⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ꒰ ७.*´. ꒱ … WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PAST MEMBERS OF GAMEPLAY ?
GAMEPLAY originally had thirteen members when they first debuted in 2017, well received by netizens and being called STARBORN’s first-ever “pretty” boy group for their visual lineup. However, the group went through a hiatus in 2019 following a tragic car accident with five of its members, unfortunately resulting in the passing of two of them, one on impact, and the other days later in the hospital. Soon after the unfortunate passings, one member left the group, and three more were introduced. In protest of the new additions so soon after the accident, two members left the group, and were promptly replaced by a final new member in 2021. Now, GAMEPLAY is known as a twelve membered boy group under STARBORN CREATIVE, well-known for their versatile sound and their video game style concept.
But who were the ones who left, who were the ones that died, and what the fuck happened ?
AHN JUNSIK, known professionally as JUNSIK, was the second oldest member and a lead vocalist of GAMEPLAY. Born on April 8th, 1996, he was the oldest of two brothers, his younger brother being fellow member AHN JUNSEO. He always had a love for singing, especially opera, since he and his mother enjoyed watching musicals, his favorites being The Last Empress and Jekyll and Hyde. He also loved playing the guitar and taught himself how to play when he was a teenager. With his brother’s songwriting talent, they took to busking on the streets of Seoul on weekend nights, Junsik playing the guitar and singing while Junseo harmonized with him. In 2015, he and his brother Junseo were scouted while they were busking by STARBORN CREATIVE, then known as Cassiopeia Media. Both boys accepted the offer after a few days, and were signed to the label, training for two years before debuting in GAMEPLAY in 2017.
WHERE IS HE NOW ?
Unfortunately, Junsik was one of the members who passed away in the fateful car crash in 2019. He had been in the driver’s seat, and received the worst of the impact, unconscious and in critical condition by the time paramedics arrived. He was urgently taken to the hospital, but unfortunately passed away a few days later when he succumbed to his severe injuries. He left behind his bandmates, his younger brother, his parents, and a pregnant girlfriend, who gave birth to their daughter in May 2020.
JEON DONGHAN, known professionally as DJ, was part of the dancer line of GAMEPLAY. Born on January 9th, 1997, he came from a poor family in Busan, only dreaming of being able to perform one day. However, in 2016, a stroke of luck hit him when he met soon-to-be fellow member Shin Yunseo one day while he was visiting a relative in Seoul, becoming fast friends and being introduced to a dance studio near his relative’s neighborhood. Soon enough, Donghan spent more and more time there, eventually joining Yunseo to audition for multiple companies, eventually both being accepted into STARBORN CREATIVE, then known as Cassiopeia Media. He trained for almost a year before debuting in GAMEPLAY.
WHERE IS HE NOW ?
Unfortunately, Donghan was one of the members who passed away in the fateful car crash in 2019. He had been sitting in the backseat behind the driver’s seat, and he also received the worst of the impact. Sadly, he died on impact due to a broken neck. He left behind his parents, a younger brother, and a boyfriend his bandmates.
KIM DAESUNG, known professionally as DAESUNG, was part of the rapper and dance lines in GAMEPLAY. Born on January 12th, 1997, he knew he wanted to be a performer, so he enrolled in dance classes at the age of ten, specializing in the contemporary and hiphop styles. He ended up joining a dance crew called IMPULSE in 2015 under the name Daesync, going on to compete in regional competitions. There, he was scouted by YG and STARBORN CREATIVE (then known as Cassiopeia Media), both who wanted to have a dance crew under their labels. Daesung ended up signing with Cassiopeia Media, and trained with them for a few months before the sudden cancellation of the dance crew plans, instead being pushed to train to become an idol. At first, he resisted, but eventually gave in, and spent a year and a half training before debuting in GAMEPLAY in 2017.
WHERE IS HE NOW ?
Daesung ended up leaving both the group and STARBORN CREATIVE alongside fellow member Liam following the additions of HERO, FABIAN, and HARU in early 2020. He signed with CreativeColor Entertainment and their subsidiary label CLOUDY DAZE in July 2020 as a model, and has been occasionally acting in K-dramas such as Itaewon Class, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and most recently, Parasyte: The Grey. In November 2024, he spoke out about his former group and label during a livestream, confirming Liam’s earlier statement that STARBORN CREATIVE had kicked them out of the group and label for being unhappy with the added members of GAMEPLAY. He has stated that he occasionally keeps up with GAMEPLAY content, and wishes to reunite with them someday.
LIAM MIYAZAKI, known professionally as LIAM, was part of the vocal line in GAMEPLAY. Born on October 23rd, 1997, he came from an actor family, moving from Tokyo to San Diego when he was three years old. He was involved in many activities, including martial arts, vocal lessons, dance lessons, and acting and modeling classes. In 2015, at the age of eighteen after his graduation, he decided to move back to Japan and take up a career as an idol, but was quickly scouted by a STARBORN CREATIVE (then known as Cassiopeia Media) recruiter. He signed with the label in 2016, and trained for a year before debuting in GAMEPLAY.
WHERE IS HE NOW ?
Liam ended up leaving both the group and STARBORN CREATIVE alongside fellow member Daesung following the additions of HERO, FABIAN, and HARU in early 2020. He went back to Japan in the middle of 2020 and became an actor, starring in shows such as Alice in Borderland Season 2 and most recently, the live action adaptation of the hit show One Piece. In January 2024, he spoke out about his former group and label in an interview, revealing that STARBORN CREATIVE had kicked him and Daesung out of the group and label for “disliking the violation of my friends’ memories.” However, he has stated that he was happy for the group and their success, wishing them all the best, and hopes to reunite with them one day.
AHN JUNSEO, known professionally as A. JUN, was one of the members in the producer line of GAMEPLAY. Born on August 12th, 1998, he was the youngest of two brothers, his older brother being fellow member AHN JUNSIK. He grew a passion for songwriting when he was in middle school, and started to write ideas for lyrics and songs with his brother, performing on the streets on the weekends, doing vocal duets with his older brother while Junsik played the guitar. In 2015, he and his brother Junsik were scouted while they were busking by STARBORN CREATIVE, then known as Cassiopeia Media. Both boys accepted the offer after a few days, and were signed to the label, training for two years before debuting in GAMEPLAY in 2017.
WHERE IS HE NOW ?
Shortly after the accident and the passing of his fellow member and brother, Junseo left the group, stating that he needed time to properly grieve his brother and focus on his mental health. He all but disappeared from the public eye for three years, until recently in late 2022, when he resurfaced to the industry by announcing his solo debut. To this day, he is working as a producer, songwriter, and — shockingly for his original fans — a pop-rock soloist, under the stage name JUNNY.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ꒰ ७.*´. ꒱ … THE ORIGINAL LINEUP
Andres Kim / Kim Taeseon ( Andres ) … 1995
Ahn Junsik (Junsik) … 1996
Lee Sunwoo ( Sunwoo ) … 1997
Jeon Donghan (DJ) … 1997
Kim Daesung (Daesung) … 1997
Liam Miyazaki (Liam) … 1997
Hiroi Kazuya ( Kaz ) … 1998
Shin Yunseo ( Maddox ) … 1998
Ahn Junseo (A. Jun) … 1998
Yoshikawa Kenji ( Blitz ) … 1999
Silas Kim / Kim Dowon ( Silas ) … 1999
Diaz Montoya-Hwang / Hwang Handuri ( Diaz ) … 1999
Jeon Hyunsu ( Hyunsu ) … 1999
