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In this article, you can find out about idols who have debuted in their 7th year and whether they have disbanded or not! Let's check!
Song, Kpopmap EditorFor idols, '7 Year Curse' means a 'crisis' they face in the 7th year since their debut.
This is because, most of the time, they are at a crossroads in their career because their exclusive contract will expire with their agency. Therefore, it is a key date for the groups as they will decide if they will continue (and if together) or not.
In Korea, according to Article 3, Paragraph 2 of the "Standardized Agreement for Pop Culture Artists", artists can notify the cancellation of their contract if the contract exceeds 7 years.
Numerous idol groups came through difficulties during this period, generally following the steps of 'disbanding' or 'reducing the group'. Some group or member take this opportunity to leave the agency where they debuted but do not leave/disband the group.
In this article, you can find out about idols who reach their 7th year since debut and whether they have disbanded or not!
Let's check the list below.
*Note that not all the idols re-sign on their 7th year. Some groups of this list already re-signed.
CocoSori Disbandment: Feb 01, 2019
IMFACT Disbandment: Jan 03, 2022
APL
Feb 19, 2016
~ Active
ASTRO
Feb 23, 2016
~ Active
WJSN
Feb 25, 2016
~ Active
VOISPER Disbandment: Dec 08, 2021
KNK
Mar 03, 2016
~ Active
Mercury Contract End
MOXIE
Mar 09, 2016
~ Active
MATILDA Disbandment: Sep 06, 2019
NCT
Apr 09, 2016
~ Active
BOL4
Apr 22, 2016
~ Active
VARIOUS Disbandment: May 29, 2018
MIXX Disbandment: Mar 17, 2017
I.O.I Disbandment: Jan 29, 2017
AFOS Disbandment: Mar 13, 2019
A.De
Jun 23, 2016
~ Active
Gugudan Disbandment: Dec 31, 2020
Unnies Disbandment: Dec 31, 2017
C.I.V.A
Jul 08, 2016
~ Active
VROMANCE
Jul 12, 2016
~ Active
INX Disbandment: Nov 30, 2017
Z:ON
Aug 06, 2016
~ Active
BLACKPINK
Aug 08, 2016
~ Active
New Town Boyz
Aug 16, 2016
~ Active
I.B.I Disbandment: Jan 01, 2017
SEVENUS
Aug 19, 2016
~ Active
Real Girls Project
Aug 25, 2016
~ Active
MOBB
Sep 09, 2016
~ Active
offonoff
Sep 21, 2016
~ Active
SF9
Oct 05, 2016
~ Active
PENTAGON
Oct 10, 2016
~ Active
HIGHTEEN Contract End
BULLDOK Disbandment: Jan 18, 2018
Oh!Bliss
Oct 25, 2016
~ Active
TheEastLight. Disbandment: Oct 22, 2018
VICTON
Nov 09, 2016
~ Active
MOMOLAND Disbandment: Jan 27, 2023
B.Heart Disbandment: Nov 30, 2017
OAHSIS Disbandment: Oct 11, 2019
KARD
Dec 13, 2016
~ Active
HEART Disbandment: May 01, 2017
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Check out the side effects and things to consider about idols playing in BL Dramas.
Ash, Kpopmap EditorRecently, South Korea has been producing many BL dramas. Because not everyone easily agrees to play queer roles in dramas, many production companies have turned to the K-Pop industry. Not that K-Pop idols accept more easily playing in BL dramas, but many are willing to give it a try for various reasons. That is why most Korean BL dramas include K-Pop idols in the cast. But if this looks like a perfect combination and a win-win for the agencies and companies, the reality is way more complicated than this. It is not all bad, but sometimes, it isn't all good either.
Even if South Korea is trying to open to diversity, like queer communities, overall there is a big conservative mentality over homosexuality and gender identities according to OECD's research "Society at a Glance 2019. A spotlight on LBGT people". Because of that, the BL market is trying to grow without being too controversial, and engaging idols as actors for BL dramas is a way to make more people accept the idea of having queer representation. Because many fans will be ready to take interest in the show because their favorite idols star in it too. However, if that is the expectation, it is not always so easy. Now let's take a look at a few side-effects of idols starring in BL dramas.
In a majority of the BL Dramas that have been released recently, the idols who were part of the cast weren't part of the most popular idols, and there is a reason for that. If including idols helps make BL dramas more popular, it is also helping the idols to grow a bigger fanbase. Of course, part of the audience will be the fans of the idol, but another part will be regular consumers of BL dramas, and if they enjoy the idol starring in the drama, this might help the idol or group get more fans as a result. Also, promoting outside of K-Pop shows can help bring more fans too, because the market target will be different than the one K-Pop groups and idols usually aim for. That is why idols that are struggling to build a big fanbase often agree to star in BLs. That doesn't mean that they don't enjoy playing in it, but it is one of the possible motives idols can have.
