The documentary chronicles the legacy and journey of one of the biggest second-generation K-pop acts.

The Korean wave (or hallyu) has swept over the globe. Once a niche genre, K-pop has become a dominant force in the music scene, thanks to its international flagbearers, BTS and BLACKPINK. But before these bands took the world by storm, others paved the way for their success. One of these K-pop acts is the boyband SHINee, which was formed during the second generation of K-pop. It was during this period, which spans 2003 to 2012, that groups such as Super Junior and BIGBANG emerged.

Debuting in 2008 and considered one of the biggest K-pop acts, SHINee consists of Onew, Key, Minho, and Taemin; founding member Jonghyun tragically died in 2017. During their 15 years in showbiz, they have produced many hits, including “Lucifer”, “Juliette”, “Married to the Music”, “Sherlock (Clue + Note)”, and “View”. My SHINee World celebrates the band’s 15th anniversary and looks back on their musical journey, combining extensive concert footage from their various tours and interviews with the band members.

The title My SHINee World references The SHINee World, the group’s first album. The documentary also tips the hat to the band’s fans, known as Shawols. Dramatised segments follow a girl, who stands in for Shawols, growing from a SHINee-listening, homeworking-doing schoolgirl to a working adult (who’s still a SHINee fan).

Fifteen years is a long time in pop music terms, given how artists struggle for continued relevance amidst constant change. SHINee has been praised for their fluidity and constant evolution. Chronicling those years is a labour of love for the team behind My SHINee World. “The old concert videos were in poor condition, but the DI [digital intermediate] engineer in charge carefully touched up all the colours and even suggested solutions to make up for the flaws, so we were able to improve the quality of the videos,” director Lee Hu-bin tells Cine21.

“I felt that SHINee has come a long way while working on this movie,” the band’s lead rapper, Key, tells Clash Music. “If you watch it, you’ll be able to see and feel our most genuine and honest feelings,” he promises.

SHINee isn’t slowing down, having just concluded their sixth concert tour, Perfect Illumination, which encompassed their first live performances in South Korea since 2016. The group continues to blaze a trail, and My SHINee World is a euphoric celebration of just how far they’ve come.