The Tragic Story of GFRIEND: When Disbandment Goes Wrong 

It’s sad because the Gfriend members didn’t wanna be the most popular group, they wanted to be a long lasting group.

GFRIEND was really about to BLOSSOM into the next phase of their evolution and it would’ve been just the beginning. MAGO showed they weren’t slowing down. They were in their prime picking up momentum 🔥

GFriend disbanding was my biggest heartbreak in all of Kpop. All that talent and hard work - starting from the bottom in a small company and crawling their way toward the top of the mountain racking up MV views, solid album sales, and heaps of music show trophies and wins - only to be cast aside like yesterday's trash. But I truly believe that they will reunite one day and buddies everywhere will rejoice.

Disbanding after MAGO was one of the most egregious crimes committed by a company. How you just going to give us that and go .. 😔

You have forgotten that Source music tried to trademark Gfriend just after the disbandment but it got rejected because that trademark belongs to the girls automatically for making the brand famous with their work. That was a disgusting attitude and seemed to be done just to hurt them

Gfriend was honestly one of those groups that you love even if you don’t Stan them. Their songs were so good and their chemistry as well. I know I will sound crazy but I don’t loose hope that they will comeback together and make more music.

Looking at how lesserafim is now I really am very disappointed that soumu and hybe let down Gfriend. The day Gfriend got back together would be the happiest day for buddy. im sure many will cry tears of joy 😭😭

Its a common pattern with Hybe/Source. Gfriend literally built Source Music up from nothing then the thanks they get is sudden disbandment with zero notice, no explanation to fans, no farewell stage, nothing. Starship Ent has a lot of problems but they sent off Sistar PERFECTLY. Farewell single, farewell stage. That's the RESPECT groups that built your whole damn company deserve.

The comment about them leaving Sowon as the leader even after debuting as Viviz is so sweet. I love these girls and their friendship and I can’t wait for a reunion

Gfriend was the first group that I became a fan of and also stand so when hybe acquired source music I thought they would provide them with resources so to find out that gfriend disbanded made me question what happened and why all of a sudden. Even if gfriend didn’t disband and the new groups debut I still don’t think that LE SSERAFIM, and new jeans would be left in gfriends shadow but instead thrive all together as you can see with the success of anti fragile and hype boy.

I’m crossing my fingers very tight for Gfriend to return! We buddies will stand by them until they return all together! Gfriend X Buddies forever!

It was very obvious that they were kicked out. Their contracts were supposed to expire on November of 2021 but they disbanded on May of the same year. Even if they decided not to renew, they should have been active up until November 2021. They did Gfriend dirty

The truthful fact is that the members are ALWAYS together......just not in the public eye. One day, someday, yes but not too soon. GFRIEND is known to have legendary moments so an official reunion would equally be fitting.

I hope they get back as GFriend again, I will wait for them, since the trademark was rejected the girls can release new music as GFriend again

So many people trashing YGE for 2ne1 disbandment, but VERY LITTLE noise of GFRIEND's disbandment. 2NE1, Bom specifically, had a huge scandal that even trending #1 in SK against Sewol's Ferry incident. Her case still brought up 2 years after it happened, she still got hate TO THIS DAY. Minzy left the group, CL had been very vocal about her disagreement with the company's plan. You can literally smell disbandment from far away. But even then, they had a goodbye song. Minzy left first, then Bom didn't renew (or YGE didn't offer a renew, it's a speculation, do your own research), CL and Dara renew for couple of years. They don't just cut everything out and throw em out. But GFRIEND? Nope. They're so clean I literally thought they'll ended up like SNSD. Won't disband but one day will focus on solo career while having group comeback once in a while. The Nazi scandal blew up internationally but not in SK. It's viral for couple of days but died down very quickly after the apology. It's a ridiculous reason for a disbandment. Like, for real. I remember writing my disappointment of HYBE and SouMu, but so many HYBE fans defend the company and saying it's all on SouMu. Nope. If you have 80% share of the company, it's the biggest shareholder that got to decided a big decision like this. GFRIEND literally the biggest (arguably the only) income source of SouMu. It's clear to me that HYBE just want a fresh start and prefer new, younger Idols that'll be easier to shape. They know that a group's popularity will drop significantly after 7 years. Plus, GFRIEND'S members know their worth, know what they want, and will definitely asked for solo careers. They know they can't handle it so they just decided to disband GFRIEND. Which is sucks. I just hope that both SouMu and HYBE learned from this and will have better management team, so that later on when groups like NewJeans and Le Serafim became senior group, they wanted to do their own thing, they can keep the group while support each member wish. Ofc if the members want to leave, it's up to them, But disbanding the group while the group is squeaky clean, it's just so sad.

