CUBE Entertainment Confirms (G)I-DLE’s Comeback

Following their critically acclaimed January 2021 EP, I burn (which ranked 10th on Rolling Stone India’s 10 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021 list), one of K-pop’s highly successful girl groups (G)-IDLE are all set to return to the spotlight next month.

Confirmed by the group’s agency, CUBE Entertainment, the comeback will mark the group’s first comeback as a quintet following former member Soojin’s sudden departure from the group. Soojin, who had been on hiatus since March 2021, left the group five months after allegations about her misbehavior in middle-school spread on the internet. Though both the artist and label denied the rumors the first, the vocalist eventually distanced herself from the group’s official activities. 

“Today, we are announcing the decision that Soojin will be leaving the group,” read CUBE Entertainment’s statement issued on August 14th, 2021. “(G)I-DLE will henceforth be promoted as five members. We will continue to do our best and provide unstinting support so that (G)I-DLE can show their growth in music and performance.”

Shortly after the release of I burn, the group fueled talks around their EP with the Chinese version and a remixed version of the lead single “HWAA” curated by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike. The group also released the single “Last Dance” on April 29th before pursuing solo projects. Jeon Soyeon released her first EP Windy and appeared as a judge and mentor on the audition program My Teenage Girl. Miyeon starred in various dramas whereas Yuqi, Shuhua, and Minnie flew down to their respective hometowns for scheduled activities.