Before being actors, the idols are musical artists. So even if they get popular for their acting, they always like it better when they got praise for their musical skills. Looking back on Korean BLs, many OSTs from the dramas were songs sung by the idols starring in the drama. That is also a way to promote themselves as musical artists in a different way. One of the best examples of this situation is the drama "Wish You: Your Melody From My Heart" starring IMFACT's Lee Sang and MYNAME's Kang InSoo. This drama was revolving around music and both lead actors were idols, so they were both part of the OST, this way they could promote their singing skills along with their acting skills. OST is another way to attract another type of consumer.
Idols who agree to star in BL dramas are actually taking a big risk. Considering that Korea is still a bit conservative about the subject, starring in a BL drama isn't a light thing. Often, when they appear in a BL drama once, idols are associated with it for a long time, as long as people keep watching the drama. But some idols are ready to take the risk of being associated with a category, to be assigned an etiquette that doesn't necessarily represent them. The reason is simple, they acknowledge the minorities and choose to act upon it. Some idols decide to star in BL to show that they support fully LGBTQIA+ communities and they choose to help their representation. Even if BLs are far from reality, as it is fictional content, having idols ready to stand up for the cause and help make it part of the norms in Korea is a big move, especially for those who are fans and part of the community. It was the case of A.C.E's Jun, the group previously did an OST for the BL drama "Light On Me", and not long after, one of the members starred in the BL drama "Tinted With You". He confessed in an interview about the drama that he was very open-minded about that kind of subject and there was for sure nothing wrong with people part of the community. And more recently, Holland, an idol who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, also starred in the BL drama "Ocean Likes Me", which fans found very heartwarming and a real improvement in the representation of the community.
One thing to take into consideration is that BL dramas are fictional stories, the roles played by the actors do not define who they are, yet some people tend to associate the two. If idols are willing to take a step forward, some people have awful reactions to this. For example, the former member of THE BOYZ, Hur HyunJun, who played in "Color Rush", received a lot of hate for playing in a BL drama, and the hate he received got so rude that he had to take a step back from the drama and did not participate in the shooting of the second season. In one of the behind videos of the drama, the idol did express that he enjoyed playing in the drama and would be glad to reunite with his co-actor for another project, but because of the hate and homophobic comments he received, he had to let go of that idea. It is sad to know that some people are ready to go this far so that their idols are not associated with queer representations. But fortunately, it is not always like that, many fans are here to back up their artists and encourage them in trying new things.
Acting in a BL drama is not an easy thing, especially for idols, as it can glorify or ruin their image at a glance (as explained before). But some idols are still ready to take risks, because they want to experience new things because they believe it can do them good, for their careers, or sometimes because they want to support a cause. But behind every idol, there is an agency that manages them. And if the idols are often ready to take risks, agencies are a bit more reluctant. Agencies have to consider the opportunity, and whether it really will benefit the idol or not, they have to consider a budget too, and how the new schedule of a member can affect its group. Therefore, agencies do not agree easily with their idol playing in a BL drama. But from time to time, idols impose themselves in front of the agency and manage to convince them. That is the case with DKZ's JaeChan. He played the main role in the BL drama "Semantic Error", and in an interview, he revealed that his agency was a bit reluctant about him starring in the drama. But the more the agency was against the idea, the more he wanted to do it, because he hold on to his belief that it would work out for him, and it did. Sometimes, being successful just starts with believing in the concept of succeeding.
As specified in this article, the BL industry, like any other, is not all rainbows and sparkles like many tend to think. There are ups and downs, pros and cons, and it is not to be forgotten. And we stay grateful to all idols who are taking part in bringing awareness about minorities and choosing a different path to do so.
How The Rise In K-Pop Idols Taking On BL Roles Is Contributing To LGBTQI+ Visibility And Representation In KoreaKDRAMA STORIES Nov 18, 2022
The Best Korean BL Dramas In 2022KDRAMA STORIES Dec 22, 2022
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2022 was a tough year for many groups, that lost members or worse, disbanded. Here are the groups we think will be the most missed this year!
Bloodykiss, Staff Writer2022 was a tough year for many groups, that lost members or worse, disbanded. We decided to compile in this list some of the groups we think will be the most missed this year!
Let's look back at those groups bellow:
IMFACT was a group under Star Empire, debuting on the 27th of January in 2016. The members were SeoWool, TaeHo, JiAn, Lee Sang and UngJae and they parted away with their agency at the end of their contract.
Some of memorable IMFACT's songs:
N.CUS was a group under KYURI Entertainment, debuting on the 27th of August in 2019. The members were Hwan, Myeong, Seo SeokJin, SungSub, EOS, HoJin, EunTaek, Soon, IF, Yuan, SeungYong and HyeonMin, and they parted away with their agency at the end of their contract.