Their disband was a big surprise. I remember that very recently they had moved into the hybe building and they had filmed something like a commercial to present what the company was like and everything it has. Even Bang pd said "GFriend is unique, they can't be replaced with other girl groups. I will support them no matter what." They really betrayed them

They were done dirty no doubt. Me Gusta Tu was and still is one of the most complex chorography in Kpop (AFAIK). And their rocky start and having to preform in the rain on a slippery stage breaks your heart when you watch it, with so many slips/accidents and the girls soldier on. Seven yar contract curse, and mismanagement. Very sad how many talents kpop stars just get discarded. Brave Girls were also heavily mismanaged. Bestie also comes to mind.

Gfriend is my favorite girl group forever! I’m so sad that they are disbanded 😭💔

When YG disbanded 2NE1 just so they can focus on Blackpink, it was terrible but at least they released a heartfelt goodbye song as a proper send off. Meanwhile GFriend got nothing. After months and months of speculation they just cut them off, which is a surprise after a great comeback. You'd think a beloved 3rd Gen group should've been given more respect than that, but it is what it is. Felt bad for them and Buddies 😞

don’t worry guys! gfriend are suing source music for rights to their name and they’re winning! it’s estimated that gfriend will get full rights to their trademark in early 2023 then we can see gfriend together again.

It’s sad because source really just wanted to debute Lesserafim and that’s it

Regreting for not stan for GFriend Regreting for turn blind eye to them .

GFriend will return one day as both Sowon and SinB have both stated publicly this will happen. Their close friendship has never wavered and will reunite them again for sure especially now that Source Music’s copyright claims have been rejected in every single category despite multiple attempts to claim it. Buddies will wait for that day patiently and rejoice when it finally arrives with happy smiles and emotional tears of joy. Until then we can support every member in their own current projects and let them know that Buddy will love them forever.

I do hope so, since their disbandment, Kpop left me with a very horrible aftertaste, and disdain to not get attach to any band/idol/etc.....

I still blame HYBE. For both their disbandment and NU'EST's. The timing of things. Honestly I feel HYBE disbanded them and NU'EST to eliminate groups they saw as competition and put their resources into Le Sserafim, &TEAM, NewJeans, and Trainee A . Will never support them. Tho karma got them in a way with Trainee A.

Some other key things: -The trademark battle with soumu trying to acquire GFRIEND. -SinB said since Fever she's had more depression, that is when SouMu was acquired by HYBE. -BigHit and SouMu have been sibling companies as both CEOs we're good friends. SouMu was a company to try a girl group after the GLAM scandal from BigHit.

their B-Sides are God Tier! Anime vibes,Pop, Anything! and it is so underrated!

i like the members of le sserafim and they are incredibly talented, i can’t help but feel bitter because of so*rce m*sic… like why did the girlies have to be under them and why did that company have to treat gfriend so terribly… i’m sick of this kpop culture of confidentiality where idols cannot talk about companies bc it’s so suspicious and it makes me not want to support any group TT_TT

The fact that they didn't want to disband and continue to promote as a group make more sad 😢😢 Plus, hype take the other companies like her and destroy them groups to take over the market my opinion

When they disbanded I stopped supporting any groups under HYBE labels, till this day I haven't watched any videos or listened to any of their artist. I rather spend my time and money on other groups from smaller companies.

