South Korean girl group 2NE1 officially disbands after seven years. (Photo : Ken Ishii/Getty Images)
After months of speculation, YG Entertainment confirmed on Friday the disbandment of South Korean girl group 2NE1. The group separated ways after seven years.
In a statement released by the agency, they also announced they renewed the contracts of two out of three remaining members. Yonhap News learned the agency decided to disband 2NE1 "to fully dedicate on the members' solo activities."
According to The Korea Times, YG Entertainment extended contracts with CL and Sandara Park, more popularly known as Dara. Both members signed as soloists, while Park Bom was reported leaving the agency.
The group went on a two-year hiatus after Bom was involved in a drug smuggling scandal, according to The Korea Times.
Rumours about 2NE1 disbanding circulated since last April, a month before the group was supposed to renew their contracts with their agency. YG Entertainment head Yang Hyun-suk then dismissed these news and even assured fans that 2NE1 would move on as a trio.
However, one of its members, Gong Minzy, later on announced she was leaving the group to pursue a solo career. Last May, she signed with Music Works, a small agency which also manages K-pop singer Baek Z Young, Yonhap News reported.
The news website also learned CL has been in the US since 2014 where she has officially debuted as a solo artist. Her EP "Lifted" which marked her debut was released only last August. In addition, CL just finished her first solo concert tour in North America last month.
Meanwhile, Dara is currently in the Philippines as one of the judges for reality show "Pinoy Band Superstar". Following the news last Friday, she expressed her sentiments about the disbandment of her girl group 2NE1.
According to Philippine entertainment news website Pep.ph, the singer wrote a letter dedicated to the group's fans also known as BlackJacks. Dara reportedly gave out the letter to her fan club Parkers who posted it on their social media account.
The letter read, "Please don't go. I'm so lonely. We gotta stay together. Baby I miss you. I don't care what other people say. I wanna scream to the whole world that I love you. And I'm still falling in love with Blackjacks. Don't cry. Can't nobody hold us down. So don't stop the music. I will be missing you. I hope you're happy. It ain't over till it's over. And it's always gotta be you. I'm sorry and thank you BLACKJACKS. From the bottom of my heart. Sincerely yours, Dara of 2NE1."
Here's a video of 2NE1 performing one of their hit songs "Crush" live.
