Some K-pop groups disband after a short time, while some don't make it to their debut at all. Here are K-pop debuts that never made the stage.
1. 6MIX
Before TWICE was formed, JYP Entertainment had planned to debut a girl group in 2014 as miss A's sister group. The group, which was called 6MIX, was composed of Jihyo (who previously went by the name Jisoo), Jeongyeon, and Nayeon, who are now TWICE members, as well as Minyoung, Lena, and Cecile.
Cecile ended up leaving the company and was then replaced by Sana, who is now in TWICE.
Lena also ended up leaving the company and the group was eventually scrapped.
Instead, JYP Entertainment organized the survival show "SIXTEEN" to form their next girl group, TWICE. Jinhyo, Jeongyeon, Nayeon, Sana, and Minyoung all competed on the show, but it was only Minyoung who failed to make it to TWICE.
2. Tempest
Tempest was set to debut shortly after NU'EST as their direct brother group under PLEDIS Entertainment.
Originally, the lineup was meant to be a trio consisting of Seungcheol, Doyoon, and Yoosang. The lineup then included Jihoon and Youngwon.
Their debut was delayed as the company put more focus into NU'EST.
The debut was eventually canceled and Seungcheol and Jihoon went on to debut with SEVENTEEN under the stage name S.Coups and Woozi, respectively.
3. Big Little Mama
In 2010, JYP Entertainment was preparing to debut a girl group named Big Little Mama (other sources say the group name was Little Big Mama).
The group's lineup was composed of BESTIE's UJi, EXID's Hani, SISTAR's Hyolyn, and Secret's Jieun while they were under JYP Entertainment.
For various undisclosed reasons, the group never ended up debuting. Instead, JYP Entertainment debuted miss A in 2010.
4. Big Hit Boy Group
When he competed on "The Unit," Boy's Republic member Suwoong revealed that he used to be a trainee under Big Hit Entertainment and that he was put on a debut team with other trainees that he did not name, though many of them ended up debuting in BTS.
Suwoong revealed that the group had recorded songs and even started taking photos for their album, but their debut was eventually canceled and the group disbanded.
Instead, Big Hit Entertainment debuted BTS in 2013.
5. DAYDAY
DAYDAY was a pre-debut group under HYWY Entertainment. At the time of their dissolvement, the group was composed of five members: Sul A, Eunbi, Minju, Suhyun, and Debby.
On Oct. 21, 2017, the label announced their debut was canceled due to differences in opinion. It was later revealed that IZ*ONE Kang Hyewon was meant to debut in DAYDAY and left the company after her debut was canceled.
6. IM66
IM66 was a group under Yama & Hotchicks Entertainment. The group was meant to consist of 10 members, and a pre-debut sub-unit consisting of four members, IM, debuted on Sept. 1, 2017.
All four members competed on "The Unit," with Gijoong debuting in UNB through the show.
Though the group has not officially disbanded, none of the members are signed under the company. Their most notable member besides Gijoong is Hangyul, who competed on "Produce X 101" as an MBK Entertainment trainee and debuted with X1. He is currently part of the boy group BAE173.
7. MIXNINE
MIXNINE was a group that was formed through the YG Entertainment survival show of the same name. The group was composed of the show's top nine male finalists, as the boys team had won over the girl's team.
However, the show did not succeed as YG Entertainment has planned, and despite how the boys were all part of other agencies, they would need to sign under YG Entertainment to form a project group.
YG Entertainment had wanted to extend their contracts, but the companies involved were unable to reach an agreement.
Due to this, their debut was canceled.
8. PINKPUNK
PINKPUNK was a pre-debut girl group under YG Entertainment. The group was composed of nine members, four of them being the current members of BLACKPINK.
Other members of the group include (G)I-DLE's Miyeon, Secret Number's Jinny, Hannah Jang, Euna Kim, and Kim Eunbi. One by one, the members of PINKPUNK left YG Entertainment and only Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé, effectively forming BLACKPINK.
7. Pink Punk
Pink Punk was a pre-debut group under YG Entertainment. All of the members had been trainees for years, and following some line-up changes, their debut was ultimately canceled.
In the end, the members that remained under YG Entertainment debuted as a four-member girl group called BLACKPINK; these members are, of course, Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa.
Other rumored members of Pink Punk include Kim Eunbi, Kim Yuna, Jang Hanna, Cho Miyeon (now in (G)I-DLE), and Jinny Park (now in SECRET NUMBER).
8. Viva Girls
Viva Girls was a pre-debut girl group under Media Line Entertainment. Originally scheduled to debut around 2011 and 2012, the group ultimately disbanded due to financial issues. All the members left the company. Notably, they all joined other groups and achieved success in their field.
Gyeongree debuted in Nine Muses, Woohee debuted in Dal Shabet, Yumi debuted as a trot soloist, Jangmi (now known as Hyerim) debuted in After School and then moved to Hello Venus, and Hyoeun debuted in Stellar.
The two youngest members, Hyunjung and Sojung, debuted as members of WJSN with the stage names Seola and EXY, respectively.
9. Littles
Littles was a pre-debut girl group under Nega Network. They were originally scheduled to debut in 2014, but ultimately never did so. It is alleged that they disbanded without further notice.
At the time they were supposed to debut, all the members were minors, possibly why they were named Littles. The group consists of Shin Yerim, Song Hanhee, and Kim Haeun.
Haeun ultimately re-debuted with GOOD DAY. Following the group's disbandment, she debuted as a member of cignature with the stage name Ye Ah.
10. MuuTive
MuuTive was a four-member pre-debut girl group under GKM NEW Entertainment and co-managed by Padox_Sori. Though they released a pre-debut single, "aHHa," on July 22, 2022, they ended up silently disbanded in March 2023 without ever debuting.
The group consisted of Jimin, Haru, Ayu, and Ahryung.
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Written by Alexa Lewis