Some of memorable N.CUS' songs:
April was a group under DSP Media, debuting on the 24th of August in 2015. The members were Somin (now a member of KARD), Kim ChaeWon, Lee NaEun, Yun ChaeKyung, Yang YeNa, Seong NaYeun and, Lee JinSol and they parted away with their agency at the end of their contract.
Some of memorable April's songs:
MVP was a group under PH Entertainment, debuting on the 13th of March in 2017. The members were KangHan, RaYoon, GiTaek, P.K, Jin, Been, Sion.
Some of memorable MVP's songs:
NU'EST was a group under Pledis Entertainment, debuting on the 15th of March in 2012. The members were Hwang MinHyun, Aaron Kwak, Kim JongHyeon, BaekHo and Ren.
Some of memorable NU'EST's songs:
TRCNG was a group under TS Entertainment, debuting on the 10th of October, in 2017. The members were JiHun, Luke, TaeSeon, HakMin, WooYeop, JiSung, HyunWoo, SiWoo, HoHyeon and KangMin, and they parted away with their agency due to mistreatment.
Some of memorable TRCNG's songs:
ARIAZ was a group under Star Empire, debuting on the 24th of October in 2019. The members were YunJi, DaWon, SiHyeon, YeoRi, HyoGyeong and JuEun.
ARIAZ's memorable song:
HOT ISSUE was a group under S2 Entertainment, debuting on the 28th of April in 2011. The members were NaHyun, MayNa, HyeongShin, DaNa, YeWon, YeBin and DaIn.
Some of memorable HOT ISSUE's songs:
CLC was a group under Cube Entertainement, debuting on the 19th of March in 2015. The members were Oh SeungHee, YuJin (now a member of Kep1er), Jang SeungYeon, Sorn, Jang YeEun, Elkie and Kwon EunBin.
Some of memorable CLC's songs:
LUNASOLAR (previously Rookie Planet and First Love) was a group under JPlanet Entertainment, debuting on the 2nd of September in 2020. The members were Eseo, TaeRyeong, Jian, and Yuuri.
Some of memorable LUNARSOLAR's songs:
G-reyish was a group under Hyuk&Company, debuting on the 1st of June in 2017. The members were ShinYoung, YeNa, YeSo, HyeJi and HyunSeo.
Some of memorable G-reyish's songs:
ZPZG was a group under J Star Entertainement, debuting on the 25th of September in 2014. The members were Hyo, Hwi, TaeHwang and WonJun, and the history of the group is a little bit difficult to follow. Indeed, they disband on March 3, 2016, only to be formed again in October 31st, 2019. However, in June of last year, they announced their second disband, only for the members to be split into two new groups, ABLUE and ANTARES.
Some of memorable ZPZG's songs:
BlingBling was a group under MAJOR9, debuting on the 17th of November in 2020. The members were YuBin, Cha JuHyun, Marin, Choi JiEun, NaRin and Ayamy.
Some of memorable BlingBling's songs:
GIRLKIND was a group under Next Level Entertainment, debuting on the 17th of January in 2018. The members were XeHeun, JK, Medic Jin, and Sun J.
Some of memorable GIRLKIND's songs:
Botopass was a group under XX Entertainment, debuting on the 26th of August in 2020. The members were MiHee, Shiho, Ria, HaRin, AhYoon, SeoYoon, Cui Xiang and JiWon.
Botopass' memorable song:
DIA was a group under MBK Entertainment, debuting on the 14th of September in 2015. The members were Eunice, JuEun, HuiHyeon, Jenny, YeBin, Jung ChaeYeon, EunChae, SomYi and Cho YiHyun, and they parted away with their agency at the end of their contract.
Some of memorable DIA's songs:
HINT (previously TURAN) was a group under Star Pro Entertainment, debuting on the 10th of July in 2013. The members were NaEl, HyeJin, ArRa, Cherry and HaeSol.
Some of memorable HINT's songs:
BVNDIT was a group under MNH Entertainment, debuting on the 10th of April in 2019. The members were YiYeon, SongHee, JungWoo, SiMyeong and SeungEun.
Some of memorable BVNDIT's songs:
D-CRUNCH was a group under All-S Company, debuting on the 6th of August in 2018. The members were O.V, HyunWook, HyunHo, HyunOh, HyunWoo, MinHyuk, ChanYoung, JungSeung, and Dylan.
Some of memorable D-CRUNCH's songs:
bugaboo was a group under A Team Entertainment, debuting on the 25th of October in 20121. The members were ChoYeon, EunChae, Yoona, Rainie, Cyan and Zin.
Some of memorable bugAboo's songs:
Mamadol was a project group, composed of former members of famous K-Pop groups or celebrities. The particularity? Each of them is a mother, giving the name Mamadol. The members were SunYe (Wonder Girls), Park JungAh (Jewelry), KaHi (Afterschool), Byul (soloist), Yang EunJi (Baby V.O.X Re.V) and Hyun JyuNi (actress).
What groups made your list? Do you have another in your mind? Let us know in the comment below!
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