SHINee Reunites on “Hangout with Yoo” to Celebrate Debut Anniversary and Announce Performance at “Our Festival”
SHINee, the beloved K-Pop boy group, made a special appearance on MBC’s variety show “Hangout with Yoo” to commemorate their 16th debut anniversary and raise excitement for their upcoming performance at the show’s first-ever music festival, “Our Festival.”
SHINee Reflects on Journey and Deep Bond
The May 25th broadcast held particular significance as it coincided with SHINee’s debut anniversary. The episode featured a heartfelt reunion with the group joining “Our Festival.”
The members, who debuted as teenagers and are now in their 30s, reminisced about their long journey together. Taemin, who debuted at the young age of 14, remarked, “My life as SHINee is longer than my life without SHINee.”
Onew, who had been on hiatus, also made a much-anticipated return. He expressed his gratitude to the other members, stating, “I think the members waited well for me.”
Minho chimed in with a lighthearted comment about his dynamic with Key, saying, “We became close as hard workers,” while Onew offered a metaphor for their bond: “Key is a shield (that blocks everything) and Minho is a spear (that pierces everything).”
Friendship Rings Honoring Jonghyun
The episode also featured a touching announcement about the group’s decision to get friendship rings made in honor of their late member, Jonghyun. Key playfully accused Taemin of “stealing his idea” by revealing the news of the rings to fans first.
“I came up with the idea and suggested we make 5 rings for Jonghyun too, but Taemin turned on his SNS live and said he made them himself,” Key said jokingly. Minho added, jokingly frustrated, “But no one is pushing it forward, so I have to do it and I’m getting tired.”
Onew’s finger flick skill Returns and a Look Back on SHINee’s Hits
The episode wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the show’s infamous “finger flick skill” segment. Yoo Jae-suk recalled a past encounter with Onew’s powerful finger flick (ttakbam), claiming, “I really tasted blood back then.”
Onew, with a playful seriousness, warned the current winner, Joo Woo-jae, “It’s been a while, so you might get hurt,” before delivering the signature finger flick. As expected, the sound of a slap filled the room, leaving Joo Woo-jae both surprised and strangely intrigued by the “finger flick.”
The episode also offered a nostalgic journey through SHINee’s hit songs. From their debut single “Replay,” a top contender for the “Noona, You’re So Pretty” genre in Korea, to their first number-one hit “Love Like Oxygen,” the members reminisced about their early days. Laughter erupted when Minho’s “Flame Charisma Rap” video surfaced.
Fan favorites like “Juliette” and “Ring Ding Dong” (Yoo Jae-suk’s personal favorite and a former college entrance exam banned song) also came up. Taemin jokingly confessed his past dislike for “Ring Ding Dong,” to which Yoo Jae-suk replied, “I thought, ‘These guys are finally opening their ears,'” drawing more laughter.
Onew shared a heartwarming anecdote about “Lucifer,” the song that rose to prominence during Jeon Hyun-moo’s absence. “When we were working in Japan, Hyun-moo filled the void in Korea,” he said. Taemin added, “He’s the 6th member.”
With high ratings and a peak viewership of 4.4%, the “Hangout with Yoo” episode featuring SHINee proved to be a memorable one, filled with nostalgia, laughter, and a celebration of the group’s enduring legacy.
