“They have so much potential”: bugAboo’s disbandment leaves fans disappointed

Another relatively new K-pop group to bite the dust is bugAboo. On December 8, 2022, ATEAM Entertainment announced their disbandment and halted the group's activities. The news shocked K-pop fans, as many believed they had great potential and should not have disbanded this soon.

bugAboo debuted in October 2021 and disbanded in just a year and (hardly) two months' time. They even made their first comeback in June this year with Pop and were considered rising stars. As per Circle chart’s latest data, the album sold 1,324 copies, which was far less than their debut album bugAboo's 6,481 sales.

Agency announces bugAboo’s disbandment, fans express their dismay

Choyeon, Yoona, Rainie, Zin, Eunchae, and Cyan of bugAboo have disbanded and will start afresh. The six members were managed by ATEAM Entertainment. The agency’s CEO Ryan Jhun, a producer famous for working with artists such as SHINee, Super Junior, NCT, IU, OH MY GIRL, and more, was also the group’s producer.

On December 8, ATEAM Entertainment released a notice sharing the disbandment news. It said:

The notice brought loyal fans to Twitter who expressed their disappointment and heartbreak. Many called the group's first song “debut of the century.” Their latest comeback with Pop was also brought into conversation.

The clip of Pop already sits at 1.2 million views on Twitter. Moreover, multiple rookie groups have disbanded this year alone and bugAboo’s addition to the list has made things more emotional for K-pop fans.

Fans criticize agencies for disbanding girl groups so quickly

Many fans also blame the intolerance of K-pop agencies as the major cause behind disbanding newly created groups. Girl group HOT ISSUE disbanded just days before hitting their first anniversary, while LUNARSOLAR and Bling Bling disbanded before they could even reach the two-year mark.

Fans believe that the company’s expectation of a rookie group to hit big instantly has created a toxic environment in the industry.

Meanwhile, 2022 was the year for major girl group debuts as well. HYBE debuted LE SSERAFIM with Source Music and NewJeans with ADOR, JYP Entertainment debuted NMIXX, Girls’ Planet 999 debuted Kep1er, all the while IVE and Aespa reigned in the industry. Veteran female groups also made a comeback, making 2022 a particularly tough year for low and middle-sized agency groups.

Although bugAboo’s music video views are in the millions (debut song at 16 million and latest comeback at 13 million), fans believe their album sales may have been a determining factor behind their disbandment.

Fans were also of the opinion that new agencies need to give their groups a couple of years to enter the market.

Meanwhile, all members of the group have their personal Instagram accounts. Fans can look forward to their new paths by following them on social media.

About the author

Afreen has been a K-Pop Content Specialist at Sportskeeda since 2021. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, along with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication. Afreen has over 4+ years of working in various positions including being an entertainment content writer with Pinkvilla’s K-pop division Hallyutalk and CineDope, and as a copywriter at Flying Cursor.

As per Afreen, she loves her work because she gets to write about the things she is obsessed with. Her thorough research and following the two-genuine-source rule of journalism helps her produce the most accurate content, along with helping her be up-to-date with the industry.

Afreen has had the privilege to interview The Rose's frontrunner, WOOSUNG, and LIONESSES, K-pop's first openly LGBTQ+ group. She is a big fan of SEVENTEEN, Stray Kids, BTS, and The Rose for their hard work, sincerity, and the comic relief their shows provide.

When she is off her shift, Afreen explores the streets of Nottingham in the UK, cooks, and listens to new music.

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