Gfriends disbandment will forever break my heart ☹️

I am glad you finally covered Gfriend's tragic termination with some neutrality and facts. Since then, I tried to wrap my head around what and why it happened. I really believed in 2019-20 that Hybe/BigHit would do great with them, they got more attention and recognition internationally with Apple and Mago. But suddenly it ends out of nowhere. On May 18, 2021 we received on Weverse the message that after contract expiration SourceMusic and Gfriend would part ways. I thought it was a joke, late april's fool, because they recently celebrated their 6th anniversary. What I don't understand is why did the company terminate their contract early instead of waiting till expiration like for other groups if they wanted to disband them?? Usually contracts are signed around debut, in this case January 2015 and so 7 years later would be Jan 2022 not May 2021. However, technically, the debut was initially set for October-November 2014. It does not change the fact that they never completed 7 years. As to the reason, there are a few theories that you mentionned. It could have been due to Hybe's new girl groups. The fact that BigHit did not have other girl groups since Glam in 2014 (2 members had a blackmailing scandal on an married actor that sexually harassed them), it comes to no surprise to me that they may lack management skills or even feel reluctant towards girl groups. I and many believe that Hybe is mostly behind Gfriend disbandment and pushed SoMu to do it. Gfriend was their only source of income, schedules were still there after May 18 and interestingly they only trademarked Gfriend (english name) 2 months before the news. Not only was the disbandment sudden, but not planned by SoMu in my opinion. I think Hybe wanted to replace Gfriend with younger girls and with trendier concepts. Why not co-exist? Well I think it would give SoMu too much power (Gfriend+ Le sserafim) and Hybe maybe wants to keep the subsidiaries under control! The other theory relates Sowon's mistake (made into a scandal) in February. I saw the picture and did not notice what the uniform was until I read the comments, even if we learned a lot about WWII in school. She did immediatly take it down and apologize but still received hate. It may have triggered Hybe, similarly to Glam, to disband the group all together, where the members were told about it in April (1 month before disbandment). Coincidently, around that time, Hybe merged with Ithaca Holdings and Scooter Braun who is not liked for what happened with Taylor Swift, too complicated... and well he may have seen Sowon's picture and remembered his parents story during the war. I wrote all that to express my opinions for the first time on RU-vid. A Buddy always trusts Gfriend, the girls always wanted to remain for a long time together and now winning the trademark, seeing their interactions and them being nostalgic about their past, there is hope. Despite being seen apparently as a toxic fandom, it is one of the best and most supporting of each other. ~A Buddy since Feb 2019 💙🤍💜

U all are forgetting that GFRIEND was making source company Money. It was a top girl group and Although it passed its peak, it was is still successful. Ridiculous how they just canceled them

I am an old Gfriend enjoyer but even the disbandment was very sudden to me. I'm not one to constantly check on artists so i thought it was a joke at first, especially when their last comeback was Mago and it seemed like they were attracting more fans.. so unexpected... I do believe they will reunite though!

I miss GFriend and I hope that our girls will one day reunite and continue making beautiful music together once more. GFriend forever 💘💘💘💘💘💘

I swear, they had so much to offer as a group, it's so sad they had to stop.

Gfriend were the first and only gg I’ve ever stanned and I had been following them since Rough. When they released Mago i felt like this was really the beginning of something special so when they suddenly disbanded i was completely heartbroken i’m still counting on them reuniting one day

Wow what a mess in management by the company, G friend still one of my favorite groups.

When I love a group, other groups under the same label would be in my heart too. Cause this f ing disbandment I avoid any group under H*be or somu

I’m 3 hours late to this vid but I miss GFriend so much, especially when MAGO era came. I was so excited for their comebacks every year. Let’s continue supporting VIVIZ, Yuju’s and Yerin’s solo debut, Sowon’s acting career! 💜

Wow.. I didn't know that things would be such a mess with source music and hybe suddenly terminated the girls contracts..i left kpop exactly on 2019 and came back this year only to get to gfriend music but then i found out about the disbandment thing....so i felt clueless about what happened to the group actually.. This video makes me become clear about things that happened to them was indeed unfair..and i still feel full of regrets for not being there for them at their difficult times..And no matter what i will always stand as buddy and pray for everything to be on gfriend side..shame on the company too for putting the blame on the girls and claiming the groups name where the girls who the one that make the name grows bigger n bigger each year..i miss their music so much and moreover the 6 beagle members when they are together.. Everything is just not the same without them being together on stage.. But i'm so glad that we still have viviz with us..

After the announcement, they trended worldwide in twitter.

GFriend was the first girl group I followed from debut and was excited about/liked every comeback song and album they released

Regardless of whether you like their music or not, it’s very clear that GFRIEND was shafted by the company they practically built from the ground up. Without GFRIEND, there would be no SouMu, and it would never have been a viable target for a HYBE acquisition.

SinB said she started to lose motivation around Fever era, same time Hybe is acquiring SouMu. The girls probably do not like the acquisition because they know they wont be the same as before.

I miss gfriend SO MUCHHH their discography isn’t talked about enough now that they’re disbanded but their music easily is top 3 for me in kpop

Groups that have an overall concept of youth and purity has always fascinated me and the great thing about Gfriend was that they were well on their way to possibly becoming one of the greatest. Apple and Mago were masterpieces along with their respective albums but it’s sad to know that we’ll never know what could’ve been. They shed their youthful image for a more mature concept in fitting with their storyline and musical growth and then bam…they just disbanded sigh~

absolutely loved them, the best, I just hope they are all doing ok, love forever, B.

