While some idol groups in the K-pop scene have a fixed lineup of members, others welcome one or more members for different reasons, either to expand the band or fill in the space left after a member departed.
In this article, we'll enumerate the K-pop boy and girl groups with additional members after their debut.
These K-pop Groups Had Additional Member/s after Debut
Red Velvet
Red Velvet is one of the idol groups known for an addition of a new member. The female group made their debut in August 2014 with only four members: Wendy, Irene, Joy and Seulgi.
SM Entertainment then added Yeri to Red Velvet in March 2015 when the group dropped their first mini-album "Ice Cream Cake."
ALSO READ: Actors in Upcoming Music Video Call Wendy a Former Member of Red Velvet - Is She Leaving the Group?
NCT
NCT is another K-pop group from SM Entertainment that welcomed new members following their debut. This makes sense as they are designed to be a group with an unlimited number of members.
NCT debuted in 2016 with 14 members split into three sub-units: NCT U, NCT Dream and NCT 127.
Between 2017 and 2020, 10 new trainees joined NCT such as Johnny, Doyoung, Kun, Jungwoo, Lucas, Xiaojun, Hendery, Yangyang, Shotaro and Sungchan.
The fourth and latest sub-unit WayV then debuted in January 2019.
CLC
CUBE Entertainment debuted CLC with only five members (Yujin, Sorn, Yeeun, Seunghee and Seungyeon) in March 2015.
Then, the label added Elkie and Eunbin in February 2016 when CLC was set to release their third mini-album. Unfortunately, Elkie and Sorn have departed from the group.
EXID
EXID was initially composed of six members: Jeonghwa, Hani, Yuji, LE, Haeryeong and Dami. In April 2012, three members (Yuji, Dami and Haeryeong) left the group for personal and career reasons.
EXID was then re-organized as a five-member group after Banana Culture added Hyelin, who was originally part of the debut lineup, and Solji, who was the team's vocal coach.
Dreamcatcher
Dreamcatcher originally made their debut under the name MINX in 2014 with five members: JiU, Siyeon, Yoohyeon, Dami, and SuA.
In January 2017, MINX re-debuted as Dreamcatcher with two additional members namely Gahyeon and Handong.
Brave Girls
In 2011, Brave Girls debuted as a five-piece group whose members are Yoojin, Hyeran, Seo-a, Eunyoung and Yejin.
Five years later, Brave Girls returned from hiatus as a seven-member group, adding five new members (Minyoung, Yuna, Hayun, Eunji and Yujeong) after three original members departed from the band.
The group continued to promote as a quintet until Hayun left in 2019 due to health reasons. The current members are the ones added to the group in 2016, five years after the band's debut.
Wonder Girls
JYP Entertainment's legendary girl group Wonder Girls underwent several changes in the lineup of members over the years. The band initially consisted of Sunmi, HyunA, Yeeun, Sunye and Sohee.
Shortly after Wonder Girls' debut in 2007, HyunA left the group due to health concerns. This resulted in Yubin replacing her in the same year.
Then, Sunmi temporarily left the group in 2010 to focus on her studies and so, JYPE added Hyerim to take her place. Sunmi late rejoined the band after five years, around the same time Sunye and Sohee left.
READ MORE: Where is Wonder Girls Now? The First-Ever K-pop Group to Debut on Billboard Hot 100
Girl's Day
Girl's Day debuted in 2010 and was made up of five members: Minah, Sojin, Jihae, Jiin and Jisun. Only two months later, Jiin and Jisun departed from the band and were replaced by Hyeri and Yura.
In 2012, Jihae also left Girl's Day for personal reasons. The group has since stayed as a quartet, with the remaining members Sojin, Minah, Yura and Hyeri.
Super Junior
Before NCT Dream, Super Junior was the first SM artist to have a graduation concept as Lee Soo Man planned to keep the group constantly young and all-rounded.
The first batch of Super Junior was called Super Junior 05, with 05 referring to 2005 (the year of their debut). They were 12 members at that time, including the current members and the three members who left (Han Geng, Kibum and Kangin).
But then, SM Entertainment abandoned the graduation idea after Kyuhyun was added in 2006. They also removed the "05" from the group name and the lineup of members became fixed.
MOMOLAND
MLD Entertainment launched MOMOLAND as a seven-member group in November 2016 with Hyebin, Nancy, Yeonwoo, JooE, Ahin, Nayun and Jane, who won the company's survival show "Finding Momoland."
The next year, Daisy and Taeha were added, making MOMOLAND a nonet. Sadly, Taeha, Yeonwoo and Daisy are no longer part of the band.
WJSN
WJSN debuted in February 2016 with 12 members: Dayoung, Meiqi, Seola, Luda, Cheng Xiao, Yeoreum, EXY, Bona, Dawon, Xuanyi, Eunseo and Soobin.
The girl group then welcomed their 13th member, Yeonjung, in July 2016 following I.O.I.'s disbandment.
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DIA
MBK Entertainment's trainees Seunghee, Eunice, Yebin, Huihyeon, Chaeyeon, Jenny and Eunjin debuted together as DIA in September 2015. In March 2016, the band became an eight-member group after the addition of a new member: Eunchae. They then became a 10-member band when Jueun and Somyi were added in 2017.
Currently, DIA is consists of seven members as Seunghee left in 2016, Eunjin in 2018 and Jenny in 2019.
Cignature
Initially, Cignature has seven members: Jeewon, Ye Ah, Belle, Chaesol, Sunn, Semi and Seline. But, Sunn and Ye Ah left the band for unknown reasons in April this year.
Because of this, J9 Entertainment adding two new members, Dohee and Chloe, in June as replacements.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
