H1-KEY will return to the music scene with a new member after Sitala left the group.
Keep on reading for further details.
H1-KEY to Return in July With New Member Following Sitala's Departure
On June 7, H1-KEY took to their official social media accounts to share a teaser image, announcing their comeback with a new single. The photo also revealed a new member of the group as it shows four silhouettes.
H1-KEY previously lost one member as Sitala left the group this past May. Their agency Grandline Group (GLG) announced that Sitala decided to leave the team due to personal reasons. Her departure came after her controversy about her family's involvement in the dictatorship and military in Thailand.
RELATED: H1-KEY Sitala's Upcoming Debut Faces Backlash After It Was Discovered Her Family Supports Dictatorship
Aside from the silhouettes of the four H1-KEY members, the teaser image also shows tennis racquets, scoreboard, and ball carts, suggesting a sport-related concept. Moreover, the orange background implies that their upcoming single is well-suited for the summer season.
Following the announcement of H1-KEY's comeback, attention is focused on the identity of the new member, as well as on the genre of song they will drop next month.
H1-KEY made their debut on Jan. 5 with their first single album "Athletic Girl." Their debut song received a hot response from netizens on online communities and social media immediately after its release. The group's point choreography involving exercise movements, such as running, lunge, and squat, became a hot topic. Because of this, "Athletic Girl" was added to Spotify's "WOR K OUT" playlist.
ALSO READ: GLG Issues Statement Regarding H1-KEY Sitala's Debut Following Controversy Over Family's Support for Dictatorship
H1-KEY's potential for growth was also transparent on music charts. "Athletic Girl" reached No. 1 on iTunes K-pop Song charts in nine countries including Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and more. In Thailand, the song topped online record sales sites and the iTunes video chart. The track also placed second on the iTunes All Songs Chart in Thailand.
On YouTube, H1-KEY's "Athletic Girl" music video surpassed 10 million views just a little over two weeks after its release.
Meanwhile, H1-KEY's comeback with a new member will take place on July 6, and their new single will drop at 6 p.m. KST on that day.'
Meet the H1-KEY Members Here
As the new H1-KEY member is yet to be introduced, learn more about the other members below.
H1-KEY Seoi
Seoi is H1-KEY's leader and vocalist. Prior to joining GLG, she was a trainee at YG Entertainment. She was part of the label's Trainee Team 2. Her hobbies include baking and collecting pretty things.
While she uses the name Seoi for her activities, her real name is Lee Yejin. Her nationality is Korean.
H1-KEY Riina
Like Seoi, Riina also uses a stage name for her activities as a H1-KEY member. Her birth name is Lee Seung Hyun. She is also Korean and a vocalist of the group.
She was initially a trainee at WM Entertainment, and was a member of the agency's pre-debut group Ggumnamu/ Dream Tree.
Additionally, Riina was a participant in Mnet's "Produce 48," where she only finished in 73rd place.
H1-KEY Yel
"Yel" is also just her stage name; her real name is Han Shin Young. She is another Korean member of H1-KEY, as well as a vocalist, rapper, and maknae. She is a former JYP Entertainment trainee. She got first place in the JYP 15th Open Audition project.
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Written by Maria Scott
