Once a member (or several members) leaves the agency, a comeback for the group becomes uncertain. Sometimes, this leads to disbandment, but not always! Here are six groups that proved that K-pop groups can still make a comeback, despite members being under different agencies.
1. Girls' Generation
Girls' Generation made their debut in 2007. In October 2017, Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun left SM Entertainment after ten years. However, they stressed that the group was not disbanded. From then until early 2022, Girls' Generation was on hiatus.
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They reunited in August 2022 for a comeback, ending their five-year hiatus. They released the album "FOREVER 1," with a lead single of the same name. All members participated in the comeback despite how three members are in different agencies.
2. 2PM
In 2020, 2PM's 2015 song "My House" experienced a reverse run on the charts. Because of that, the public called for 2PM to have a comeback. At the time, 2PM had been on hiatus for four years, and Taecyeon had already left JYP Entertainment in 2018.
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2PM made a comeback on June 2021 with their album "Must" and its lead single, "Make It."
In December 2021, Changsung left JYP Entertainment.
3. 2NE1
2NE1 disbanded in 2017, and the members signed with new agencies since their disbandment. CL signed with Konnect Entertainment, Sandara Park is under Abyss Company, Park Bom is with D-Nation, and Minzy founded her own label MZ Entertainment.
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Despite being under agencies, 2NE1 reunited at the 2022 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The group performed their hit songs there and showed off a flawless reunion performance.
4. KARA
KARA disbanded in January 2016, KARA disbanded, and the members left the company. The members are now signed under different agencies. Only Park Gyuri and Heo Youngji are under DSP Media.
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On KARA's 15th anniversary in June 2022, members Han Seungyeon, Park Gyuri, Heo Youngji, Kang Jiyoung, and Nicole surprised fans by taking a commemorative group photo.
Nicole released a single titled "YOU.FO." During the press release, she revealed that the KARA members are discussing making a comeback as a whole group.
5. GOT7
After their exclusive contracts with JYP Entertainment expired in January 2021, all the GOT7 members chose to leave the company and move to separate agencies.
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At the time, iGOT7s were afraid that the members would never reunite. However, they squashed disbandment rumors by making a comeback with the mini-album "GOT7" in May 2022. They also held a fancon for two days on May 21 and 22.
6. T-ARA
On January 3, 2018, T-ARA went on a hiatus, and the members left MBK Entertainment and moved to different agencies. After a four-year hiatus, T-ARA returned to the music scenes with their first independent album, "Re:T-ARA."
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At the time, only Eunjung was in an agency. Jiyeon, Qri, and Hyomi were free agents. The girls surprised the public by revealing they produced the album and styled themselves with their own money, without the help of an agency and staff.
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Written by Alexa Lewis
