TWS (group)

TWS (/tuː-ʌs/; ; an abbreviation for Twenty Four Seven With Us; stylized as TWS:; pronounced as "Two-Us") is a South Korean boy band formed and managed by Pledis Entertainment. The group consists of six members: Shinyu, Dohoon, Youngjae, Hanjin, Jihoon, and Kyungmin, and labels their music as "boyhood pop", which depicts the daily lives of boys. They debuted on January 22, 2024, with the extended play (EP) Sparkling Blue.

Name
TWS is an abbreviation of "Twenty Four Seven With Us". The number 24 for a day and the number 7 for a week means "every moment". In other words, it means "always with TWS". Through their music, they want to be valuable friends who make the ordinary everyday life of the public and fans special in every moment that transcends time and space.

Formation and pre-debut activities
On November 7, 2023, Pledis Entertainment announced their plan to launch a new boy band in the first quarter of 2024. The members of the then-unnamed boy band, with their faces covered, were first introduced by Seventeen member Hoshi, during the SVT Caratland event in 2023. On December 21, 2023, the group's name–TWS–was revealed. The agency explained that the name is derived from the group's tagline "twenty-four-seven with us", which reflects the group's commitment to maintaining an enduring connection with their fans. On January 3, 2024, the watch strap brand TWMStrap accused the group of plagiarizing their logo, announcing their intentions to file a legal complaint against the agency.

2024: Debut with Sparkling Blue and Summer Beat!
Producer and Pledis Entertainment CEO Han Sung-soo spearheaded the production for TWS's debut EP Sparkling Blue, which was released on January 22, 2024, following the release of the pre-release track "Oh MyMy:7s" from the album. Aiming to establish "boyhood pop" with Sparkling Blue, the album was led by the single "Plot Twist", which discussed the "thrill of a first encounter". Just twenty-three days after debut, they took their first music show win on Show Champion.

On May 3, Pledis announced that TWS would release a new album in early June. On May 23, the group released a video titled "Our Memories: Now" and revealed the album release date to be on June 24. Four days later, the group revealed Summer Beat! as the title of their second EP.

TWS released the pre-release track "Hey! Hey!" on June 5, and their second EP along with its single "If I'm S, Can You Be My N?" on June 24.

On July 10, 2024, the music-themed Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California announced that a special K-pop exhibit will take place in August 2024, displaying the accessories and performance gear worn by artistes under Hybe, including TWS, Le Sserafim, BTS and Illit.

Public image
Pledis Entertainment introduced TWS as a "next generation" group with the goal of establishing a new genre called "boyhood pop," which focuses on capturing the daily stories of its members. Since their debut, TWS has presented a musical and visual style that captures the male youth experience, their music addresses universal themes and presents a relatable image that can appeal to a broader audience. The songs on their first mini-album, Sparkling Blue, reflect daily stories and emotions that many young people can identify with.

Endorsements
On January 19, 2024, TWS before their official debut, were selected as the models for Lotte Chilsung Beverage's Milkis. On February 1, 2024, TWS were named as endorsers for Shinsegae Duty Free through their "Play with Us" campaign. On March 19, 2024, TWS were announced as the new models for Kangol, a British heritage global brand.

On June 10, 2024, TWS collaborated with FC Barcelona in a photo shoot, highlighting an innovative marketing strategy where TWS members sported the club's clothing and accessories, connecting music and sport. This alliance seeks to appeal to a broader audience and strengthen TWS's position as a K-pop group that breaks traditional standards by seeking to resonate with a male audience.

Members

 * Shinyu (신유) – leader
 * Dohoon (도훈)
 * Youngjae (영재)
 * Hanjin (한진)
 * Jihoon (지훈)
 * Kyungmin (경민)