On July 22 (Korean time), YG Entertainment surprised fans by releasing a comeback poster and a video featuring Executive Producer Yang Hyun Suk, who shared details of 2NE1’s plans for 2025. The K-pop girl group, who debuted 15 years ago, will hold three concerts in Seoul, Osaka, and Tokyo from October to December 2024, as announced. Furthermore, YG confidently declared that 2NE1 will also embark on a world tour in 2025 to celebrate their milestone anniversary.
Shortly after the announcement, the news of 2NE1’s comeback created a sensation on social media platforms worldwide. The comeback poster for the group on YG Family’s official fan page received an overwhelming response of nearly 900,000 interactions, around 70,000 comments, and over 260,000 shares.
Likewise, the recent post on the return of the iconic Gen 2 K-pop group on the platform X (Twitter) garnered 20 million views and received over 300,000 likes and interactions from their devoted fans. As a result, this sparked curiosity among non-fans (individuals who are not fans) as to what caused such a significant buzz surrounding 2NE1’s comeback on social media.
The return of the legendary, top-tier Gen 2 K-pop group
In 2009, the K-pop industry saw the beginning of a new era when YG Entertainment introduced 2NE1, consisting of four members: CL (Lee Chae Rin), Dara (Sandara Park), Minzy (Gong Minzy), and Park Bom. Their debut was met with great success, as their first two songs, “FIRE”and “I Don’t Care,”quickly took over the K-pop market with their catchy hip-hop sound. “FIRE”in particular gained massive popularity and solidified 2NE1’s presence in the industry.
The “street ver.”and “space ver.”of the “FIRE”music video garnered millions of views within 24 hours, a feat that was considered a dream for many K-pop groups during the same time period. Only six months after their debut, 2NE1 achieved remarkable success at award ceremonies, taking home prestigious accolades such as Best New Artist at the MelOn Music Awards and Song of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
It could be argued that 2NE1 stood out among other Gen 2 K-pop girl groups by achieving a level of uniqueness that not all groups could attain. With their distinct concept and music, 2NE1 delivered an experience that continues to resonate with audiences even 15 years later.
Some of 2NE1’s most iconic songs, including “Lonely,””Ugly,”and “I Am The Best,”have solidified their place in K-pop history. These hits propelled the group to the peak of their career and cemented their legacy. In particular, “I Am The Best,”a chart-topping fusion of Electro House and Hip Hop, achieved a rare feat for a K-pop music video by reaching 100 million views on YouTube in 2014.
Despite being a Korean group, 2NE1’s influence extended beyond their home music market as they emerged as a dominant force in the music industries of Europe and America. Their ambitious efforts to break into these markets were met with success, earning them the respect of even the most discerning audiences. For example, their hit song “I Am The Best”topped Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart over three years after its initial release. The song’s popularity even led to its inclusion on playlists of radio stations in prominent cities such as New York and Boston in the USA. In 2017, 2NE1 was also recognized by Billboard as the top K-pop girl group of the decade.
One of 2NE1’s biggest career hits is “I Am The Best”.
In 2014, the disbandment of 2NE1, a beloved K-pop group, left the fan community in shock and disappointment. However, their recent comeback has proven that nothing is impossible. This comeback has been particularly memorable for Blackjacks, the devoted fandom of 2NE1, who had experienced the group’s golden era with the success of their album “Crush.”Despite their previous announcement of disbandment and the departure of member Minzy, fans were ecstatic to see the group reclaim their prime.
The controversy began with Park Bom’s unfortunate incident. In 2014, during her successful tenure with 2NE1, Park Bom became involved in a scandalous drug smuggling situation that affected multiple countries in Asia. The lead singer of 2NE1 was alleged to have smuggled amphetamine-laced drugs disguised as gummy candies from the United States to South Korea.
Despite her attempts to explain that she was unaware of the illegality of her medication in Korea, Park Bom was unable to quell the public’s rage. Consequently, she was forced to temporarily halt her activities, while the other members pursued solo endeavors. This was viewed as the catalyst for the chain of events that ultimately led to the disbandment of 2NE1.
Shortly after, 2NE1 member Minzy unexpectedly announced the termination of her contract with YG on April 5, 2016. In response, YG’s president Yang Hyun Suk wrote a letter of apology to fans, addressing rumors of the group’s disbandment and reassuring them that 2NE1 would make a comeback in the summer of 2016 as a trio. However, the disappointment among fans was palpable when YG officially announced the disbandment of 2NE1 in November 2016. This news came as a shock to the K-pop community, leaving them with a feeling of regret and an incomplete ending to the iconic group.
H & A Brings New Breeze to Saturated K-Pop Market
Despite the K-pop market becoming increasingly saturated with girlcrush concepts, numerous exhausting dramas, and encore disasters that have brought shame to the new generation of idols, the highly anticipated comeback of the iconic girl group 2NE1 has generated immense excitement among fans. This excitement is amplified by the fact that many of the top-tier K-pop groups are either enlisting in the military or taking breaks from their activities.
Despite their fans’ fears that their explosive reunion performance at Coachella 2022 would be their last stage with all four members, 2NE1 surprised everyone by returning with a four-member lineup after two years. Many had doubted that the group would ever perform together again, but YG and 2NE1 made that dream a reality with not just one show, but three concerts in 2024 and an incredible tour in 2025.
On the July 26 episode of the “2 O’Clock Escape Cultwo Show,”Dara became emotional and revealed, “This all still feels like a dream. It’s incredible, even though practicing has been very challenging for us. We just started rehearsing this week and have been putting in a lot of effort. We danced for seven hours straight, and all four of us gave it our all because we understand the significance of this moment. Despite feeling exhausted, I am filled with joy and contentment.”
Dara once expressed her disbelief that 2NE1 would disband, and even now, Dara, CL, Park Bom, and Minzy may find it hard to fathom that all four members will reunite for a special concert dedicated to their fans after a seven-year hiatus. After all, whether it’s been seven, 15, or even more years, 2NE1 remains an “ideology”and a legendary group in the hearts of their devoted fans. Undoubtedly, the group’s highly-anticipated comeback in October will bring a wave of excitement and nostalgia for the Blackjack community who have patiently awaited their return.
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