One of the K-pop groups that is definitely known by some K-pop fans who like the second generation is SS501. The group also had their sub-unit promoting with 3 members and was known as Double S 301 or SS301. Do you know what songs were released by Double S 301 that were promoted to this sub-unit? If not, let’s get to know more about SS501’s sub-unit Double S 301’s profile, career journey, debut era, and stage performances in the article below!
Double S 301’s Profile
Double S 301 has 3 members who were promoted to this sub-unit who are Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, and Kim Hyung-jun. The three of them were promoted while the other 2 members of SS501 were busy with individual schedules. So, without waiting any longer, let’s find out more about Double S 301’s members’ profiles in the session below!
Double S 301’s Heo Young-saeng
Real Name: Heo Young-saeng (Hangul: 허영생) Birth: Gwangju, South Korea, November 3, 1986 Star Sign: Scorpio Height: 178 cm Weight: 63 kg Blood Type: O Position in the Group: Main vocalist
Double S 301’s Kim Kyu-jong
Real Name: Kim Kyu-jong (Hangul: 김규종) Birth: Jeonju, South Korea, February 24, 1987 Star Sign: Pisces Height: 181 cm Weight: 65 kg Blood Type: A Position in the Group: Main rapper, vocalist
Double S 301’s Hyung-jun
Real Name: Kim Hyung-jun (Hangul: 김형준) Birth: August 3, 1987 Star Sign: Leo Height: 181 cm Weight: 66 kg Blood Type: O Position in the Group: Lead vocalist, rapper, maknae
Double S 301’s Career Journey
SS301 or also known as Double S 301 has 3 members: Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, and Kim Hyung-jun. The first unit was formed in 2008. Later, Kim Hyun-joong received an offer to play a role in the K-drama Boys Over Flowers and Park Jung-min in Musical Grease. The song they promoted during this time was “U R Man” which was released in November 2008. At this time, they were the first idol unit to take first place. Afterward, they also worked on the OST for Boys Over Flowers with the song “Because I’m Stupid.” The KBS drama’s OST was played even on MBC and SBS. Unfortunately, they couldn’t win 1st place, but during this time, 1st place was taken by Girls’ Generation‘s “Gee.” At this time, they did not decide on a separate unit name and worked under the original group name. Maybe that’s why there are quite a few people who know “U R Man” because it’s a song sung by five people. Since they were a full unit for “U R Man” in 2008, fans and the public were looking forward to a second comeback song. They said they were thinking about how SS301 would have its comeback, but it actually happened after SS501 emphasized the fact that they did not disband and must unite. The group apologized to the fans for not being able to come out as a whole due to the quest of two members in the Ministry of National Defense. As an added bonus, they are said to be tested for identification at the age of 30. More than five years since the group’s last release, the three members of SS501 returned in 2016. CI Ent revealed the new Double S 301. Consisting of three members from SS501, the music is new and is the first collaboration release of the iconic K-pop personnel from the early 2000s since 2009. Although the members’ faces were not revealed in the teaser photos, CI Ent teased K-pop music lovers that “U R Man” is back, hinting at the 2008 unit project hit song of SS501. The renamed group consists of Heo Young-saeng, Kim Kyu-jong, and Kim Hyung-jun. Kim Hyung-jun and Heo Young-saeng are represented by CI Ent while Kim Kyu-jong is currently signed to B2M Entertainment. The name Double S 301 was taken from SS501 and was changed to represent the reduced number of personnel. The leader of SS501, Kim Hyun-joong, and the strong vocalist of the group, Park Jung-min, are absent from promotions. Kim Hyun-joong, a successful solo singer and actor, was serving his mandatory military service in the midst of a court case he had to undergo regarding the determination of his son’s representative. Park Jung-min was also serving in the military and has released several solo albums since the group in 2010. He is also pursuing a career in acting and has appeared in several Korean and Japanese dramas. SS501 debuted under the management of DSP Media in 2005. The group rose to fame as an international star after Kim Hyun-joong’s role in Boys Over Flowers and SS501’s “Because I’m Stupid” representing the theme song of the hit drama. The group went on hiatus in 2010 but never officially disbanded, and the members have collaborated in recent years with various appearances on variety shows. They have prepared a new album as an offering for the fans who have been waiting for them faithfully. No longer under DSP, now the three have a new house called CI Entertainment. This album is titled ETERNAL5. It seems to be code explaining that even though the five of them can’t be active anymore, the SS501 group remains intact with a five-member formation like when they first debuted. The album ETERNAL5 was officially available on February 16, 2016, digitally and streaming on South Korean music sites or to buy physically. SS301’s promotion went smoothly. However, Heo Young-saeng, Kim Hyung-jun, and Kim Kyu-jong apparently felt different when performing with the SS301 and SS501 flags. You might like to check: What Happened to SS501 After Disband? In their comeback to celebrate 11 years of SS501, Kim Kyu-jong said. “I think we feel a little different when singing in SS501 and SS301. When listening to SS501 songs, there is an empty space because we don’t perform fully. That’s why we chose “Pain” and “Ah-Ha.” It will suit our voices,” explained Kim Kyu-jong to the local media. Two of their colleagues, Kim Hyun-joong and Park Jung-min, were serving in the military. Even so, SS301 did not forget to thank the fans who continued to support them until their 11th year. “All that because our fans grew up, just like we grew up. Some of our fans watch over us like parents watch over their children. We are very grateful,” Kim Kyu-jong continued. SS301 celebrated 11 years by releasing the album ESTRENo on June 9th, 2016. They have a very strong fan base in Japan and China.
