A Video Game and K-Pop Collaboration Like No Other: Fin.K.L’s Appearance in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Before League of Legends’ collaboration with (G)I-DLE through K/DA, PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds (PUBG)’s collaboration with BLACKPINK, and Among Us’ collaboration with BTS’ BT21 mascots, South Korean gamers headed to the skatepark with Fin.K.L in 2001. While finding Lee Hyori, Ock Joohyun, Lee Jin, and Sung Yuri practicing flip tricks seems unlikely, the Korean PC version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 showcased in-game playable skateboarders with the group’s likeness. Secure your helmet strap, grab your board, and let’s take a ride through a bizarre 2000s collaboration.
Under DSP Media, Fin.K.L (short for “Fine Killing Liberty”) made their debut in May 1998. Fin.K.L poured emotions into their debut ballad, “Blue Rain,” and its album of the same name. The ballad set a precedent of what would be the first of many memorable songs from the group. Before the members branched out into solo careers, the group released four albums between 1998–2002: Blue Rain, White, Now, and Forever. They released a self-titled digital single, Fin.K.L Digital Album, in 2005, which remained their last music collection until their 2019 reunion single, “Like the song remains.”
From the Stage to the Skate Park
Seven months after its original American counterpart, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 came to South Korea on April 13, 2001. It featured Fin.K.L as unlockable bonus characters, riding the rails among skateboarding greats. In an interview, Tony Hawk said the company handling the Korean release thought that Fin.K.L would drive sales for an American game in an Asian market.
Alongside some impressive skateboarding tricks, Fin.K.L brought with them seven tracks from their discography:
“Feel Your Love”
“Forever Love”
“Now”
“Pride”
“To My Prince”
“Waiting For You”
“White”
In addition to appearing on the game’s cover and within the game itself, Fin.K.L attended promotional events. Bisco, the game’s Korean distributor, held championship events where winners received cash prizes, awards presented by Fin.K.L, and entry into Fin.K.L fansigns. Regardless of game sales, Fin.K.L. achieved something truly unique at the time.
Video Games and K-Pop Merchandise
In fact, Fin.K.L’s implementation in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 was not the group’s only foray into video game collaborations. According to South Korean gaming magazine GameMeca, Fin.K.L collaborated with Fast Food, a game by Taiwanese company Gamania, in 2001. Similar to Fin.K.L’s inclusion in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, Gamania attempted to establish their brand in South Korea using Fin.K.L. This game sported four different covers — one for each member — including CDs and postcards for each corresponding member. From the beginnings of first generation K-Pop, companies understood how to get fans rushing into stores to collect goods of their favorite groups.
Unfortunately, the 2020 remaster Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 lacked Fin.K.L’s presence. Nevertheless, this advertisement exists as a very early K-Pop and Western IP collaboration seen before K-Pop’s more mainstream Western involvement. The next time you select Red Velvet’s “Psycho” on Just Dance 2023, or wear ITZY-inspired clothing in Pokémon UNITE, know that a video game once made a K-Pop girl group pro skateboarders.