Wonderfuls (as fans of Wonder Girls are lovingly known), we hate to break this to you, but your favourite K-Pop group is breaking up.
JYP Entertainment announced the news just today (Thursday, 26th January) and informed fans that the group will be releasing one last single this coming February.
At the beginning of the month, news sites reported that the girl group hasn’t renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment despite it coming to an end in January. This was followed by disbandment rumours. Speculations were also rife that the members have been in contact with other potential agencies as they are looking to expand their career in other fields such as acting.
Although rumours were already floating around the interwebs, fans around the world are still reeling in shock at the suddenness of the announcement.
According to JYP, Yubin and Hyerim will be re-signing with the company while Yeeun and Sunmi have decided to leave. However, the company have assured fans that a final digital single will be released on 10th February as part of their 10th anniversary celebration.
The official statement on the disbandment reads:
“Hello, this is JYP Entertainment. We are announcing that Wonder Girls, after 10 years, is disbanding.
The decision happened after much discussion among the members and with our agency. Yubin and Hyerim of Wonder Girls have re-signed with JYP Entertainment, and they will be continuing with music, acting, MCing, and other activities.
Yeeun and Sunmi, after much deliberation, have decided to leave JYP Entertainment.
As a thank you to all the fans that stayed faithful to Wonder Girls over the past 10 years, the group will be releasing a final digital single on February 10, their 10th anniversary.
We, JYP Entertainment, want to thank fans worldwide who’ve been together with Wonder Girls’ throughout their 10-year journey. We will continue to support the improved future of the remaining and parting members.
Thank you.“
JYP has also released a 4-minute video taking fans on a trip down memory lane:
Wonder Girls’ disbandment comes after the high-profile disbandment of fellow legendary K-Pop girl groups 4Minute in June 2016 and 2NE1 in November 2016.
We really don’t know how to feel about this, and all we can say is – thank you for bringing wonderful music to us all these years.