I think they'll get together at some point to release something, they clearly all loved being together and the music was good. I discovered them late from their noted fan Lil Uzi Vert and the man had taste ngl I still wish nothing but the best for them and will continue to support them in the future.

I am still waiting for them to reunite, they are my favourite group and will always be, lets support each of them till the day Gfriend reborns!!

I was just getting into GFriend when the disbandment happened. I was so disappointed! Then Hybe did it again to boy group NU'EST! The guys were blindsided. I don't trust Hybe at all. Any company they merge with will have disbandments and broken hearts.

The anger, heartbreak and impotence I felt last year is still there, I just accepted it and moved on. They were the group I followed for almost their entire cycle of 6 years.

I used to hate K-pop but gfriends mago is the song that got me into it I love and Stan Gfriend I do believe that they will one day reunite!

GFRIEND are my ULTS and have been since around 2020. They are so beautiful and amazing and I will support them no matter what

I’ve always liked gfriend. Mago was one of my favorite songs that year. It showed their potential. It’s such a shame really

This situation just highlights how Hybe is just like every other company. I remember watching Queendom and the former G friend members talking about how the disbandment came out of no where.

its such a shame they disbanded im fan of INFINITE and was blown away and liked every single song and their choreography.etc when i dsicovered the guys and then later on gfriend debut and instantly like them i always said they were the girl group of infinite with their choreography and knife like dance and musical instrumental. still in tears cause i really like every song from them as well hope for some kidn of reunion.

Gfriend will always, always have a place in my heart. they should reunite...they were the best together....

I can never forgive HYBE and Source Music for this

I think Hybe simply didn’t want to put any more time and money into Gfriend. They had other groups in the works and preferred to start over instead of working around GFriend. It’s a sad story.

if gfriend were a group now, they'd be one of the biggest! it makes me so sad that they disbanded.

I'm not a fan but I have all of their album and their song is that good that it included in my wrapped up song of the year. They did them dirty.

WHAT i was trying to get back to kpop and gfriend me gustas tu was one of my faves when it came out

Every Buddy knows they will redebut as Gfriend. Only how successful the sub units become will delay their rejoining together. But eventually thay will be performing as a whole group again one day. They are exploring themselves and the industry as many former group idols do. But destiny calls. And of course Legends will continue. Gfriend Forever. Buddy Fighting. Trust in Gfriend.

You definitely should add the story of how that stupid company is trying to get Gfriend's trademark, and for sowon scandals you should add how the case is being solved bcs other people will accuse her for something she didn't meant to do

The Sowon scandal was more of an issue internationally than it was in SK so I don’t see it playing that huge of a factor in their disbandment. I love Le Sserafim but let’s be honest, GFriend’s disbandment was most likely to make room for them

their disband was so abrupt! I miss them so much :(

WHO WANTS G FRIEND TO BE BACK

i used to hate kpop just bcs toxic fans are everywhere, but gfriend make me look at them. but im back to hate kpop again after gf d-word. it still makes me mad.

I literally found them when mago came out. That song was on repeat and I was so excited for their next releases. What a shame that hybe cut it short. I’m pretty sure that hybe sacrificed the group to debut lessera. Maybe they used the funds, that were initially for gfriend, to invest in lessera.

It was always hybe and source music who wanted to make space for new gg. But i do know Gfriend will unite again

This is one of the most backsrabbing moment in Kpop industries, so sad yet so pure evil.

this was the day when i actually knew it was it for me in the kpop life i still wish we could at least see them once together on the stage in future and source music actually faces a downfall soon...

I am not their fan but I like their songs and still listen to them. Some groups still make comeback even if they don't do well, but Gfriend was doing well and they were popular. I wonder why the company disbanded them

Mago was what showed up on my recommended watches, and I instantly fell in love, but only to find out that it was their disbandment song. Soon after, Apple and other good songs by them made me appreciate them more. I’m so sad they disbanded. I know Viviz exists, and they’re great, but the six of them seemed to be great together. 😢

Yes sales were rising but not proportionately to the expense and effort involved! Look at song credit lists. Apple has something like 16 songwriters, 3 of them from the girl group itself. There is industry top talent. It's expensive. And then for the live stage, they change the stage decoration through the middle. Just imagine how much a show charges extra to cart that amount of stuff on and off the premises twice, just how much time it and how many people it takes to set it up! There is a lot of construction effort behind the MV as well. But 4 times the expense doesn't lead to 4 times more return, so it may have been effectively losing them money. Will they reunite? Well they'd have to overcome their shared trauma first, and i don't know if they will. At least there's Viviz, who also songwrite all their B-sides.