Double S 301 made a comeback in Korea and Japan in mid-2017 by releasing a special album titled Unison No.1 with the title track “Hello Mello” and several other singles released on Japanese albums.
Double S 301’s Debut Era
Double S 301 made their unofficial debut by releasing “U R Man” as their single track which was released on November 21, 2008, and was promoted by 3 members of SS501. Two members of SS501, Park Jung-min and Kim Hyun-joong, have other schedules that require them to take a temporary hiatus from idol activities. Thus, Double S 301 was formed to continue promoting as an idol group. U R Man is the SS501 fifth Korean mini-album and is also credited to SS501’s special project group Double S 301 that surfaced and performed promotions with 3 members. Besides U R Man, Double S 301 also released several songs that were added to the album, such as “Is It Love?,” “Never Let You Go,” and “I Am.”
Double S 301’s Music Video
“U R Man”‘s music video was released on DSP Media’s YouTube channel featuring all the members from SS501, which consists of 5 members, in different scenes. The three members who promoted in Double S 301 were in the main scene while dancing in the middle of a city background energetically with several backup dancers. “U R Man” also has a medium beat like K-pop songs in the mid-2000s with catchy electronic sound effects.
Debut Stage
Even though Double S 301 did not have the debut stage that had been planned beforehand, their special presence on the comeback stage with the formation of 3 members from SS501 was enough to make fans excited and hysterical. In the performance that was broadcasted on Mnet, Double S 301 made a special appearance even though it still carried the title as SS501 by performing “U R Man” very energetically on stage.
Double S 301’s Stage Performances
The appearance of Double S 301 was never forgotten when they made a cameo performance in the K-drama Boys Over Flowers and received a positive response from fans and viewers of the K-drama. The three of them performed with the same charisma as they usually show in performances with SS501. On January 11, 2009, Double S 301 held a performance that was aired on SBS’s Inkigayo with a remix version of “U R Man”. You can watch the comeback stage of this episode and hear clearly the fans screaming their fan chants to cheer on the performance of Double S 301.
On June 11, 2016, Double S 301 held a comeback stage that was aired on MBC’s Music Core by performing one of their singles entitled “AH-HA”. Slightly different from their initial concept, Double S 301 looks more playful, wears casual outfits, and manages to create a performance that made fans excited to shout their fan chant.
On February 18, 2016, Double S 301 held a comeback stage after several years of hiatus and released “Pain” as their single that was aired on M Countdown. This song has deep and mellow lyrics, but it is delivered with a slightly sensual choreography with body rolls that make the members look sexy in this performance.
In 2020, Double S 301 made their latest appearance through MMTG by performing “U R Man” with a 2-member formation because Hyung-jun had just finished his military service. There has been no further promotion in the entertainment industry. To treat the fans’ homesickness, the two members of Double S 301 performed with the same energy in this special performance! Well, that is all of the information about Double S 301 including getting to know the members, career journey, debut era, and the stage performances. What do you think about one of the sub-units of this second-generation K-pop group? Do you miss Double S 301? Let’s give support to each member and hope that in the future they will promote together again! If you like this article, don’t forget to share it on your social media and wait for another interesting article from Channel-Korea!
