The "Standardized Agreement for Pop Culture Artists" in Korea states that if a contract is more than seven years, the artist may give notice of contract cancellation. "7-Year Curse" refers to a "crisis" that idols experience in the seventh year following their debut. After seven years of the band’s formation, either they are disbanded, or some members leave the group. So, in this article we will discuss ten such groups or bands that came under the seven-year curse.
1. GFriend
GFriend was a girl group formed in 2015. The group was formed by Source Music. The group had six members. GFriend debuted with the Extended Play Season of Glass on 15th January 2015. The group was the first girl group to be interviewed for the Grammy Mini Masterclass. The group unfortunately disbanded on 22 May 2021, years after its inception. All the members of the group left Source Music upon completion of their contract, which led the group to disband.
2. MAP6
It was a South Korean boy band with five members formed in 2015. The group debuted with the single “Storm.” The members of the band were Minhyuk, J.Jun, Sign, Sun, and J.Vin. The band went on hiatus after four out of five members enlisted in mandatory military service in South Korea on 10th December 2019.
3. BaBa
BaBa was a South Korean girl group under PR Entertainment. The group debuted on 25th February 2016 with five members. The group debuted with the single “Sergeant Kim’s Return From Vietnam.” 16 former member left the group for different reasons. The official fandom of the band was called Ttu Ttu. Later in 2020, the group disbanded on 20th June.
4. PLAYBACK
PLAYBACK was a South Korean girl group formed in 2015 under Clear Company. The group debuted with the single “Playback” with five members. In 2021, the group only had two members left though the official website of the band still showed all members as active members of the group. The group became inactive in 2019, and it was assumed that they have been silently disbanded.
5. VX
VX was a South Korean boy band with five members. The band debuted on 13th July 2015 under JJ Entertainment with the single “Fantasy.” The band’s official fandom name was Sunshine. The band, unfortunately, was disbanded in 2017, just under seven years.
6. WANNA.B
WANNA.B was a South Korean girl group with five members. The group was formed by Zenith Media Contents in 2014. The group initially had four members. On 17th November, 2014 the band released their pre-debut single called “My Type.” Even before their official debut in July, some members left, and others joined the group. In 2019, the group was rumored to have been disbanded after its name was removed from the Zenith Media Content’s website and the members removed the band name from their accounts and descriptions.
7. April
April was a South Korean girl group under DSP Media. The group had six members who debuted on 24th August 2015 with the Extended Play (EP) Dreaming. The group consisted of Chaekyung, Chaewon, Naeun, Yena, Rachel, and Jinsol. The group was disbanded on 28th January 2022 after the managing agency of the group DSP Media was acquired by RBW Entertainment, and the group was not involved in any activity for a year.
8. DIA
DIA is short for DIAMOND and short for Do It Amazing. DIA is a South Korean girl group under MBK Entertainment. The group consisted of six members Eunice, Jueun, Huihyeon, Yebin, Chaeyeon, and Eunchae. DIA debuted on 14th September 2015 with their single “Somehow” from the album “Do It Amazing.” In 2016, Seunghee left the group to focus on her acting career. Another member Eunjin left the group in 2018 to focus on her health. In 2019, Jenny too left the group for the same reason. And in 2022, Somyi decided not to renew her contract with the agency. So, the group eventually went on an indefinite hiatus.
9. Unicorn
Unicorn was a South Korean girl group under Show Brothers Entertainment. The group debuted on 3rd September, 2015. This K-Pop group was produced by R&B singer Kim Jo-Han. And according to him, the name of the group, signifies the mythical creature unicorn that had the power of therapy. Rumi, a member of the group informed her fans through Instagram that the band has disbanded on 5th September 2017.
10. Snuper
Snuper was a South Korean boy band under Widmay Entertainment. The band debuted in 2015 with the Extended Play (EP) “Shall We.” The group had six members: Suhyun, Sangil, Taewoong, Woosung, Sangho, and Sebin. In 2020, Sebin joined another group Omega X. The band was officially disbanded on 3rd May 2023 after the contracts of the members expired with the company.
