HORI7ON: Their Remarkable Journey To Achieving Success

Getting a sneak peek into the world of the idol industry, achieving success often appears as a far-fetched dream. With the increasing number of pop musical groups in South Korea, leaving a distinctive image can be an uphill battle. Yet, HORI7ON managed to do just that. This group, composed of Jeromy, Marcus, Kyler, Vinci, Reyster, Kim, and Winston, stands out as the only all-Filipino group based in South Korea. Their remarkable journey is a testament to their unwavering passion, talent, and a unique blend of cultural influences. Now, let us delve into the epic saga of HORI7ON’s rise in the heart of the K-Pop scene, where dreams become reality.

 

A Look Back On Their Pre-Debut

Since the formation of the group on February 12, 2023, their journey as idols has been set. Prior to their official debut, they unveiled three pre-debut singles: ‘Dash’, ‘Salamat’, and ‘Lovey Dovey’. These tracks garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and the general public, setting the stage for their upcoming success.

HORI7ON Official

In addition to their music releases, the group made memorable appearances on popular variety shows like “It’s Showtime” and “ASAP Natin ‘To“, solidifying their presence in the entertainment scene. Their star shone even brighter as they embarked on a series of mall shows, spanning various provinces across the country, where they introduced themselves to an eager and growing fanbase.

Furthermore, before their departure to South Korea, the group hosted their first-ever fan meeting at the New Frontier Theater, which was a resounding success, with tickets selling out swiftly. This event marked a significant milestone in their journey, and it was during this time that the fandom name “ANCHOR” was officially unveiled. At that time, it was also announced that the group would have their first reality show program titled “100 Days Miracle“, which was later announced to be shown on Mnet’s M2 YouTube channel, showcasing the group’s 100-day journey before debut and giving fans a glimpse into how they prepared for their debut.

 

Debut Highlights

Arriving in South Korea, the feeling of being an idol became even more profound with their tight schedules. Training for twelve hours a day showed just how hard they had to work to be prepared for their debut day, which was initially set for June but was later pushed to July. Apart from the rigorous training, homesickness also took a toll on their mental health, leaving them in tears at times. However, as they gradually adapted to their lives as idols, they learned that nothing worth having comes easy.

On July 4, 2023, MLD Entertainment announced that the group would be debuting with a full-length album titled “Friend-SHIP”. Debuting with a full-length album is a rare opportunity for any group. Perhaps no other group had ever debuted with a fully-packed album consisting of 12 songs, making fans even more excited for the septet’s debut.

Following the announcement, they posted their schedule, detailing what fans could expect in the days leading up to the group’s debut, including concept photos, a track list, a debut trailer, album highlight medleys, and music video teasers. Additionally, information about their anticipated debut album was released, detailing the album’s versions, designs, inclusions, and pre-order information, which added to the excitement. Moreover, when the track list was released, ‘SIX7EEN’ was revealed as the group’s title track. In addition to the songs released in Dream Maker, the album also included sub-unit songs and solo songs featuring members of TFN, Lapillus, and New:ID.

On July 24, 2023, the group released the music video for their title track, ‘SIX7EEN’, alongside the album. Before the release of the music video and the album, the group held a press release in front of various media outlets from South Korea. Afterward, the group held their debut showcase at the Olympic Hall at the Seoul Olympic Park, where they performed what they had prepared for their fans, who had eagerly awaited this exciting moment in their journey as an idol group.

The group’s full album, “Friend-SHIP”, debuted in various countries on iTunes, including the Philippines, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Finland, Spain, Cayman Islands, New Zealand, Singapore, Belgium, Thailand, Canada, Italy, United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, it debuted on the Worldwide iTunes Album Chart and the European iTunes Album Chart at #82 and #185 and peaked at #57 and #58, respectively. Furthermore, their title track, ‘SIX7EEN’, achieved over 2 million views within its first 24 hours of release, demonstrating their growing popularity.

The group also performed on various popular music shows, such as Mnet’s “M Countdown“, KBS2’s “Music Bank“, SBS’ “Inkigayo“, SBS MTV’s “The Show“, MBC TV’s “Show! Music Core“, and Arirang TV’s “Simply K-pop” to commemorate their debut. To date, they are the very first Filipino group to have performed on these music shows, showing that nothing is impossible when it comes to reaching your dreams.

 

Post-Debut Adventures

Bringing themselves the title of Global Pop Group, expectations for the group were high. In addition to promoting in both the Philippines and South Korea, as seen in their pre-debut and debut activities, the group also aimed to go global.

On August 19, 2023, the group performed at Kamp Fest held in Mexico City, a music festival organized by Kamp Global. Their appearance at this festival had already been planned before their debut, hinting at their possible future global promotions. Prior to flying to Mexico for their first international performance, they also participated in music festivals in South Korea, including the Ulsan Music Festival and Cheonan K-Culture Expo 2023.

Following their successful debut, MLD Entertainment announced on August 2, 2023, that the group would hold their first concert titled “Voyage to Manila” on September 9, 2023, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. This sudden announcement took fans by surprise, giving them little time to save up and prepare. Nevertheless, they managed to sell over 70% of the big dome’s capacity, a remarkable feat for a rookie group that had only debuted two months earlier. In addition to the group’s concert, the septet also planned to stay in the Philippines for the whole month of September to do various promotions on both radio and television.

Moreover, on September 18, 2023, Star News, one of the organizers of the most anticipated annual Asia Artist Awards, announced the group as one of the performing artists, alongside big K-Pop groups such as BSS, ZEROBASEONE, ITZY, THE BOYZ, Stray Kids, and NewJeans, among others, signifying their gradual rise in the music industry.

Like many other groups, the septet’s journey was no walk in the park. However, their talent and unwavering dedication turned their achievements into a clear demonstration of the group’s enormous potential for success. With their increasing visibility and appeal to the general public, with effective management and promotion, it’s only a matter of time before they ascend to the pinnacle and establish a prominent reputation for themselves.