Saying goodbye is never easy, especially when it comes to K-pop. Unfortunately, some of the fan-favorite groups have decided to disband for good. The South Korean music scene boasts an array of amazing girl groups and boy bands, but competition can be tough and contracts don't last forever. As a result, it's not uncommon for members to venture out on their own once their contracts expire or to explore fresh opportunities in the entertainment world, such as acting or TV hosting gigs.
This has resulted in the loss of some pretty major K-pop acts already in 2023 - and a few contracts have expired. It was unclear whether the band would reunite, or if they would disband.
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D1CE - DISBANDED
After their contracts ended in January 2023, the boy band, which debuted in 2019, announced their disbandment.
“Hello. D1CE Entertainment is here. First and foremost, we'd want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the fans who have generously supported D1CE. We'd like to let you know that D1CE Entertainment's exclusive contracts with D1CE's Woo Jin Young, Park Woo Dam, Kim Hyun Soo, Jung Yoo Jun, and Jo Yong Geun will expire on January 20, 2023. We had extensive discussions with the members over a lengthy period of time, and in order to respect the wishes of Woo Jin Young, Park Woo Dam, Kim Hyun Soo, Jung Yoo Jun, and Jo Yong Geun, we mutually agreed to cancel our exclusive contracts," they stated in a statement.
BLACKPINK - EXPIRING CONTRACTS
Fans are wondering if BLACKPINK, who debuted in 2016, will renew their contracts this year amid rumors of hefty offers from other labels and prospective solo endeavors.
4 CONTRACTS RENEWED, 1 MEMBER LEAVES ASTRO
The band made its debut in 2016. Rocky decided to quit the agency and group, but Jinjin, Cha Eun-woo, Moonbin, and Sanha renewed their contracts in early 2023. Moonbin died suddenly in April of 2023.
MOMOLAND – DISBANDED
Following the expiration of their contracts, the group confirmed their disbandment. "First and foremost, we deeply apologize to our Merries [MOMOLAND fans] who were exposed to the news via an article. We sincerely apologize for the delayed update. Following a lengthy and in-depth discussion, the six of us have resolved to assist one another in order to have a successful new beginning in the future. "We MOMOLAND will always be a team, even though we have decided to take our own paths to our dreams," they stated in a statement in February.
Brave Girls - DISBANDED
"Brave Girls activities will officially conclude following the release of their digital single 'Goodbye," their agency noted. "After a long and in-depth discussion, the Brave Girls members and agency decided on a beautiful farewell. We will never forget the love we have for one another, and [the members] will repay the fans' love in their own way."
VIXX LR – DISBANDED
Beautiful Liar marked the debut of the first sub-unit of VIXX, consisting of Leo and Ravi. After a scandal involving military service, Ravi left VIXX in April of 2023, bringing the duo to an end.
Jinjin & Rocky – DISBANDED
Astro's second sub-unit, Jinjin & Rocky, was formed in 2022 between members Jinjin and Rocky. A debut EP was released by the band in January 2022, called 'Restore'. In February of 2023, Rocky decided not to renew his contract, which ended the duo.
DISBANDED BANDAGE
The South Korean rock band, which debuted on the reality show SuperBand in 2019, formally split in January, according to their agency, IST Entertainment. They confirmed that the members agreed to pursue new endeavors when their contracts terminated in December.