I started listening to Gfriend after Apple.. i didn't really like the earlier music.. however their talent and connection could be felt even with just one song. I really wish they can come back together some day ❤️

It’s nice to read comments and see that I’m not the only guy one I loves this girl group. Magi and Apple were good

Gfriend were a great group, so talented and loved by their fans. Shame they left at the height of their popularity but that's the kpop industry not all groups can continue to have the staying power and success

I hope they didn’t disband them just to debut 2 new girl groups new jeans and le sserafim I miss Gfriend so much I love them always will I hope that come together and do what got7 did and come together under a self own group so they are not bound by a label and I know that they will come back together and do a new album love them and I still listen to their songs love them all

Gfriend will be forever my fav girl group. I hope they comeback soon.

They really deserve better after all the things they’ve done for soumu. It’s one of my ult wishes to watch them reunite one day, but now I do really enjoy them trying and doing things they like.

GFriend will be back.

Such a major loss for Kpop.

I really Miss GFRIEND... they're One of my Bias Girl Groups in K-Pop. It's been 5 years ago when I saw them performed here in the Philippines for the very 1st & last time of my Life. I was so SAD/DISAPPOINTED on their Disbandment. But Good Thing there is VIVIZ. I'm kinda Worried for LE SSERAFIM. Eunha Biased Here.

Don't worry gfriend are coming back we are waiting for 6 more rejected and they are winning against their company 💖😭

I remembered their disbandment shook my whole world. Gfriend's songs and vlogs were the one who helped me cope with hardships in life since highschool. And not being able to help them back really broke my heart. I'm really sorry Gfriend my love.😔

I miss GFriend so fucking much, I'm glad they got to see each other some days ago :')

I would love for them to get back together sometime but I will be enjoying everything they do in the meantime

Another group disbanded when they were in peak. Never understand these small companies

The Sowon controversy was complete BS. The group was at a location that had a European history schtick for a photoshoot, so she took photos of herself with a mannequin dressed as a soldier of a main combatant in a 20th Century conflict important to Europe. If I remember correctly, the mannequin was wearing the uniform of a NCO in an artillery regiment in the Wehrmacht. It wasn't the SA (brownshirts - who were purged before the war anyway), the Allgemeine SS (black uniforms) or the Waffen SS (military uniforms with the double sig runes on the lapels and totenkopf on the cap). It was a German uniform, not a uniform for a branch of the NSDAP. If these wannabe mannequin Nazi hunters cannot identify the uniform correctly, why should Sowon be expected to know anything about it? She was 19 at the time, had been working in the entertainment industry for 6 years, in Korea. The idea that she should have had some sort of instinctive revulsion to a German army uniform used during a war a half-century before she was born on the other side of the world is asking a bit much. During this time, Korea had been under Japanese occupation for decades - it had its own massively traumatic experience to deal with. I don't get outraged when Westerners don't understand why the rising sun flag is offensive to the rest of Asia when they visit Japan and buy a souvenir that has the design on it - they are not expected to know. To get upset at Sowon for the photo simply exposes the Eurocentrism of the whiners.

There are a few more rejections left so that they can finally obtain their own brand, I wish with all my might that they win and recover from everything they suffered and come back when they are ready

this show the failure off the management team they took to many advantage and lost the most valuable group they had that make them big to begin with... and that is a big mistake

When they announced they've disbanded I felt my heart sank they are one of my favorite group in 3rd generation

Yes! ❤️❤️ them. They reminded me of bts of how insync and hard choreo. I love their Mago so much and was in shock when I saw the news thought it was a hoak. Source music done them dirty to debut Le Sserafim. I don't understand why they needed to disband Gfriend. They were popular and have strong fan base. When I saw how 3 members came back and tried to promote as a veteran newbie group. It was so hard for them and their memories and pain showcase on Queendom. Idol life is harsh and can be taken away disruptly and throw out being used. They were great and committed group

I miss them so much 😭😭

They have so beautiful and unique songs

im gonna hate soumu and hybe all my life for what they did to Gfriend. GFRIEND DESERVES BETTER

This is sus.....so suspicious, q group at his height, source finicially doing fine however suddenly disband...hybe did this ..this is why I never ever like kpop companies at all....this is weird

Sowon's pic is a reach as the reason why they disbanded GFriend. the reason that is more viable is, their company doesnt want to fund 3 gg... or better yet, cannot fund 3 gg... so, they decided to disband GFriend... anyway, I already decided that I will never stan Lesserafim nor New Jeans...