Left by the Leader, These 10 K-Pop Groups Keep Working: iKON - AB6IX

Kapanlagi.com - A leader in a group is definitely needed. Someone is appointed as a leader because of their nature or personality that has leadership qualities. Usually in some K-Pop groups, the leader is chosen based on experience or being the oldest among the other members. But what if the leaders who have been trusted to lead choose to leave their groups?

Like the following K-Pop groups who were left by their leaders. Because they were involved in scandals or wanted to leave the celebrity life. Who are they? Let's check together!

1. iKON - B.I

Kim Hanbin & iKON © https://Twitter.com/YG_IKONIC

In 2019, boy group iKON had to lose one of its members who was also the leader of the group. It was B.I, the leader who also served as a producer for iKON, who had to leave the group due to involvement in a case of purchasing illegal drugs. Although the case was still under investigation, he decided to leave and terminate his contract with YG Entertainment. Through his social media account, the idol with the real name Kim Hanbin apologized to his fans. He also admitted that he had considered buying the illegal drugs but changed his mind.

Meanwhile, in early 2020, the police confirmed that B.I tested negative for drug use, and the investigation into his case was stopped. Now, the boy group that was once led by B.I promotes with 6 members, namely Jay, Bobby, Song, DK, June, and Chan.

iKON - B.IIn 2019, boy group iKON had to lose one of its members who was also the leader of the group. It was B.I, the leader who also served as a producer for iKON, who had to leave the group due to involvement in a case of purchasing illegal drugs. Although the case is still under investigation, he still decided to leave and terminate his contract with YG Entertainment. Through his social media account, the idol, whose real name is Kim Hanbin, apologized to his fans. He also admitted that he had considered buying the illegal drugs, but he changed his mind. Meanwhile, in early 2020, the police confirmed that B.I tested negative for drug use and the investigation into his case was stopped. Now, the boy group that was once led by B.I is promoting with 5 members, namely Jay, Bobby, Song, DK, June, and Chan.

2. APRIL - Somin

Somin KARD © http://Instagram.com/somin_jeon0822 & APRIL © http://Instagram.com/official.april

APRIL is a girl group under DSP Media that made their debut in 2015 with 6 members. Initially, APRIL was led by a leader named Somin. However, in November of the same year, Somin decided to resign from the group. APRIL then promoted as a 5-member group before Hyunjoo also left the group to focus on acting. Then, at the end of 2016, the agency announced that APRIL would have 2 new members, Chaekyung and Rachel.

Now, the group consisting of Chaekyung, Chaewon, Naeun, Yena, Rachel, and Jinsol has entrusted the position of leader to Chaekyung. Meanwhile, the former leader, Somin, is now a member of the group KARD.

3. Wonder Girls - Sunye

Sunye © http://Instagram.com/sunye.m & Wonder Girls © http://Instagram.com/wgalways

Girl group under JYP Entertainment that debuted in 2007 gained popularity when promoting the song No Body in 2008. However, they had to lose their leader, Sunye, in 2015. She decided to leave the group because she wanted to focus on taking care of her family.

After being left by their leader, Wonder Girls continued promoting with only 4 members: Hyelim, Sunmi, Yubin, and Yenny. This group, which had a career of 10 years, finally decided to disband in 2017 by releasing their last single titled Thank You For Being So Wonderful.

4. 2PM - Jay Park

Jay Park © http://Instagram.com/jparkitrighthere & 2PM © http://Instagram.com/real_2pmstagram

2PM, which debuted in 2008, was previously led by Park Jaebum, who is now known as Jay Park. However, in 2009, the leader of 2PM left the group due to a scandal caused by his old social media posts.

After the leader left the group, 2PM promoted as a 6-member group without a leader. Meanwhile, Jay Park has achieved success by establishing his own music label called AOMG.

5. F.T. Island - Choi Junghoon

Choi Jung Hoon © http://Instagram.com/ftgtjhc & F.T. ISLAND © FNC Entertainment

Choi Junghoon is the leader of the pop-rock band F.T. Island under FNC Entertainment. However, in March 2019, he decided to leave the group and retire from the Korean music industry. This was due to his involvement in the group chat with Jung Joon Young in the Burning Sun case. Born in 1990, he is also accused of sexual assault and has been sentenced to 5 years in prison.

6. Block B - ZICO

ZICO © http://Instagram.com/woozico0914 & BLOCK B © http://Instagram.com/blockb_official_

ZICO, a soloist who is very famous for his single titled Anysong, was previously the leader of the boy group Block B. Debuting in 2011, he had a career as a member of Block B for 7 years. ZICO then decided to leave the group in 2018 as he did not renew his contract with Seven Season agency. He decided to focus on his solo career under his own agency, KOZ Entertainment.

7. B.A.P - Bang Yongguk

Bang Yongguk © http://Instagram.com/bangstergram & B.A.P © TS_ENTER

B.A.P is a boy group that debuted in 2012 under TS Entertainment. Consisting of 6 members, the group was led by a leader named Bang Yongguk. However, in 2018, the leader left the group as his contract with the agency had ended.

After promoting as 5 members including Himchan, Zelo, Daehyun, Youngjae, and Jongup, B.A.P finally disbanded in February 2019. TS Entertainment, the agency that supported them, announced that the members' contracts had ended, and B.A.P was officially disbanded.

8. SONAMOO - Sumin

Ji Sumin & SONAMOO © http://Instagram.com/sonamoo_insta

Just like B.A.P, SONAMOO is also a group under TS Entertainment. Debuting as a 7-member group in 2017, this girl group is led by Ji Sumin. However, in 2019, the leader along with another member Nahyun terminated their contracts with the agency and left the group. Now, the remaining 5 members are Minjae, D.ana, Euijin, High.D, and Newsun. The position of the leader is now taken over by Euijin.

9. AB6IX - Youngmin

Lim Youngmin & AB6IX © https://Twitter.com/AB6IX

On June 8, 2020, the leader of AB6IX, Lim Youngmin, decided to leave the group. This was due to him being caught driving under the influence. He then had a lengthy discussion with his agency BRANDNEW MUSIC and decided to leave in order to avoid tarnishing the group's image.

AB6IX, who had planned to make a comeback with 5 members in early June 2020, had to postpone their schedule until June 29, 2020. The management made many changes to AB6IX, from choreography to digital audio. They even re-produced a song that was previously sung by 5 people, now only sung by the remaining 4 members.

10. AOA - Jimin

Shin Jimin © http://Instagram.com/jiminbabya_18 & AOA © https://Twitter.com/Official_AOA

In early July 2020, AOA leader Shin Jimin was involved in a bullying scandal against former member Kwon Mina. It started with Mina's post narrating the chronology of the bullying, and this case became widely discussed by netizens.

Although Jimin initially apologized by visiting Mina, she eventually decided to leave the group and suspend her activities in the entertainment industry for a while.

Written by: Fitri Mardiana

(kpl/mag)