	Date	Song
2015	July 21	"Bad"
	July 28

MBC Show! Music Core

Year	Date	Song
2013	April 20	"Man in Love"
	July 27	"Destiny"
2014	August 2	"Back"
2015	July 25	"Bad"

External links

• Official Website (Korean)

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by f(x)	Korean Music Awards: Group Musician of the Year 2012	Succeeded by Incumbent