Last week, we commemorated the first article in this throwback series with the idol group, H.O.T. So how could we not dedicate this week's article to their rivals, Sechskies? H.O.T and Sechskies utilized competition to improve and step up their game – if anything, their relationship could be described as a 'friendly rivalry'. Yet K-pop fans at that time were divided into two distinct camps, reminiscent of "West Side Story": Jets or Sharks, H.O.T or Sechskies, who were you running with? DSP Entertainment decided to name the 6-member group, "Sechskies", which translated to "Six Crystals" in German. An unusual name, for sure, but it resonated with the agency's desire to market the boys as brilliantly talented artists whose presence and work would never fail to inspire. Interestingly enough, the group was divided into two subunits, comprised of three members each: the "Black kies" and the "White kies". The "Black kies" – Eun Ji Won, Lee Jae Jin, Kim Jae Duc – were the older, edgier members in the group, responsible for rapping in their tracks. The "White kies", on the other hand, consisted of vocalists Kang Sung Hoon, Go Jiyong, and Jang Suwon, who tempered the edge of the other unit with their innocent charm. Debuting in 1997 with "HakWon ByulGok", the boys were a hit to be sure, but were far from becoming superstars. Nothing from the first album was able to lock down a 1st place win on music programs. It all changed with the release of "Kisado" one year later, as the boys finally snagged their very first victory and shot off on that coveted ride to superstar fame. I first heard of Sechskies when I played "PUMP IT UP" at this sketchy arcade in Koreatown. In went the quarters, the screen pulsed with vibrant colors, and I was surprised to see that a new song had been unlocked. "Com'Back?", I muttered, "Sure, what the hell." I fell in love. Seriously, I ended up failing the song because I was more absorbed in listening to it than following the rapid arrows. Revisiting it now, I'm filled with memories of shiny black outfits, tiger-stripe highlights, and boys with praying mantis bangs. It was 1999, and everything was styled futuristically to reflect the anticipation for the new century. 'The Matrix' just came out, and everyone in my school was impersonating Neo's infamous bullet dodge move. Lame? Yes. But whatever, it was high school, and I was Queen Dork back then. Actually, let's not kid ourselves. I'm still a massive dork. But I'm digressing. Shockingly, Sechskies broke up in 2000, one year before their rivals declared their intention to do the same. It was a short-lived career, lasting only three years. What happened? No one really knows. The press conference that they held in May of that year revealed little about the reasons for their disintegration, only divulging on their future plans as individual artists. Some of the boys cried, fans' hearts were breaking, but the world moved on. Eun Ji Won became a solo artist, but didn't hit the big time until he released "Drunken in Melody", the title track for his third album. He created his own record label, GYM Entertainment, and is currently working on the release of his fifth solo album. Rapper, TV host, CEO – Eun Ji Won clearly has no worries about becoming irrelevant in Korea's fickle entertainment industry. Lee Jae Jin also embarked on a solo career, but unfortunately, his music career is the last thing that people remember when they think of the ex-Sechskies member. Having lost both of his parents within a year of each other, he was drafted into the military and found that he couldn't adjust. Suffering from severe depression, he tried to commit suicide, but survived the attempt and was granted a short leave. Jae Jin, still in the clutches of a desperate despair, decided to go AWOL and attempted to run off without contacting his military officer or his family. He was eventually found hiding out at a motel in Daegu. Kim Jae Duc was responsible for a lot of Sechskies' choreography, so it only made sense that he became a dance instructor for DSP Entertainment after the breakup. He pursued music a few years later by teaming up with Jang Suwon to form J-Walk. J-Walk only released two albums and became inactive for several years before they collaborated with Eun Ji Won in 2008. It's looking like J-Walk has no plans to revive their career. Lauded for having strong vocals, Kang Sung Hoon launched his solo career in 2001. Releasing four albums in total, he was forced to cease his activities after being drafted in the military. Go Jiyong dabbled with an acting career post-breakup, but decided to withdraw from the Korean entertainment industry. Apparently he lives in Los Angeles now and refuses to sign autographs, since to him, Sechskies is dead and gone. Reportedly in 2008, Eun Ji Won expressed his hope for a reunited Sechskies. Considering the different directions each member has taken, however, it may not seem likely. Given the chance, would Sechskies be able to recapture their crowns in this increasingly capricious music industry? Com'Back Couple (??) Road Fighter Pom Saeng Pom Sa (????) Ye Gam (??) Hakwon ByulGok (????) ...And just because I felt like making the fangirls go crazy, here's Sechskies covering H.O.T's 'Candy': For those nostalgic fans, check out their final emotional performances: