The last original remaining member of K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty, Keena (left). K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty's former members (from left) Sio, Saena and Aran will debut as a trio under a new agency. Photos: Fifty Fifty/X, IOK Company
The stage is set for the original four members of K-pop girl group Fifty Fifty to compete with one another.
The new iteration of Fifty Fifty is slated to return with singer Keena and four new members in the second half of 2024. Three former members – Saena, Aran and Sio – will debut as a trio under a new agency.
Saena, Aran and Sio recently signed an exclusive contract with Massive E&C, a label under IOK Company, an entertainment agency that represents South Korean actresses such as Go Hyun-jung and Shin Hye-sun, as well as actors like Zo In-sung.
IOK Company said in a statement on Aug 12: “We will actively support these passionate and talented artistes to grow bigger on a global stage. We will make history with these main players.”
Saena, Aran and Sio will continue using their respective stage names, but the trio will have a new name, according to IOK Company.
Meanwhile, Fifty Fifty is set to make a comeback on Sept 20 with Keena, the only original member remaining under Attrakt, the agency behind Fifty Fifty, and new members Chanelle, Yewon, Hana and Athena.
The original Fifty Fifty debuted in November 2022 and hit gold as a rookie group with the single Cupid (2023).
However, Aran, Sio and Saena left the group when Attrakt terminated their exclusive contracts in October 2023 after a legal dispute.
Attrakt also filed a lawsuit against the three members, their parents and production company The Givers’ chief executive Ahn Sung-il, as well as an executive from The Givers surnamed Baek, seeking 13 billion won (RM42.7mil) in damages. The Givers was an external vendor contracted by Attrakt to produce works for and manage Fifty Fifty.
Attrakt accused The Givers of attempting to poach the band while they were still signed with Attrakt.
The first hearing has been set for Aug 29, according to Attrakt.
“Because we have terminated our exclusive contract with Saena, Aran and Sio, they can sign under a different agency and continue their career as K-pop idols. But we are still proceeding with the lawsuit for damages against them,” said an official from Attrakt.
The outlook for both groups’ return to the K-pop scene is not all rosy. The public branded the three members as “traitors” for attempting to suspend their exclusive contract with Attrakt when The Givers allegedly approached with the better deal.
On the other hand, Hunnies, the official fandom of the original Fifty Fifty, are boycotting Attrakt and the new Fifty Fifty using hashtags “NotMyFiftyFifty” and “BoycottAttrakt” on social media platform X.
Attrakt renamed Fifty Fifty’s fandom to Tweny on Aug 5 in an apparent attempt to differentiate the two fandoms. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network
