In K-Pop, there were many groups that were meant to debut, but never made it to fruition. Here are some popular K-Pop groups that never made it to their debut stage.
1. PINK PUNK
There used to be more members of the BLACKPINK lineup. And back then, they weren't even called BLACKPINK - they were known as PINK PUNK!
The group originally consisted of nine members, and all of them had trained for numerous years under the company. The group also went through numerous lineup changes, and the other five members of the group have since left YG Entertainment.
Miyeon of (G)I-DLE is one of the famous former PINK PUNK members as she was seen in selfies and group photos with BLACKPINK. It was wildly assumed that she would be making her debut with the current BLACKPINK members. She ended up leaving the company before that, however. It was speculated she was kicked out since she was dating her fellow YG Entertainment trainee and former "MIX & MATCH" contestant Jung Jin Hyung, but it was never confirmed.
Following her departure from YG Entertainment, she signed with CUBE Entertainment and debuted with (G)I-DLE in 2019.
Secret Number's Jinny was also part of the PINK PUNK lineup, but she ended up leaving the company. She then joined "Produce 48" as an independent, former YG Entertainment trainee. She was eliminated and ranked 69th. She went on to sign with VINE Entertainment and debuted with Secret Number in 2020.
The Ark's Euna Kim was also part of the PINK PUNK lineup and was accepted into YG Entertainment after her appearance on "Superstar K3". Though part of the lineup, she left the company after having doubts on her debut. She ended up debuting as a soloist in 2014 and part of The Ark in 2015. The Ark never released a comeback following their debut, however, and the group disbanded after a year. After that, she debuted in KHAN in 2018 under Maroo Entertainment, but the group disbanded in 2020.
2. 6MIX
Prior to the creation of TWICE, JYP Entertainment had planned to debut a girl group called 6MIX. The original lineup includes current TWICE members, such as Jihyo (whose old name was Jisoo until she had it legally changed), Jeongyeon, and Nayeon. The other members were Cecilia, Minyoung, and Lena. Cecilia was the first member to leave the group and the company and current TWICE member Sana took her spot after.
The group was so close to debut that teasers for them were even filmed. However, the group went through multiple lineup changes, and member Lena was revealed to have left the company. JYP Entertainment ended up scrapping the idea of 6MIX and decided to partner with Mnet to create the survival show "6MIX," which would determine the members of his upcoming girl group, which we now know as TWICE.
Minyoung had joined the TWICE members on "SIXTEEN" and was expected to make her debut with the final lineup. However, she was eliminated in the finale, which meant she would not be debuting with TWICE. She has since left the company and has stayed out of the limelight.
K-Pop fans may know Lena as the featured rapper on Sunmi's "Full Moon." She left the company before "SIXTEEN," though there were rumors that she was asked to leave the company following a serious problem that was never specified. It's been stated that Lena was initially meant to appear on "SIXTEEN" prior to that and was replaced by Tzuyu on the show after she left JYP Entertainment. She has been seen supporting the girls when they go have concerts in the United States and has stayed close to her fellow 6MIX members.
Cecilia left the company before "SIXTEEN" and was also asked to leave the company for the same reasons as Lena. However, other reports say she left the company after sustaining a serious knee injury and left on her own accord. Since then, she's been active in China as an actress. She goes by her Chinese name, Song Yanfei.
3. MIXNINE
MIXNINE was the name of the YG Entertainment survival show in partnership with MIXNINE. The winning lineup - the top nine members of the boys team - were meant to debut, but it ended up getting canceled.
The news was confirmed by Happyface Entertainment, the agency of first place winner Woo Jinyoung. It's been stated that the debut was canceled after YG Entertainment offered them a three-year contract, in which six months of each year they would promote as a group, and the other six would be with their respective agencies. Many of the agencies turned down the offer, saying it was unreasonable. Additionally, the original contract deal was meant to be less than a year.
After failing to reach a consensus, they agreed to just not debut the group.
The group's lineup would have been Happyface's Woo Jinyoung (member of D1CE), Kim Hyojin (member of ONF), Lee Rubin (member of 1TEAM), Kim Byeongkwan (member of A.C.E), Choi Hyunsuk (member of TREASURE), Song Hangyeom (member of Seven O'Clock), Kim Minseok (formerly of ONF), Lee Donghun (member of A.C.E), and Lee Byounggon (member of CIX).
4. G-Dragon and Taeyang
Prior to the formation of BIGBANG, members G-Dragon and Taeyang were originally meant to debut in a hip-hop duo.
Yang Hyun Suk ended up changing the plans of their debut and told the two that they were going to be debuting with other members to create an idol group. When G-Dragon heard this, he was furious, as he had wanted to debut in a duo and not in a group. He said, "Why do I have to debut with them. I've been practicing with Taeyang for six years. What is this?" This lead him to be cold towards the new members, as revealed by BIGBANG member Daesung. Taeyang was initially hesitant as well but ended up warming up to the other members faster than G-Dragon.
G-Dragon ended up coming around and grew close to the BIGBANG members, and he ended up debuting as the group's leader.
G-Dragon and Taeyang would then debut as a duo, known as GD X Taeyang or GDYB, in 2014 with the song "Good Boy."
