Have you been watching “Resident Playbook”? If you have, then there’s a high chance you have caught yourself humming “When the Day Comes”. This is a song that somehow feels both hilariously outdated and heartbreakingly catchy. But here’s the twist: HI-BOYZ, the K-pop group behind this catchy “Resident Playbook” track, is NOT real. Well, at least, not in the way we usually define it.
Yet, with the brilliant TXT Yeonjun and Soobin playing former members, Top Key and Bin, and real fans calling themselves Hello Girls, it’s hard to tell where the drama ends and the fandom begins.
So, what exactly is happening with HI-BOYZ from “Resident Playbook”? And why does it feel so familiar? Join us as we dive deeper into this new-but-already-disbanded ancient K-pop group.
“Resident Playbook” HI-BOYZ: A Fictional K-pop Group with REAL Impact
K-dramas have flirted with fictional idol groups before: A.N.JELL from “You’re Beautiful,” SPARKLING from “Imitation,” and the viral ECLIPSE from “Lovely Runner.”
However, nothing made impact so powerful in both K-pop and K-drama scenes they press hot buttons on fans as much as HI-BOYZ, the fictional K-pop group from the K-drama that almost didn’t air, “Resident Playbook.”
HI-BOYZ—the so-called disbanded K-pop group once fronted by first-year medical resident Um Jae Il (played by Kang You Seok)—exists only within the narrative of the show. Yet, the lore surrounding them has grown as rich as any real idol group: debut date, fandom name, slogan, music show win history—you name it! Everything has been crafted with precision that surprises fans and has an impact that’s far greater than that of a real rookie boy group.
“Resident Playbook” fictional K-pop group HI-BOYZ supposedly debuted on February 4, 2011, landed their first music show nomination on June 2, 2012, and claimed a win just a week later. But as fast as they rose, they vanished.
On December 28, 2013, the group abruptly disbanded for reasons the drama never fully reveals. And yet, thanks to one karaoke scene, one iconic track, and two real K-pop idols stepping into fictional shoes, HI-BOYZ has suddenly re-emerged as a viral obsession.
Read our complete profile and database on HI-BOYZ.
The Performance That Broke the Fourth Wall
In Episode 9 of “Resident Playbook,” viewers watched as Um Jae Il revisited his idol past in a drunken karaoke session with fellow residents. Onscreen, the performance of “When the Day Comes” played out, featuring none other than TXT Soobin and Yeonjun dancing alongside him.
This moment was humorous, nostalgic, and strangely emotional—especially for fans who noticed that Yeonjun was visibly mouthing lines recorded by both Taehyun and Beomgyu. In short, this was fanservice at its most meticulous and layered.
Even more intriguing, this song was meticulously crafted to bring life to the group. As an official OST of “Resident Playbook,” HI-BOYZ hit track “When the Day Comes” came from the brilliant voices of all five members of TXT.
Not only that, but the production team also choreographed and styled this hit track based on the early 2010s fashion, and promoted it with a full performance video. Even more amusing, they followed with dance practice clip details, complete with social media challenges.
And this is brilliantly crafted for a group that, technically, doesn’t exist.
HI-BOYZ from “Resident Playbook”: A Lore-Rich Fandom Moment
What separates HI-BOYZ from your typical fictional K-pop group cameo is not only how far the lore goes, but also how fans have eagerly filled in the gaps.
This “Resident Playbook” K-pop group name alone feels like a cheeky play on second-gen trends, and their fictional fandom, Hello Girls, has already developed call-and-response slogans and favorite “members” (shoutout to HI-BOYZ member Top Key, aka Yeonjun).
As a viewer, you will definitely more than just laugh at the amusing and fun absurdity of these fans’ responses. They have been deeply and absolutely invested!
At some point, one fan even theorized the group disbanded because Top Key and Bin were pulled into a survival show, only for their new group (read: TXT) to outshine HI-BOYZ. Meanwhile, others speculated on internal mismanagement, likening the breakup to real-world scandals. And some others highlighted that even when the group had 7 members, the only ones singing and getting spotlight were only Um Jae Il, Top Key, and Bin—no wonder they disbanded!
Moreover, the fact that Kim Sa Bi, one of the characters, turned out to be a secret Hello Girl, despite pretending otherwise, also fanned the flames of secondhand nostalgia.
“Resident Playbook” K-pop group HI-BOYZ has entered that rare cultural space where fiction becomes emotionally real. It’s satire, yes, but it’s also a love letter to an entire era of K-pop when choreography was a little cheesier, haircuts were bolder, and the idea of “one-hit wonders” came with a strange kind of romanticism.
“Resident Playbook” Fictional K-pop Group: Criticism, Commentary, and… HYBE?
Surprisingly, the buzz didn’t stop with drama fans. As the HI-BOYZ track began charting across real music platforms—MelOn, FLO, Bugs, Genie—fans turned their attention toward HYBE with renewed criticism.
TXT “When the Day Comes” 08AM KST Update:
— Kpop Charts (@kchartsmaster) May 11, 2025
#17 Bugs (+14) *new peak*
#21 Genie (+18) *new peak*
#50 MelOn (RE) *new peak*
#92 Flo (NEW)
The fact that a nostalgic, “bright-sounding” song like “When the Day Comes” could actually perform so well sparked extreme frustration.
Hence, fans started pointing fingers at HYBE, arguing that TXT’s mainstream appeal has been limited by the company’s insistence on experimental concepts and genre pivots. In this case, letting TXT lean into an old-school K-pop vibe—ironically, as fake idols—seemed to unlock a broader audience.
“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. Others also expressed hope that the viral success of the “Resident Playbook” OST would help HYBE reconsider TXT’s musical direction moving forward.
HI-BOYZ: When Fiction Feels Like Fan Canon
So, where does that leave us? Well, it’s true that HI-BOYZ isn’t real, but their story definitely hits home.
Their debut may have been a deliberate fabrication, but their song is actually climbing the charts. Meanwhile, their choreography was crafted for laughs, yet fans are learning it. And most importantly, while the members are fictional, the emotional connection is anything but!
As a fictional K-pop group brilliantly crafted by “Resident Playbook,” HI-BOYZ offers something both clever and sincere. And this has been an impressive strategy, especially in this new-generation K-pop where fan sentiment, idol nostalgia, and storytelling collide more than ever.
The success of HI-BOYZ only proves that the power of K-pop actually lies in the world where fans can dream, rewrite, and revive.
And maybe, just maybe, HI-BOYZ didn’t disband after all. They simply found a new stage—one where fiction and fandom dance in perfect sync.
Don’t you think so too? Please share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget: Hi~ My Boys!
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