The fictional K-pop group HI-BOYZ from the hit medical drama “Resident Playbook“ has become a real-life sensation. Fans are obsessed with the band’s nostalgic vibe, catchy song, and surprising connections to real K-pop stars. The group’s sudden popularity has sparked fan theories, chart success, and even a scheduled music show performance.
“Resident Playbook” follows four young doctors at Yulje Medical Center. One of them, Um Jae-il (played by Kang You-seok), was once an idol in the now-disbanded group HI-BOYZ. The drama revealed his past in a flashback scene featuring TXT members Yeonjun and Soobin as his former bandmates.
The fictional group debuted on February 4, 2011, and disbanded on December 28, 2013. Their only hit, “When the Day Comes”, was performed in a karaoke scene in Episode 9, which aired on May 10, 2025. The song, sung by all five TXT members, quickly climbed real music charts.
“No but in all seriousness this is way more funny that an actual acting cameo because the lore this have now… lol,” one viewer said.
“they got a music show win and graduated from nugu promoter,” another fan commented.
The drama cleverly blends fiction and reality. Yeonjun’s character, Top Key, was revealed as the favorite member of another resident, Kim Sa-bi (Han Ye-ji). Meanwhile, Soobin played a member named Bin, though his backstory wasn’t fully explored.
Fans have created wild theories about HI-BOYZ’s disbandment. Some believe Yeonjun and Soobin left to join TXT, while others joke about poor management.
“they disbanded because they sent their two most popular members (yj and sb, obviously) to a survival show for ‘publicity’ but their new group was way more successful and hi-boyz couldn’t recover from their absence,” a fan theorized.
The song “When the Day Comes” became an unexpected hit. It entered MelOn, Genie, Bugs, and FLO charts, surprising everyone since HI-BOYZ doesn’t actually exist. The track’s retro style and emotional lyrics resonated with listeners.
“The song has been stuck for the last day in my head…why would they disband such a talented kpop group,” a fan tweeted.
The drama’s production team went all out to make HI-BOYZ feel real. They released a performance video, dance practice clips, and even social media challenges. The styling matched early 2010s K-pop fashion, adding to the nostalgia.
HI-BOYZ will perform on Mnet’s “M Countdown” on May 22, 2025, blurring the line between fiction and reality even further. The group’s fandom, Hello Girls, has grown rapidly, with fans creating fan art, memes, and fake comeback teasers.
The success of HI-BOYZ has also sparked discussions about HYBE’s management of TXT. Some fans believe the company should let TXT explore similar retro concepts since the fake group’s song performed so well.
“See how the song that BIGHIT has no hand in is successful? I hope BIGHIT and HYBE know that they are the problem,” one comment read.
The drama’s final episodes air on May 17 and 18, 2025, but the HI-BOYZ hype shows no signs of slowing down. Whether they’ll get more screen time or even a surprise reunion remains to be seen.
Credits: Sources include Sportskeeda, Soompi, Kpoppost, and India Times.
