First comebacks of K-pop artists are as highly-anticipated as debuts, especially since there are new expectations from people, including the idols' improvement in singing and dancing and a different image from the previous one. While some only take months to return to the music scene, some idol groups take longer than expected-several of which take one year and more.
Below are eight K-pop groups that had to wait a long period before they release new music since their debut.
8 K-pop Groups That Took the Longest Time to Have Their First Comeback
WINNER
YG Entertainment launched WINNER as a five-member boy group in August 2014. The quintet released their first studio album "2014 S/S," which features the lead singles "Empty" and "Color Ring."
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WINNER made their first comeback after one year and six months in February 2016 with the EP "Exit: E," which contains the title tracks "Sentimental" and "Baby Baby."
NCT U
NCT U, the first and rotational sub-unit of SM Entertainment's boy group NCT, debuted in April 2016 with the digital singles "7th Sense" and "Without You." The first NCT U members to debut are Taeil, Doyoung, Mark, Taeyong, Jaehyun, and Ten.
One year and 10 months passed by before NCT U made its first comeback in February 2018 with the song "Boss," which is part of NCT's 2018 album "Empathy." This time, the lineup includes Jungwoo, Doyoung, Lucas, Jaehyun, Taeyong, Winwin, and Mark.
Cross Gene
Cross Gene made its debut under Amuse Korea in June 2012. The six-member boy group dropped their first mini-album, "Timeless: Begins," which features the title song "La-Di Da-Di."
Unfortunately, during their hiatus in the music industry, Cross Gene underwent a few lineup changes. J.G left the team in January 2013 and was replaced by a new member named Seyoung.
In June 2014, two years after their debut, Cross Gene made a comeback in Korea with the digital single "Amazing -Bad Lady-."
Playback
Clear Company launched its first idol group Playback in June 2015 with the single "Playback." Clear Company later merged with Coridel Entertainment, a company that Tyler Kwon established in the same year. The girl group was eventually managed by Coridel.
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After two years and four months (October 2017), Playback made their first comeback with their first single album "Want You to Say" as a five-member group. Eunjin, who was cut from the team before their debut, was added back in April 2017.
Pocket Girls
In April 2015, Pocket Girls debuted under MissDica Entertainment with the digital single "Bbang Bbang." The lineup consisted of Yeonji, JuA, SeA, and Soyoon.
Pocket Girls then returned to the music scene in two years and six months (October 2017) with another digital single "Oppa is Trash." Additionally, the group had new members at that time: Minchae, ChaeA, and Habin.
Live High
Consisting of Hangyeol, Emily, A.Jia, and Gabin, Live High dropped their debut single "Hakuna Matata" in July 2013. The group came back in two years and nine months (May 2016) with their second single "Happy Song" and three new members: Ceena, Bohye, and Rhea.
Six Bomb
Six Bomb is probably the K-pop group with the second-longest time before their first comeback. The girl group debuted in January 2012 with the mini-album "Six Bomb First Mini Album."
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They then returned after three years and four months (May 2015) with a new version of their song "Step to Me" and three new members Dain, Han Bi and U Chung, plus the original member Hyejin with the new stage name Soa.
SHU-I
Finally, SHU-I might be the K-pop group that took the longest time in history before their first comeback. The five-piece boy group made its debut in September 2009 with their first digital single, "Bomb Bomb Bomb."
After three years and ten months of their debut, the quintet dropped their first mini-album, "Don't Back Down," in July 2013.
If you know other K-pop groups that took one year or more before making their first comeback, comment below!
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Written by Maria Scott
