K-pop band SISTAR breaks up
.jpg?w=728)
Members of SISTAR, from left, Dasom, Hyorin, Bora and Soyou pose for picture at "31st Golden Disk Award" at Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Jan. 13. / The Korea Times file
By Kim Jae-heun
Popular K-pop girl band SISTAR disbanded Tuesday, unable to overcome the jinx facing most K-pop girl groups, who struggle to last more than seven years.
The four members of SISTAR _ Hyorin, Soyou, Bora and Dasom _ posted handwritten letters to their fan club homepage to confirm the breakup and express their sincere gratitude for their fans’ support and love.
“We, SISTAR members, have decided to walk different paths and pursue our second careers,” Hyorin said. “We will cheer for each other’s dreams and do our best in each position to develop and return with improved skills.”
Bora also wrote every moment they spend with their fans was important and happy for SISTAR. The rapper feels sad she has not done more for her fans and she stirred up many memories while writing the letter to fans.
Hand-written letter by Hyorin, left, and Bora / Yonhap
The girl band’s disbandment came unexpectedly as its agency Starship Entertainment announced the K-pop act’s next digital single to be released May 31. The group members were seen being happy together in their live streaming service on social media on the day they took off to shoot a music video for the new single in Macao.
SISTAR swept major music charts online each time they released new albums that matched the summer season, earning them the nickname “the summer queens.”
SISTAR will release the group’s last song, but its official activity will terminate as of early June when the group’s contract expires. The members agreed to break up after their several meetings with their agency.
SISTAR members have reportedly not yet decided whether to stay with Starship Entertainment or move somewhere else.
Singers Hyorin and Soyou are expected to continue their musical careers but Bora and Dasom will appear on the small screen.
Many K-pop bands have failed to stick together. According to the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), K-pop trainees can sign a contract for up to seven years with their entertainment companies and many groups break up when the deal expires.
Popular bands such as 2NE1, 4Minute and Rainbow have failed to overcome what has now become known as the seven-year jinx.
SISTAR debuted in June 2010 with the single “Push Push” that raised them to stardom instantly.
The girl band continued to have hits with “So Cool,” “Loving U,” and “Touch My Body,” while inning 43 awards.
In 2012, SISTAR were voted Best Female Group at the Mnet Asian Music Award and their singles “Give It To Me,” “I Swear” and “I Like That” won Song of the Year in 2013, 2014 and 2016, respectively, at the Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards.