Everything you need to know about the Taiwan F4 Reunion

A heartwarming reunion that stirred both nostalgia and tears, former Taiwanese boy band F4 reunited for a surprise performance at Mayday’s recent concert in Taipei Dome on July 12, leaving 40,000 fans in awe as they performed their hit song “Meteor Rain.”

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Appearing unannounced, the beloved boy band joined Mayday in a touching rendition of “Meteor Rain,” followed by Mayday’s own “The Song of Laughter and Forgetting.” Despite it being 25 years since their debut in 2001, fans were nothing less than ecstatic, instantly erupting in cheers and singing along to the familiar lyrics of “Meteor Rain”.

Not long after, F4 took the stage again at Mayday’s Beijing concert at the Bird’s Nest on July 27, performing the same set to an equally enthusiastic crowd.

If you’re wondering who F4 is or why they sound so familiar — here’s a dive into the iconic Taiwanese boy band and their long-awaited reunion.

Who is F4?

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To avid drama viewers across Asia, F4 rings a bell for many. The boy band rose to fame in 2001 following the success of the Taiwanese idol drama, Meteor Garden. They starred as the charismatic and elite heartthrobs of a prestigious school as F4, opposite the late Barbie Hsu, who played the strong-willed heroine from humble beginnings.

Adapted from the Japanese manga Boys Over Flowers, Meteor Garden became a cultural phenomenon across Asia, spawning a Taiwanese sequel in 2002 and inspiring several other Asian adaptations — including remakes in Japan, South Korea, China, and Thailand.

F4 is composed of four actors: Jerry Yan, 48, Vanness Wu, 47, Ken Chu, 46, and Vic Chou, 44. All four were newcomers to the entertainment scene, and Meteor Garden was their breakthrough — catapulting the rookie actors to instant fame.

Following their meteoric rise, Jerry, Vanness, Ken and Vic were in constant demand — juggling packed schedules filled with individual acting roles, group performances, and non-stop appearances.

Embarking on several concert tours, F4’s Fantasy Live World Tour in 2002 drew over 600,000 fans across 19 shows in 12 cities. They also landed international opportunities, including recording the Mandarin version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for the Asian release of Disney’s Lilo & Stitch soundtrack. They also recorded a theme song for a Pepsi advertisement.

Following the success of Meteor Garden, each F4 member pursued their own path in acting and singing, quickly expanding their careers beyond the group. Despite their constant popularity and a dedicated fanbase, the group eventually disbanded in 2009. As Vanness candidly revealed during a mini reunion with Jerry in 2022 on Chinese variety show Welcome Back to Sound, tensions and “negative emotions” among members during their promotional years contributed to the group’s disbandment.

Inside F4’s surprise reunion

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It has been 12 years since the boys were last seen together. F4’s long-awaited reunion certainly took fans by surprise, even though there were constant reunion rumours circulating yearly. Their last performance together was in 2013 at Jiangsu’s TV Spring Festival Gala.

Despite the challenge of all four F4 members being signed to different agencies, Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday’s lead vocalist Ashin took it upon himself to make this dream collaboration a reality in time for the group’s 25th anniversary. For two years, the reunion had been quietly in the works, with Ashin citing “bringing back the fond memories of our youth” as the main driving force behind this.

As the stage doors opened and the rousing chorus of “Meteor Rain” filled the Taipei Dome, the four members made a charismatic entrance while walking toward centrestage and marking a grand return in their surprise reunion.

The four members’ playful banter and natural chemistry immediately reignited the nostalgia fans remembered so well. Their reunion wasn’t for the sake of a performance for their anniversary, but rather a celebration of their youth, as Ashin had intended for it to be.

Vic expressed how “honoured” he was to be performing for his first time at a Mayday concert, and even joked that “The air up on stage feels fresher.”

Shortly after, Jerry, visibly moved, described performing at Mayday’s concert as “feeling like a dream.” Vic teasingly prodded, “Do you feel like crying? Just cry!”

Friendship or fan service?

On a Douyin livestream held just days after the reunion, Ken shared candidly about the circumstances leading up to the performance. He revealed that he initially agreed to take part because of Ashin’s sincerity and heartfelt desire to revisit the memories of their youth. Yet, at the same time, Ken admitted he had already cut ties with the other three members.

“We had a group chat at first, but I left it,” he said. “You can’t imagine how complicated things get when four people are signed to four different companies.”

Ken distanced himself from the planning process, leaving the discussions entirely to the organisers. He also deleted his members’ numbers from his phone, reasoning that their relationship had simply faded with time. Their friendship, as he described it, was “neither good nor bad”, implying that they naturally drifted apart.

Despite Ken’s blunt revelation, F4’s bond remains evident. On social media, it was revealed that the other three members had sent Ken flowers to congratulate him on his solo concert in Nanjing. Along with their well-wishes and a lighthearted “good luck,” they jokingly told him to go home safely after performing—ending their message with an affectionate “啾咪,” a Taiwanese slang term similar to a playful “muah”.

