한 Highlight

Highlight (하이라이트) is a South Korean Boy Group that debuted in 2009. They consist of 4 members: Doojoon, Dongwoon, Lee Gikwang and Yang Yoseob.

They hold the 14th most Music Show Awards among all artists in Korea. They have 24 songs among the most popular in Korea.

Beast, originally stylized as B2ST, debuted in 2009 with six members. The group quickly gained attention, initially facing the nickname "recycled group" due to members having previous affiliations or training with other agencies, which was rare at the time. Despite this, Beast managed to carve out a distinct identity with their fierce choreography and powerful music, achieving significant success with their debut EP, "Beast Is the B2ST," and subsequent hits like "Shock" and "Fiction." They established a strong reputation, especially for their ballads and synchronized performances, becoming one of the prominent boy groups of their generation.

In 2016, significant changes occurred within the group. Jang Hyunseung departed in April, reducing Beast to a five-member group. Later that year, in December, the remaining five members chose to leave Cube Entertainment after their contracts expired. They decided to form their own independent agency, "Around Us Entertainment", seeking more creative freedom and control over their careers.

The move to a new agency presented a major challenge: Cube Entertainment owned the trademark rights to the name "Beast" (비스트) and didn't let go. This meant the group could no longer promote or release music under their original name. To continue their activities, the members decided to rebrand themselves as Highlight (하이라이트) in 2017. The name "Highlight" was chosen as it was the title of their last full album as Beast, symbolizing a new beginning while acknowledging their past. This rebranding allowed them to continue their musical journey and maintaining their fanbase under the new name.

After years of promoting as Highlight, the group achieved a significant milestone in 2025. "Around Us Entertainment" successfully re-acquired the trademark rights to the name "Beast" from Cube Entertainment. This highly anticipated development allowed the members to release new music under their original name for the first time in nine years. While they plan to continue using "Highlight" to avoid confusion for their current fanbase, the ability to use "Beast" again holds deep emotional meaning for the group and their longtime fans, allowing them to preserve and build upon the memories associated with their original identity. Yang Yoseob described the moment as "historic" emphasizing the cooperation between their current and former agencies in making this possible.