H1-KEY Returns With LOVECHAPTER, Their Most Personal Mini-Album Yet

H1-KEY's fifth mini-album LOVECHAPTER arrives March 5, 2026 with a first-love concept and title track 'To, My First Love.'

Ella

March 3, 2026

#K-Pop#Mini Album#Comeback#H1-KEY#LOVECHAPTER#Girl Group#GLG

H1-KEY is coming back, and this time they are going all in on the feeling everyone knows but few ever fully recover from: first love. The group's fifth mini-album, LOVECHAPTER (러브챕터), drops on March 5, 2026 at 6 PM KST, and the teasers alone have made the case that this is the quartet's most emotionally considered work to date.

Seven Tracks, Two Versions, One Concept

LOVECHAPTER arrives in two physical versions, "Dear." and "From.", a sender-and-receiver framing that fits the album's first-love theme with almost painful precision. The tracklist runs seven songs deep, led by the title track "To, My First Love" (나의 첫사랑에게). Early previews from the highlight medley show the group leaning into a dreamy, nostalgic school-life aesthetic, with styling to match: cardigans, uniforms, soft light. Think late summer afternoons, the feeling you can name but never quite recreate.

H1-KEY LOVECHAPTER 5th mini album highlight medley graphic with member names Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel — H1-KEY's LOVECHAPTER highlight medley teaser, featuring members Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel. Image: GLG / H1-KEY Official

H1-KEY: Four Members, One Direction

Formed by Grandline Group (GLG) and distributed through Sony Music Korea, H1-KEY made their debut on January 5, 2022, with the single "Athletic Girl." The current lineup, Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel, has been consistent since June 2022, when Hwiseo joined following original member Sitala's departure. Over four mini-albums, the group has built a following around their ability to blend fresh pop production with emotionally direct writing. Their previous release, Lovestruck, landed in June 2025 and continued that upward trajectory.

Yel trained under JYP Entertainment before joining H1-KEY. Riina came up through WM Entertainment and even appeared on the K-pop survival competition Produce 48. Seoi trained at YG Entertainment. It is a lineup that quietly carries serious pedigree, even if H1-KEY has not yet broken through to the top tier of girl group recognition. LOVECHAPTER looks like their most direct attempt to change that.

What the Teaser Tells You

The MV teaser for "To, My First Love" opens on a member in school uniform, shot against a bright open sky, hair catching the wind. It is the kind of image that communicates the whole concept in a single frame: youth, memory, longing. The teaser is short, but the production quality is there. GLG is clearly investing in the visual language of this comeback, not just the music.

"To, My First Love" MV teaser. Video: H1-KEY Official / GLG

Why This Matters in March 2026

The current K-pop landscape is crowded with girl group comebacks competing for the same music show slots and chart real estate. H1-KEY's approach with LOVECHAPTER is to go specific rather than broad: first love, not "love." That focus is a strategic bet. Audiences who have watched the nostalgic-romance concept trend upward since 2024 will recognize what H1-KEY is reaching for here, and a well-executed title track could be the moment the group crosses from dedicated fanbase to general public recognition.

LOVECHAPTER releases globally on March 5, 2026. Keep an eye on the full MV drop and the first music show performance.

Fans Also Ask

When did H1-KEY LOVECHAPTER release?

H1-KEY's fifth mini-album LOVECHAPTER (러브챕터) released March 5, 2026 at 6 PM KST across all major streaming platforms. The album is available in two physical versions: "Dear." and "From.", a sender-and-receiver concept that fits the first-love theme. The title track is "To, My First Love" (나의 첫사랑에게), an emotionally direct pop song built around youthful nostalgia.

Who are the members of H1-KEY?

H1-KEY is a four-member girl group consisting of Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel. The group debuted January 5, 2022 under Grandline Group (GLG). Member Yel trained at JYP Entertainment, Riina previously appeared on the survival show Produce 48 under WM Entertainment, and Seoi trained at YG Entertainment. The current lineup has been stable since Hwiseo joined in June 2022.

What is H1-KEY LOVECHAPTER about?

LOVECHAPTER is a seven-track album centered on first love, specifically the nostalgic feelings tied to youthful romance that most people never fully get over. The album leans into a dreamy school-life aesthetic with styling including cardigans, uniforms, and soft natural lighting. Its two physical versions, "Dear." and "From.", mirror the album's sender-and-receiver emotional structure.

What happened to H1-KEY's original lineup?

H1-KEY originally debuted with a different lineup. Original member Sitala departed the group, and Hwiseo joined in June 2022 to complete the current four-member lineup of Seoi, Riina, Hwiseo, and Yel. Since Hwiseo joined, the lineup has remained consistent across four mini-albums, building steady momentum toward LOVECHAPTER as their most emotionally ambitious release.

What label is H1-KEY under?

H1-KEY is managed by Grandline Group (GLG), an independent Korean entertainment company, with their music distributed through Sony Music Korea. The group debuted under GLG on January 5, 2022. Their fourth mini-album Lovestruck released in June 2025, followed by LOVECHAPTER in March 2026 as their fifth release under the label.