K-pop boy band Shinhwa to form subunit with 3 members

Subunit of Shinhwa is named WDJ and will consist of members Jun Jin, Lee Min-woo and Kim Dong-wan. [LIVEWORKS COMPANY]

Boy band Shinhwa, one of Korea’s longest-standing bands that debuted in 1998, announced it will form a subunit.

The subunit will consist of three Shinhwa members: Jun Jin, Lee Min-woo and Kim Dong-wan, confirmed Liveworks Company, the label that represents Jun, Kim, Lee and Shin Hye-sung, on Wednesday. The name of the subunit will be WDJ.

Local news outlet Spotv News first reported early Wednesday morning that Shinhwa would create a subunit composed of three members. Many fans took a shot at guessing who the members would be, and many were right as the three members are represented by the same agency.

Shin Hye-sung, another Shinhwa member represented by Liveworks Company but not part of the subunit, announced last year that he wants to take a break due to his deteriorating health condition, and stepped down from hosting a radio channel. The other two members, Andy and Eric, are represented by TOP Media.

Liveworks said no details have been set except that the members will begin their activities as a subunit from this winter.

The six-member band, whose members are now all in their early 40s, had ups and downs, but is the only K-pop boy band that has survived 24 years without any changes in the band members. Shinhwa debuted in 1998 with its full-length album "Resolver."

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]