CIX (Korean: 씨아이엑스; RR: Ssiaiekseu; pronounced as C-I-X) is a South Korean boy band formed by C9 Entertainment. The group consists of four members: BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, and Hyunsuk. Originally a five-member group, Bae Jin-young left the group after in August 2024. They debuted on July 23, 2019, with their first EPHello Chapter 1: Hello, Stranger.
Name
The group's name, CIX, the English acronym of "Complete in X", means that it is completed only when all 5 unknown members come together, and it implies the meaning of "completion of unknown numbers".[1]
History
2017–2018: Pre-debut activities
Bae Jin-young is a former winning contestant of Mnet's Produce 101 Season 2. As a 10-month old trainee representing C9 Entertainment, he successfully finished at 10th place in the final rankings and earned his spot in the winning group Wanna One.[2] Following the disbandment of Wanna One, Bae debuted as a soloist in 2019 with his self-composed album Hard to Say Goodbye[3] and held his first Asia fan-meeting tour "I'm Young" in connection with his debut, featuring eleven shows.[4]
In October 2017, BX appeared as a contestant on JTBC's Mix Nine under his birth name Lee Byoung-gon, finishing in 9th place thus earning a spot in the winning group. However, YG later decided not to debut said group.[5] As both Lee Byoung-gon and bandmate Kim Seung-hun were YGE trainees, in 2018 the two competed in the survival show YG Treasure Box for the label's next boy group, Treasure, where both failed to debut in the finale.[6] In November 2017, Seunghun also appeared on Mnet survival program Stray Kids while still a YGE trainee.[7]
2019–2021: Debut, Hello tetralogy and begin of OK series
In February 2019, C9 starting revealed all five-members individual profile videos of upcoming boy group with tentative name C9Boyz.[8]
In May 2019, the group's official name and logo were revealed.[9] Ahead of debut, the group broadcast the reality show Hello CIX on June 4, 2019, through V Live. The show consisted of 10 episodes showcasing their various charms and road to debut.[10]
On July 23, 2019, CIX released their debut EP Hello Chapter 1: Hello, Stranger and lead single "Movie Star".[11] The album was a mild commercial success, selling 70,000 copies in two months.[12] "Hello, Stranger", the debut showcase of CIX, was held on July 24, at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium[13] and the tickets reportedly sold out within 30 seconds, with over 16,000 fans trying to get on the server at once and with over 5,000 fans being put on standby for the tickets.[14][unreliable source?][unreliable source] On July 30, six days after their debut showcase, the group placed first on The Show, and earned the title of one of the fastest winning K-pop acts.[15] CIX signed with Warner Music Japan in August[16] and made their Japanese debut on October 23, 2019, with a Japanese version of Hello Chapter 1: Hello, Stranger. The Japanese album features an additional Japanese track called "My New World".[17] On November 10, CIX held their Japanese debut showcase "Complete in X" at Line Cube Shibuya, and at Zepp Namba on November 17.[18] Nine days later, CIX released their second EP Hello Chapter 2: Hello, Strange Place with the lead single "Numb",[19] tackling social issues among youth in South Korea, such as poor mental health, bullying, and the obsession with test results among students.[20]
On April 1, 2020, CIX released their first Japanese single Revival.[21] On April 15, C9 announced that CIX would hold their 1st fan-meeting tour, "Hello, FIX" starting from locations in North America, Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] In September, the fan-meeting was announced to be held online on October 11 in 40 regions.[23] On April 30, CIX announced that their third EP Hello Chapter 3: Hello, Strange Time with the lead single "Jungle", which was originally set to be released on June 30, 2020.[24] On June 24, it was announced that a member of the group, Bae Jin-young, had injured himself during a practice session. C9 stated that due to his injury they would have to postpone the release of the album and new plans would be released soon.[25][unreliable source?][unreliable source] On October 15, CIX announced that their third EP would be released on October 27, 2020.[26]
On January 14, 2021, CIX announced their fourth EP Hello Chapter Ø: Hello, Strange Dream and its lead single "Cinema" would be released on February 2.[27] On April 14, CIX released their second Japanese single All For You.[28] On July 1, CIX released the promotional single "Tesseract" through Universe Music for the mobile application Universe.[29] On August 17, their first studio album OK Prologue: Be OK and its lead single "Wave" was released.[30]
2022–present: Pinky Swear, continue of OK series, concert tour and Jinyoung's departure
In March 2022, C9 announced that CIX would hold their first concert, Rebel, starting from April 15 to 17.[31] C9 later announced new dates, with additional legs in the United States.[32] On March 30, 2022, CIX released their first Japanese studio album Pinky Swear.[33] On August 22, CIX released their fifth EP OK Episode 1: OK Not.[34] On November 15, CIX announced that they would hold a world tour, "Save Me, Kill Me", starting from December 30 and 31 in Seoul and would continue in Europe and US.[35]
On February 20, 2023, CIX announced the addition of four cities.[36] On May 11, CIX announced that their sixth EP OK Episode 2: I'm OK would be released on May 29.[37]
On August 5, 2024, C9 Entertainment announced the departure of member Bae Jin-young from the group after his contract with the company had ended on August 1 and the group continued as a four-piece group.[38]
^Ko Myung-jin (May 21, 2019). "'배진영 그룹 C9BOYZ→'CIX'로 정식 팀명 확정..."하반기 데뷔 목표"(공식)" ['Bae Jin-young's group C9BOYZ→'CIX' official team name confirmed... "Goal for debut in the second half" (official)]. Herald POP (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Choi Na-young (May 3, 2018). "[공식입장 전문] YG측 "'믹스나인' 데뷔 무산, 6곳 기획사와 협의 끝 결정..죄송"" [[Full text of official position] YG side "'Mix Nine' debut was canceled, decision was made after consultation with 6 agencies..sorry"]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved November 26, 2019 – via Naver.
