HIGHLIGHT Reclaims Original Name BEAST for Comeback After 9 Years

The group HIGHLIGHT is officially making a long-awaited return under their original group name, BEAST, for the first time in nearly a decade.

On April 16 at 6 PM KST, the group will release the pre-release single “Endless Ending” from their upcoming 6th mini-album From Real to Surreal, marking their first new music under the name BEAST since the 2016 full-length album Highlight.

From BEAST to Highlight — and Back Again

Earlier this year, the group announced that they had reached a trademark agreement that allows them to once again promote under the name BEAST, the name that originally brought them fame and established their legacy in K-pop.

This comeback is a sentimental milestone not only for the members but also for fans who have long associated their journey with the BEAST era.

Title Track ‘Chains’ to Follow

Following the pre-release single, the group will return with the full album and title track “Chains” on April 28 at 6 PM KST.

The track “Chains” holds special meaning, as member Lee Gi-kwang participated in both writing and composing the song. The production also brings back familiar collaborators, including producer Moon Kim (who worked on their first full-length album DAYDREAM and mini-album AFTER SUNSET) and IRIS, who contributed to their previous mini-album Switch On. Together, the team has crafted a sound that reflects the group’s evolution while preserving their signature musical identity.

Originally debuting in 2009 as a six-member group under the name BEAST, Highlight rose to fame as one of the defining second-generation K-pop boy bands. During their BEAST era, the group released numerous hits — most notably “Fiction,” which was named “Song of the Year” at KBS 2TV’s Gayo Daechukje (Song Festival) in 2011, beating out a highly competitive lineup.

In 2016, the group chose not to renew their contracts with Cube Entertainment, their former agency. Instead, the members established their own independent label, Around US Entertainment. However, because the trademark rights to the name “BEAST” remained with Cube, they were unable to continue promoting under their original group name and rebranded as Highlight.

Following the departures of original members Jang Hyun-seung and Yong Jun-hyung, Highlight is now a four-member group consisting of Yoon Du-jun, Yang Yo-seop, Lee Gi-kwang, and Son Dong-woon.

The mini-album From Real to Surreal, the first under the name BEAST in nine years, will be officially released on April 28 at 6 PM KST, signaling not just a comeback, but a return to roots.

Fans around the world are celebrating this symbolic moment — the beginning of a new chapter under a familiar name.

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