FIFTY FIFTY Announce New Lineup, Ex-Members Sign With New Label
This comes after the group’s now-former members Saena, Sio, and Aran filed lawsuits against their company ATTRAKT last June 2023 for alleged lack of transparency on financial matters and failure to take care of their health.
Following various legal disputes, FIFTY FIFTY have revealed their future plans and four new members.
On August 8, ATTRAKT — FIFTY FIFTY’s label — officially started unveiling the four new additions to the K-pop group behind the international viral hit “Cupid.” They did so via a video featuring Keena — the only remaining original member — interacting with her four new bandmates. In the same video, they revealed three of the new girls’ names: Chanelle Moon, Yewon, and Hana. On August 11, they later revealed the fourth new member to be Athena through the first of a video series aiming to introduce the group members one by one.
This comes after the contracts of Saena, Sio, and Aran — the three former members of the group — with ATTRAKT were terminated by the company last October 19, 2023. This follows the trio taking legal action to end their contracts and raise lawsuits against the company last June 2023 for allegedly breaching their contract. This included claims of ATTRAKT not providing transparency in terms of financial matters as well as failing to take care of the members during promotional activities, especially their mental health.
The group’s case would eventually be dismissed by the Seoul Central District Court on August 28. Despite the ex-members’ law firm appealing against this immediately, they ultimately lost their case when the Seoul High Court dismissed their appeal on October 24, citing the group’s failure to provide data to back up their plea for reconsideration. Before this, Keena, who initially joined the others in raising a lawsuit, eventually dropped hers on October 17, 2023 and returned to the company. Before the final dismissal, ATTRAKT announced on October 23 that they had effectively terminated the contracts of Saena, Sio, and Aran, officially ejecting them from the group.
Following this, last August 12, Saena, Sio, and Aran were announced as the first artists to be signed under MASSIVE E&C. This announcement comes alongside the brand new label being launched under IOK Company — a long-standing entertainment company best known for handling artists such as rapper B.I (under 131LABEL), girl group ALICE (under IOK M), and a huge roster of actors.
“We plan to fully support these talented and passionate members to help them achieve even greater success worldwide,” stated an IOK Company spokesperson, according to Korean pop culture-centric site Soompi. “With the team behind the success of ‘Cupid,’ we aim to create a new success story in the global market.” Notably, Sio and Aran were the members of FIFTY FIFTY who sang so-called “Twin” version of “Cupid,” which paved the way for the group to gain breakthrough global recognition after a sped-up version of it went viral on the TikTok platform.
Meanwhile, FIFTY FIFTY are officially set to be relaunched with the release of their second mini-album this September 20. Notably, much anticipation for the group’s comeback can be observed especially as new members Chanelle Moon and Yewon were contenders on R U Next? — the popular reality competition show that put together the “Magnetic” hitmakers, ILLIT.
Listen to the “Twin” version of FIFTY FIFTY’s “Cupid” below: