Regarded one of the largest cases of thrown down the drain talent in the field in K-pop, the girl band PRISTIN of Pledis Entertainment rattled fandoms when they disbanded.
Ever wondered what the past members of the girl band are currently up to this year after their disbandment?
ROA, YUHA, EUNWOO, AND RENA
If you were a PRISTIN fan when the band was still active until their disbandment, four out of ten members established their own team, called HINAPIA.
HINAPIA is composed of Roa (presently Minkyeung), Yuha (presently Gyeongwon), Eunwoo, and Rena (presently Yaebin). They have Bada, a 5th member, who had been a model prior to joining the group.
In November 2019, Minkyeung confirmed that the HINAPIA members, who used to be part of PRISTIN, are really the only individuals who seek to continue as artists. They started their careers in 2019 with "Drip," and are expected to launch a comeback this year.
KYULKYUNG
When PRISTIN was dissolved in May 2019, one of the very few members who chose to remain under Pledis Entertainment was Kyulkyung (who initially debuted as Pinky in I.O.I).
She has been in a court dispute with the agency.
Kyulkyung (now popularly known by her Chinese name, Zhou Jieqiong) sent out a termination of employment request to both Pledis Entertainment and her Chinese company, XCSS Entertainment, on September 10, 2019. But Pledis Entertainment didn't acknowledge the "groundless" proposal.
Pledis Entertainment claimed in a statement on May 25, 2020 that they would have given her a great deal of support as an artist, ensuring her a seat on Produce 101 where she earned her I.O.I spot and her entertainment roles.
They claimed that Kyulkyung had since individually appeared in China's TV shows and commercials, breaching her contract agreement with the company. Pledis Entertainment said that they will pursue legal action toward Kyulkyung.
The next day, Kyulkyung released a statement of her own. She announced she submitted a termination letter with the agency because of "significant issues." She said she wanted to settle issues legitimately without creating an inconvenience and was now able to face and address the problem.
KYLA
As part of PRISTIN, Kyla had such a chaotic venture. The group ended in May 2019, long before Pledis Entertainment announced in October 2017 that Kyla will take a long break and return to the USA due to health reasons. Ultimately, when PRISTIN disbanded, Kyla formally revoked her agreement with the agency.
Several months later, in a discussion, Kyla said she was getting a long break because of an injury. She lived a fairly normal life in Santa Clarita, California, and enrolled in school for quite a while.
Fans were frightened when Kyla's school falls prey to firing in November 2019, but fortunately, Kyla managed to escape safely. The actual best part of this year happened to come on June 5, when Kyla confirmed she would release a solo album.
"Watch Me Glow" was launched on June 13, and fans showered her with appreciation for her brave decision.
NAYOUNG
Like Kyulkyung, the former head of PRISTIN Nayoung also gained prominence as a member of I.O.I.
Nayoung negotiated an agreement with Sublime Artist Company in June 2019 after departing from Pledis Entertainment. Now, fans can see her on the screen. It was announced last month that Nayoung will star in tvN's "Flower of Evil."
The drama focuses on a man with a dark history and his investigator wife, starring Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won, who investigates a cold case that links with her spouse. Nayoung will play the high school daughter of a serial murderer.
XIYEON
After PRISTIN disbanded, fans were concerned a lot about Xiyeon. For 11 years, she has been with Pledis Entertainment until she departed from the agency, which must have had taken a strain on her. She made a disturbing post to Instagram back in December, saying, "Even when my lungs are squeezed, I must try to breathe. I must live. I must live. I must try to live. I must try."
Fortunately, since then, Xiyeon has seemed so much happier, and she also made her film debut last month in "Sillim Man and Woman."
YEHANA AND SUNGYEON
Yehana and Sungyeon have been only PRISTIN members signed for Pledis Entertainment since Kyulkyung's termination. Since PRISTIN was being managed by the agency, it is no wonder that fans had heard little of the pair after the group disbanded. A photo of herself was posted in her studio last month by Sungyeon, who now looks like her English name as Shannon Bae, leading supporters to think she might have the opportunity to make her solo debut.
Concerning Yehana, who used to be the main vocalist of PRISTIN, fans only knew a little about her current activities. Hope she, too, will make an official appearance to the industry.
