Netflix's first K-pop band bags M Countdown performance without even existing, tops music chart with newly released K-drama OST

Indian Express

17-05-2025

Heard of HI-BOYZ yet? The fictional K-pop boy band consisting of three members, just made it to South Korea's Melon chart after a snippet of their new song was played in the ongoing K-drama Resident Playbook. The group, consisting of Um Jay, Soobin, and Top Key, just landed their first M Countdown performance as well. And while the names might not sound too familiar, the faces will definitely ring a bell. The members, other than Kang You Seok, who stars in the medical K-drama as a first-year resident, are none other than TXT members Soobin and Yeonjun. The duo made a cameo in episode 9 with a small performance on the group's original track When the Day Comes, and right after, it entered the Melon Top 100 at #79.
Also read: Resident Playbook: 5 reasons to watch this Netflix medical drama if you loved Hospital Playlist
TXT, consisting of Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and HueningKai, released the new summer anthem When the Day Comes as an original soundtrack for Go Youn Jung and Jung Jun Won's starrer Resident Playbook, which is a spinoff of hit medical drama Hospital Playlist. On May 11, a full track was released featuring all five original members' voices, though only Soobin and Yeonjun played a part in the K-drama as members of HI-BOYZ. The track introduced a romantic arc between residents Um Jae Il and Kim Sa Bi. The full performance video charted #50 on May 12 at Melon. It also reached new peaks on Genie (#21), Bugs (#17), and Flo (#92), according to Nate Pann. Now, watching the growing popularity of the group, makers have decided to debut HI-BOYZ in real life, and according to Soompi, the group will be appearing on Mnet's music program.
Confirming the same, a representative of M Countdown released a statement, 'It's true that HI-BOYZ from 'Resident Playbook' will be appearing on the show,' adding, 'They are scheduled to appear on the upcoming May 22 broadcast.' Interestingly, the group also has a fictional database that suggests they debuted on February 4, 2011, and disbanded on December 28, 2013. They have a fandom name called 'Hi Girls' and even a fanchant, 'Hi~ Hello Girls!' From their official band colours—Sky Blue and Vanilla Cream—to their genre described as 'early 2010s-style upbeat K-pop, with retro charm and emotional warmth,' the official description says Hi Boys debuted with Stone Entertainment.
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The Netflix K-drama will air its final two episodes on May 17 and 18. Since the OTT has marked it as a limited series, it won't be getting a season 2. The show revolves around first-year residents at Yulje Medical Center's Jongno branch, and follows the lives of Oh Yi Young, Kim Sa Bi, Um Jae Il, and Pyo Nam Kyun, all four with different personalities, as they navigate daily challenges in the OB-GYN department, going back and forth on thoughts of quitting, forming new friendships, falling in love, and more. On top of that, the show was praised for showing the lesser-seen side of the hustle in the department — the emotions at a time when South Korea is dealing with a low birth rate.
Since the original Hospital Playlist also had a musical kick with members forming a band, the spinoff maintained that essence while introducing a fictional boy band. This isn't the first time a fictional band has received so much love. Earlier, Byeon Woo Seok's Lovely Runner also debuted a fictional group called Eclipse, and their OST became an overnight sensation.