There’s no denying that the K-pop industry is one of the most competitive industries to ever exist right now, especially with new and aspiring groups making their debut almost every week. So far, fans have been delighted with comebacks and debuts from numerous talented K-pop acts.
With that being said, it’s never easy to say goodbye, especially when it comes to your favorite K-pop groups. While there are plenty of new K-pop groups and artists to stan in 2022, there are also groups that fans must part with. Here we list down a few groups that shocked us with their disbandment over the past couple of months:
1. NU’EST (뉴이스트)
Nu’est officially debuted on 15th March 2012 under Pledis Entertainment, consisting of a line-up of five members: JR, Aron, Baekho, Minhyun and Ren. Back in February, Pledis announced that NU’EST will cap off their official activities on 14th March 2022.
It was also revealed that members JR, Aron, and Ren left the company following the expiration of their contracts. The remaining members, Baekho and Minhyun have officially renewed their contracts with the agency. They released their final album, “Needle & Bubble” and officially bid adieu.
2. April (에이프릴)
April debuted on 24th August 2015, with a line-up of six members – Somin (who’s now a member of KARD), Chaewon, Hyunjoo, Naeun, Yena, and Jinsol. Not too long after that, the group had a change in line-up after both Somin and Hyunjoo’s departures were announced. The two girls were replaced with Chaekyung and Rachel.
In 2021, April was involved in a huge scandal which in turn shattered the group’s entire career. It all started after Hyunjoo and her family claimed she was bullied by the other members. This has resulted in the remaining members receiving massive backlash from the public. The group’s agency, DSP Media, announced that APRIL officially disbanded on 28th January 2022, after much discussion.
3. Hot Issue (핫이슈)
Hot Issue made their debut on 28th April 2021, comprising members Nahyun, Mayna, Hyeongshin, Dana, Yewon, Yebin and Dain. The group sadly disbanded on 22nd April 2022, just a few days before they celebrated their one-year debut anniversary. According to their agency, the group has been working to find their direction and development, but ultimately decided to disband.
4. TRNCG (티알씨엔지)
TRCNG made their debut on 10th October 2017. The line-up consisted of members Jihun, Hayoung, Taeseon, Hakmin, Wooyeop, Jisung, Hyunwoo, Siwoo, Hohyeon and Kangmin. Much like April, the boy group also made headlines all over the nation after a shocking news involving members of the group were brought to light.
Two of the members, Wooyeop and Taeseon, sued their label TS Entertainment for mistreatment, theft, and abuse of minors. Both of them left the group afterwards. Following a long legal dispute, three staff members of the agency were forwarded to prosecution in April 2020.
In January 2021, it was revealed that TS Entertainment quietly ceased its operations, leaving the group’s fate unknown. However, the TRCNG boys themselves personally announced the group’s disbandment on 28th March 2022, following the expiration of their contracts.
5. CLC (씨엘씨)
CLC debuted on 19th March 2015 under Cube Entertainment with five members – Seunghee, Yujin, Seungyeon, Sorn, and Yeeun. They later added two more members, Elkie and Eunbin, on February 2016. Despite reaching international success with popular songs like “Hobgoblin”, “Black Dress”, “Me” and “Helicopter”, CLC stalled promotions in 2020, with several members focused on their individual activities.
Elkie left the group on 3rd February after her contract was terminated by Cube. Soon afterward, Sorn, Seungyeon, and Yeeun also parted ways with Cube. Meanwhile, Yujin participated in the survival show “Girls Planet 999”, and successfully made her second debut with the temporary group Kep1er in January 2022.
6. Mamadol (MMD, 마마돌)
Mamadol was a six-member project girl group formed through the tvN reality show “Mama The Idol”. The group consisted of experienced female idols, namely After School leader Kahi, former Wonder Girls leader Sunye, Byul (“Running Man” member Haha’s wife) and also Jewelry’s Park Jung Ah, among others.
They made their debut on 28th January 2022 with their single titled “WooAh Hip”. Sadly, the group didn’t last long, as Mamadol disbanded following the airing of the eighth and final episode of “Mama The Idol” on 4th February 2022.
7. GIRLKIND (걸카인드)
GIRLKIND debuted as a five-member girl group on 17th January 2018 under Next Level Entertainment. The line-up comprised of members Medic Jin, Jikang, Xeheun, Sun J and Ellyn. On 22nd March 2020, the agency announced that Sun J will be taking a hiatus from the group in order to focus on her studies. She eventually left the group in April of the same year.
The girl group sadly disbanded on 13th August 2022. According to Next Level Entertainment, the group members decided to go their separate ways due to some “internal issues”.
Which of these K-pop disbandments shocked you the most? Feel free to share with us in the comments.