^"[이슈종합] C9BOYZ 이병곤-김승훈-김용희-배진영-윤현석, 그룹 명 씨아이엑스(CIX) 확정...'하반기 데뷔 목표'(feat.YG연습생 출신2명)" [[Comprehensive issue] C9BOYZ Lee Byung-gon - Kim Seung-hoon - Kim Yong-hee - Bae Jin-young - Yun Hyun-suk, group name CIX confirmed... 'goal to debut in the second half' (feat. 2 former YG trainees)]. Top Star News (in Korean). May 21, 2019. Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
^Lee, Ha-na (July 24, 2019). "'YG보석함 출신' CIX BX·승훈 "경연 참가 후회 안 해, 덕분에 성장했다"" ['From YG Treasure Box' CIX BX and Seunghun "I don't regret participating in the contest, I grew up thanks to them"] (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^Kang Seo-jung (February 27, 2019). "배진영, 신인 그룹 C9BOYZ로 데뷔 확정..개인활동→하반기 출격[공식입장]" [Bae Jin-young confirmed his debut as a rookie group, C9BOYZ..Individual activities → sortie in the second half [official position]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^Lee Ye-ji (May 21, 2019). "[이슈종합] C9BOYZ 이병곤-김승훈-김용희-배진영-윤현석, 그룹 명 씨아이엑스(CIX) 확정...'하반기 데뷔 목표'(feat.YG연습생 출신2명)" [[Comprehensive issue] C9BOYZ Lee Byung-gon - Kim Seung-hoon - Kim Yong-hee - Bae Jin-young - Yoon Hyun-suk, group name CIX confirmed... 'goal to debut in the second half' (feat. 2 former YG trainees)]. Top Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
^ ab"'배진영 그룹' CIX, 데뷔 리얼리티 'HELLO CIX' 출격...6월 4일 첫 방송" ['Bae Jinyoung Group' CIX, debut reality show 'HELLO CIX' sortie... First broadcast on June 4th]. Naver (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 8, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
^Ji-won, Shin (September 15, 2020). "'배진영 부상 완치' CIX, 10월 11일 첫 온라인 팬미팅 개최" ['Bae Jin-young's injury fully recovered' CIX holds first online fan meeting on October 11th]. Hankyung (in Korean).
^Hong Se-young (September 26, 2020). '완전체 출격' CIX, 10월 11일 온라인 팬미팅 개최 [공식] ['Complete sortie' CIX to hold online fan meeting on October 11th [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee Hye-lim (March 2, 2022). "CIX, 데뷔 2년9개월만에 첫 단독 콘서트 'REBEL" [CIX's first solo concert 'REBEL' after 2 years and 9 months of debut] (in Korean). Newsis. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022 – via Naver.
^Park, Seo-hyun (May 11, 2023). "CIX, 'OK' 시리즈 잇는다..29일 컴백 확정 '타임테이블 오픈'" [CIX continues the 'OK' series... Confirmed comeback on the 29th 'Timetable Open']. Herald POP (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
^"OK Prologue: Be OK". September 13, 2021. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
^週間 アルバムランキング 2022年04月11日付 [Oricon Weekly Album Ranking dated April 11, 2022] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
"Movie Star": 2019년 30주차 Download Chart [Week 30 of 2019 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). July 21–27, 2019. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
"Numb": 2019년 47주차 Download Chart [Week 47 of 2019 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). November 17–23, 2019. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
"Jungle": 2020년 44주차 Download Chart [Week 44 of 2020 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). October 25–31, 2020. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
"Cinema": 2021년 06주차 Download Chart [Week 6 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). January 31 – February 6, 2021. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
"Wave": 2021년 34주차 Download Chart [Week 34 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). August 15–21, 2021. Archived from the original on August 26, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
^2021년 27주차 Download Chart [Week 27 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Chart (in Korean). June 27 – July 3, 2021. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
^Lee, Seul (February 11, 2023). "BTS, 대상 2관왕...NCT 드림 '네온빛' 물든 '한터뮤직어워즈' (엑's 현장)[종합]" [BTS wins 2 grand prizes... NCT Dream 'Hanteo Music Awards' dyed with 'neon light' (X's site) [Comprehensive]] (in Korean). X-ports News. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Naver.
^Lee, Tae-soo (February 18, 2024). 한터뮤직어워즈 대상에 NCT 드림·세븐틴 등 [Hanteo Music Awards Grand Prize Winners: NCT Dream, Seventeen, etc.] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved February 19, 2024 – via Naver.
^Jo, Hye-jin (December 1, 2022). "CIX(씨아이엑스), '대한민국 문화연예대상' K-POP 가수상 수상" [CIX (CIX) won the K-POP Singer Award at the 'Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards] (in Korean). X-port News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022 – via Naver.
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