[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] Fin.K.L.’s reunion, coming 21 years later, is a bit different from the past. It’s not just an event where they come together to reminisce and then go their separate ways; it’s a comeback aimed at reviving the group “Fin.K.L.” The formula for first-generation idol reunions is shifting from “evoking memories” to “active groups.”

Fin.K.L. will resume activities as a full four-member group consisting of Lee Hyori, Ok Joo-hyun, Lee Jin, and Sung Yu-ri. This marks their first full-scale activities under the group name in approximately 21 years, since their 2005 digital single “Forever Fin.K.L.” Although they reunited on the 2019 JTBC show “Camping Club” to release the new song “Like a Song That Remains,” that project was largely a one-off initiative tied to the broadcast. This time is different. Gemstone E&M is collaborating with the four members and affiliated companies to handle the planning and management of their activities, and they plan to unveil a variety of projects sequentially. Specific plans for albums or concerts have not yet been disclosed.
◇Just a one-time reunion?…The Changing Landscape of First-Generation Reunions
There have already been several reunions of first-generation idols. In 2018—17 years after their disbandment—H.O.T. held a full-group concert at the Jamsil Olympic Main Stadium in Seoul. Sechs Kies reunited in 2016—16 years after their disbandment—following their appearance on MBC’s “Infinite Challenge,” and they haven’t stopped since. They signed with YG Entertainment, released the new song “Three Words,” and expanded their activities to include solo concerts, a remake album, and music show appearances.
In particular, god serves as a prime example of how the way first-generation groups operate has changed. While the members are active with their respective agencies and in their own fields, they consistently continue to perform as the full “god” lineup. This marks a departure from the past structure, where group activities were only possible if all members were reunited under a single agency.

Fin.K.L. has also taken a similar path. Lee Hyori is active as a singer and TV personality, Ok Joo-hyun as a musical actress, and Lee Jin and Sung Yu-ri also have their own lives and career bases. Instead of grouping them under a single agency, an external company collaborates with the members and their affiliated agencies to separately plan and manage “Fin.K.L.” activities. Coincidentally, Gemstone E&M—the company entrusted with this role—is also the agency for god members Denian, Son Ho-young, and Kim Tae-woo.
This approach can be a practical option for idols who have been in the industry for over 20 to 30 years. Given that the members have already established their own agencies, primary careers, and personal lives, it is not easy for them to reunite under a single agency as they did in the past. Conversely, by managing group activities separately, they can continue performing as a full group—releasing music and holding concerts—without having to give up their individual careers.
This is precisely why Fin.K.L.’s comeback is drawing so much attention. The four members, who debuted in 1998, are not merely recreating the Fin.K.L. of their 20s; they are testing whether “Fin.K.L.” can remain an active group even now that they are in their 40s. If the 2019 show “Camping Club” was a welcome reunion, then Fin.K.L. in 2026 serves as a stage to demonstrate whether the group can continue to thrive even after that reunion.