Shinhwa

Shinhwa (신화) is the template for idol longevity in Korea. Debuting in 1998 under SM Entertainment, the six-member group proved that a first-generation act could survive contract exits, military service, and industry resets without sacrificing its original lineup or its identity.

The group's core run stretches from early breakout records like T.O.P. and Perfect Man through later albums such as Brand New, The Return, and Heart. Just as important, Shinhwa built a second blueprint when Eric Mun, Lee Min Woo, Shin Hye-sung, Kim Dong-wan, Jun Jin, and Andy Lee carried the group into the self-managed era through Shinhwa Company.

That is why the name still matters in 2026. Shinhwa is not remembered only as a first-generation success story. The group remains the benchmark for what happens when an idol act protects its catalog, keeps all six members in the room, and turns longevity into part of the art rather than a nostalgia footnote.