Ken acknowledged the gesture during a livestream on July 21, thanking his bandmates and even sharing a few behind-the-scenes stories with fans.

Ken has been open about living with fibromyalgia, often relying on painkillers to manage the physical toll of performing. During F4’s second reunion at Mayday’s concert in Beijing, Jerry, Vanness, and Vic were seen encouraging Ken to step forward into the spotlight, giving him a well-deserved moment to shine.

In a recent livestream, Ken also shared warm interactions with the other members, seemingly contradicting his earlier comments that their relationship was “neither good nor bad.” Although he once implied they were no longer close, he later expressed in a separate stream that he would do everything within his control to make the reunion happen.

The fact that Ken continues to bring up F4 in conversation suggests that the group still holds a place in his heart — no matter where their relationship stands today.

While the reunion was undeniably meaningful for fans, it also highlighted the ambiguity of the members’ current relationship. Though their presence on stage brought back memories of a cherished era, the nature of their friendship today remains uncertain.

Catching up with each F4 member

Jerry Yan

Jerry is ageing like fine wine — looking every bit as charming as he was 25 years ago, back when he stole hearts as the mischievous Dao Ming Si in Meteor Garden.

Now, he’s set to lead the upcoming Taiwanese romantic drama Marriage Exposed, starring opposite Ariel Lin. The story follows a married couple whose relationship has dulled over time. This marks a heartfelt reunion for Jerry and Ariel, who last worked together in 2022’s Mayday Nowhere 3D. The new drama promises an intimate and realistic take on long-term relationships, and is slated to premiere in late 2025, notably marking Jerry’s first local series in 13 years.

Jerry is also filming a new drama titled A Time, set in a 1960s military dependent’s village, following the story of a young female student who dreams of a life beyond the trauma of a car accident. The drama blends coming-of-age elements with social and historical layers, offering a poignant look at life in a bygone era.

Vic Chou

The soft-spoken Hua Ze Lei lives on in Vic, who remains as one of Taiwan’s most compelling actors. However, his cheeky and charismatic side can also be seen in the behind-the-scenes videos before and after the reunion, where he constantly jokes around with each F4 member. Vic is currently starring in season two of the critically acclaimed drama Our Distance. The original series was a massive success, winning six Golden Bell Awards, and the second season continues to tackle heavy social themes with raw emotion and depth.

Vic takes on the role of a bereaved father and psychiatrist who loses his wife and son in a devastating arson incident. The trauma sends him into a spiral of grief and depression, a role that demands emotional nuance, and one that Vic delivers with powerful restraint and vulnerability.

Beyond acting, Vic has been making waves in the fashion world, recently attending Loro Piana’s 100th anniversary event and gracing several magazine covers in Taiwan.

Vanness Wu

Still actively pursuing singing and acting, Vanness recently took on the leading role of Huang Zhi Xing in the 2025 Taiwanese drama Faith & Fire — a suspenseful short series centered around undercover operations and gang conflicts which aired until July 25.

But acting isn’t his only pursuit as Vanness is also a dedicated entrepreneur. In 2018, he founded the sneaker-fashion brand xVESSEL, known for its deconstructed designs for its sneakers. This year, xVESSEL celebrated its eighth anniversary at its Hangzhou flagship outlet, marking a milestone in his creative journey as a designer.

Ken Chu

Currently embarking on his solo concert tour, titled The Starting Point of The Breaking Point, Ken is making a strong return to music. It kicked off in Nanjing in July, and will have him performing newly released solo songs, bringing heartfelt performances to fans across various cities in China.

Offstage, Ken has been seen traveling with his wife, Han Wen Wen, as the two explore China together. Ken has been documenting their adventures through short-form vlogs on Instagram, giving fans a glimpse into their travels.

Despite his stoic demeanor and calm presence, fans were thrilled to see that Ken signature sense of humour hasn’t changed one bit over the past 25 years. Backstage at the Mayday concert, he was spotted playfully performing Tai Chi, much to the delight of longtime F4 fans who remember his quirky charm from the early 2000s.

What’s next for F4?

Don’t worry — this isn’t the last you’ll see of F4.

According to an exclusive report by Taiwan’s Mirror Media on June 4, F4 is officially set to reunite for a 25th anniversary concert in 2026, marking a monumental return to the stage after more than two decades since their debut. Discussions are already underway for a regional Asia tour, with potential stops in Taiwan, China, Japan, and South Korea.

This much-anticipated reunion is made possible by B’in Music, the Taiwan-based recording company behind the wildly successful 2024 comeback of fellow early-2000s boy band Energy. Their proven track record — and the warm reception from fans — played a key role in convincing F4 to reunite for what could be one of the most nostalgic tours of the decade.