INFINITE

Infinite is a South Korean boy band known for its meticulously synchronized dancing and choreography and high-energy style, which draws from R&B, electronic, and dance-pop. The group gained fame with massive hits like "The Chaser" and "Man in Love" and secured their place in K-pop history with chart-topping efforts like Over the Top (2011), Season 2 (2014), Top Seed (2018), and Like Infinite (2025). Formed in 2010 by Woolim Entertainment, Infinite (stylized in all caps) initially operated as a seven-piece with leader Sunggyu (Kim Sung Gyu), Dongwoo (Jang Dong Woo), Woohyun (Nam Woo Hyun), Sungyeol (Lee Seong Yeol), L/Myungsoo (Kim Myung Soo), Sungjong (Lee Sung Jong), and Hoya (Lee Ho-Won), the latter of whom left the group in 2017. Infinite released their debut mini-album, First Invasion, in 2010, which featured the singles "Come Back Again" and "She's Back," and peaked at number ten on the Gaon Album Chart. 2011 proved to be a big year for the group with the arrival of their sophomore mini-album Evolution and their first full-length effort, Over the Top. They also made their unofficial Japanese debut with the arrival of the single "To-Ra-Wa," and later solidified their presence in the country with the release of the Japanese version of the Evolution hit "BTD (Before the Dawn)." February 2012 saw the group make their concert debut with shows at Seoul's Olympic Stadium and Tokyo's International Forum, and release the mini-album Infinitize, which included the hit single "The Chaser." The mini-LP New Challenge arrived the following year, as did the group's first full-length outing in Japan, Koi ni Ochiru Toki, which peaked at number one on the Oricon Albums Charts. In 2014 Infinite landed their first Billboard hit with the single "Last Romeo," which appeared on the group's chart-topping sophomore long-player Season 2. The Reality EP arrived in 2015, as did the band's second Japanese LP, For You, and in 2016 they issued their sixth extended play, Infinite Only. The following year saw the release of the Japanese full-length effort Air, and marked the departure of Hoya (Lee Ho-Won), who elected not to renew his contract with Woolim. The newly minted six-piece released their third album, Top Seed, in early 2018, followed by the announcement that Sunggyu (Kim Sung Gyu) would be going on hiatus in May to serve in the South Korean armed forces. The atmospheric "Clock," the group's first single as a quintet, was released in 2019. Hoya left the fold in 2017 to pursue a solo career, and the band elected to forge on as a six-piece. Infinite was then put on hiatus so that members could complete military service. The band reunited in 2023 for the EP 13egin, with Like Infinite appearing in 2025. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi