ATBO (
Korean: 에이티비오; an acronym for At The Beginning of Originality) is a South Korean
boy group formed in 2022 through
IST Entertainment's survival competition The Origin – A, B, Or What?. The group is composed of seven members: Oh Jun-seok, Ryu Jun-min, Bae Hyun-jun, Seok Rak-won, Jeong Seung-hwan, Kim Yeon-kyu and Won Bin. The group officially debuted on July 27, 2022, with the
extended playThe Beginning : 開花.
Name
"ATBO" is an initial of At The Beginning of Originality which means the start of a dream. The name was originally "ABO", but was changed due to fan concern as the original name is a racial slur in some regions.[1]
On February 6, it was reported that
IST Entertainment, home to male idol groups
Victon and
The Boyz as well as female idol group
Apink and
Weeekly, was planning to debut their first boy group under the new company name in the first half of the year.[3]
On February 10, it was announced that the members would be selected from a group of 13 trainees through a survival program jointly produced with
Kakao Entertainment and
Sony Music Solutions.[4]
On the final episode aired on May 7, 2022, it was announced that the final seven contestants would debut as ATBO.[5]
On June 13, 2022, IST Entertainment announced that Yang Donghwa would not be debuting as a member of ATBO after his past misconduct when he was a student surfaced online.[6] On June 17, 2022, IST Entertainment announced that Won Bin, who was originally eliminated in episode 5, would be debuting with ATBO in replacement of Donghwa.[7][8]
2022–present: Debut with The Beginning: 開花
ATBO made their official debut on July 27, 2022, with the release of their debut EP, The Beginning: 開花, which can be roughly translated to "blooming flower".[9][10][11]
Members
Oh Junseok (오준석)
Ryu Junmin (류준민)
Bae Hyunjun (배현준)
Seok Rakwon (석락원)
Jeong Seunghwan (정승환)
Kim Yeonkyu (김연규)
Won Bin (원빈)
Discography
Extended plays
List of extended plays, showing selected details, selected chart positions, and sales figures
^Kim No-eul (February 7, 2022).
"에이핑크·더보이즈 소속사, 올 상반기 새 보이그룹 론칭 [공식입장]" [Apink and The Boyz agency launch a new boy group in the first half of this year [Official position]] (in Korean). Xports News.
Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Ye-eun (February 11, 2022).
"IST엔터 새 보이그룹 탄생한다…MBN '디 오리진' 론칭" [IST Entertainment's new boy group is born... MBN 'The Origin' launched]. X Sports News (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
^Jeong Bit (May 9, 2022).
"[공식]IST엔터, 新보이그룹 ABO 론칭…'디 오리진'으로 뽑힌 7人, 하반기 데뷔" [[Official] IST Entertainment launches new boy group ABO... 7 people selected as 'The Origin' to debut in the second half of the year] (in Korean).
Sports Chosun.
Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Hyun-sik (March 21, 2023).
"ATBO, 한국숲사랑청소년단 홍보대사 위촉" [ATBO appointed as public relations ambassador for Korea Forest Love Youth] (in Korean). E-Daily.
Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved March 21, 2023 – via
Naver.
^Shin, Young-eun (December 13, 2022).
"[2022 AAA] 라필루스·트렌드지·에이티비오, 포커스상 수상..."초심 잃지 않을 것" [[2022 AAA] Lapillus, Trendz, and ATBO receive the Focus Award..."We will not lose our original intentions] (in Korean). Maeil Business Star Today.
Archived from the original on December 13, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via
Naver.
^"17회 2022 아시아모델페스티벌, 14~16일 의정부에서 개최" [17th 2022 Asia Model Festival, held in Uijeongbu from 14th to 16th]. BNT News (in Korean). October 13, 2022.
Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
^Lee, Ha-na (April 10, 2024).
"대상 주인은 스트레이 키즈, TXT 4관왕→트레저·더보이즈 3관왕(종합][ASEA 2024]" [Grand Prize winner is Stray Kids, TXT 4 wins → Treasure and The Boyz 3 wins (Overall)[ASEA 2024]]. Newsen (in Korean).
Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
^"2022 GMA, 부문별 후보 공개…김호중·임영웅→세븐틴·NCT드림·아이브 등 대상후보" [2022 GMA reveals nominations by category... Kim Ho-jung, Lim Young-woong → Seventeen, NCT Dream, IVE, etc. grand prize candidates]. ETNEWS (in Korean). October 7, 2022.
Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.