When it comes to idol groups, it is uncertain whether all members will continue their career together for a long time as there are various factors that can affect one member's decision to stay in the team. Members would withdraw from the band due to studies, change in music interest, company issues, health concerns, and more.
While most K-pop idols leave their group for good, a few rejoin years after their departure - below are six examples.
6 K-pop Idols Who Withdraw From Their Group But Rejoined Afterward
Former Wonder Girls Sunmi
Sunmi is widely known as a former member of JYP Entertainment's first girl group, Wonder Girls, which debuted in 2007.
In January 2010, JYPE announced that Sunmi will leave the band to pursue an academic career. As a result, Hyerim was added as a new member.
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In August 2013, Sunmi debuted as a solo artist under JYPE with the single "24 Hours." Two years later, she rejoined Wonder Girls and participated in the group's comeback with the album "Reboot."
Pink Fantasy Heesun
Pink Fantasy debuted in October 2018, and just a year after, MyDoll announced Heesun's departure from the group, but she remained under the agency. The label explained that Heesun will leave due to anxiety and depression. They added that she made posts using her personal SNS account that could give the group a bad image.
In May 2021, MyDoll announced that Heesun will rejoin Pink Fantasy but only as a guest member, along with trainees Miku and Momoka (with the latter becoming a permanent member later on).
Pink Fantasy made their comeback, with Heesun as a guest member, in June 2021 with their first EP "Alice in Wonderland."
NCT Dream Mark
In the case of NCT Dream Mark, he technically did not leave, but graduated from the band.
NCT Dream had to follow an age-based admission and graduation system, where the members (who are still minors) will graduate out of the unit when they become adults (19 years old).
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Mark was the first to graduate, leaving the band in December 2018. Two years later, he rejoined NCT Dream after SM Entertainment abolished the graduation system and made the group a fixed team.
NCT Dream made their first comeback as a seven-piece group again in April with the EP "Reload."
Former Nine Muses Euaerin
Nine Muses or 9muses was a nine-member girl group under Star Empire Entertainment. Like Pink Fantasy, the band also had multiple lineup changes.
Euaerin is part of the original lineup, which also consists of Sera, Lee Sem, Bini, Rana, Eunji, Minha, and Hyerim. They debuted in August 2010 with their first single album "Let's Have a Party."
In February 2011, Star Empire announced that Euaerin is one of the members leaving the group, alongside Rana and Bini. The agency explained that Euaerin will focus on her studies.
But just six months after her departure, Euaerin rejoined Nine Muses and participated in the comeback with the digital single "Figaro."
g.o.d's Kyesang
Kyesang is part of the vocal line of g.o.d. (Groove Over Dose), which debuted back in 1999. After five years, he left the group and the reason was only revealed in 2012. He decided to quit g.o.d. to pursue his acting career.
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The boy group went on a hiatus between 2006 and 2014. In early 2013, it was confirmed that Kyesang will rejoin the team. The quintet then made their first comeback as a full group in July 2014 with the album "Chapter 8."
Former Rania Saem
The last K-pop idol on our list is Saem, a former member of Rania which re-debuted as BP Rania in 2016 and is now called Blackswan.
Rumors about Saem's departure from BP Rania ("Black Pearl" Rania) began in late 2014, but the group's agency, DR Music, only confirmed this in November 2015, hence, it is uncertain when she actually left the band.
A year later, Saem rejoined Rania and participated in the debut as BP Rania. She changed her stage name to Yina. However, Saem left the group for good in June 2017 to focus on her acting career.
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Written by Maria Scott
