The 12-membered k-pop group curse

[sm maid]

Starting from EXO who debuted in 2012 and lost 3 members in a span of 2 years at the beginning of their career, we've seen quite a few (mostly boy groups) attempts to debut as 12-membered groups. Oddly enough, most of them ended up either losing members early on like EXO, or just disbanding altogether. Although one might argue it follows logic that the bigger the group, the bigger are the chances things will go south, that hasn't been the case with many other big groups, as we have plenty of 11 and 13-membered kpop groups that succeeded at maintaining their original lineup until now. So why specifically 12-membered groups seem to fall apart? Let's take a look at some groups that debuted as 12 and what happened to them.​

• LOONA
  (2016~2023)​

LOONA debuted in 2016 under Blockberry Creative, after one of the most ambitious pre-debut promotion cycles in kpop, in which each of the 12 members released a song every month, adding up to a whole year in total. This promotion tactic built them a solid fanbase, but it wasnt enough to compensate for all the money spent and increasing debt the company created with their funders. LOONA were not unpopular but had a turbulent career mainly due to their company shady moves that culminated in the group's lawsuit against them. Ultimately they won the legal battle and were free from their contracts in 2023, and members have moved on with their careers, some deciding to stay together as a new group.

​

• VARSITY
  (2017~2018)
  
  VARSITY was a half chinese half korean 12-membered boy group formed by CSO Entertainment and later managed by Jungle Entertainment. They debuted in 2017 and in 2018 halted activities, although it wasnt until 2020 that they officially disbanded.
  
  

  
• THE BOYZ
  (2017~present)
  
  THE BOYZ debuted in 2017 as a 12-membered group under IST Entertainment (then CRE.KER Ent). In 2019, Hwall left the group allegedly due to health issues and currently has a career in acting and solo singer, while THE BOYZ are active as an 11-membered group.
  
  

  
• TREASURE
  (2020~present)​

TREASURE were originally a 12-membered boy group debuted in 2020 under YG Enterainment through the show 'YG TREASURE BOX'. In 2022 they lost 2 of their members, Bang Yedam and Mashiro, and currently are promoting as 10 members.

​

• FANTASY BOYS
  (2023~present)​

FANTASY BOYS is a group formed in 2023 through the MBC survival show of the same name. Managed by Pocketdol, the group was supposed to be comprised of the top 12 contestants from the show, but the 1st place winner Yu Junwon left the group in a contract dispute with the company right before the group's official debut. The remaining 11 members will go through with their debut on September 21st amidst chaos of a back-and-forth press battle between Junwon and Pocketdol.

The success case
IZ*ONE
(2018~2021)

IZ*ONE was a girl group consisting of the top 12 contestants from MNET's survival show Produce 48. They debuted in 2018 and had a smooth career for the 2.5 years duration of their contract as a temporary group. Although for a short time, IZ*ONE remains the only 12-membered kpop group to retain all its original members from start to finish of their agreed contract.

 

[Chomiczewska]

Well, EXO debuted as 12 in 2012 - the year when the world was supposed to end but didn't; clearly they have made a deal with the Universe to sacrifice all future 12 member groups in exchange for saving Earth

 

[kimsguardian]

the only successful 12-member group. they were the best indeed ​

 

[sm maid]

Well, EXO debuted as 12 in 2012 - the year when the world was supposed to end but didn't; clearly they have made a deal with the Universe to sacrifice all future 12 member groups in exchange for saving Earth

tea! and their lore and concept were also pretty centered about their number of members, 12, which means it got ruined as soon as people started leaving fkghdfkl

 

[Seriously]

...did you just wanna write about Fantasy Boys maid

 

[sm maid]

...did you just wanna write about Fantasy Boys maid

kind of... but the thing is before junwon even left, right after the group was formed I joked about how 12 membered groups were cursed fklghfgk obviously I didn't actually expect it would happen to them or so soon

 

[hatmixx]

WJSN debuted at 12. then added 1 then shipped the foreign members back XD Curse avoided

 

[sm maid]

WJSN debuted at 12. then added 1 then shipped the foreign members back XD Curse avoided

ohh they added yeonjung later cause of ioi right? didnt even think of that

 

[kyom ✦ kyom ✦ pom]

Please pick this as thread of the month. These are the fun and interesting conspiracy theories K-pop is meant to be about

 

[soozie]

i didnt realize other 12-members group are also cursed great piece maid

 

[Bellamy]

tea! and their lore and concept were also pretty centered about their number of members, 12, which means it got ruined as soon as people started leaving fkghdfkl

Speaking about lore, it's risky to attach the lore to the number of members. Now that hatmixx mentioned WSJN, there were 12 representing the zodiac but then they included a 13th member, and some girls had to use fake birth dates to match their assigned zodiac signs. Am I right, @hatmixx ?

WJSN debuted at 12. then added 1 then shipped the foreign members back XD Curse avoided

Avoid?! They are currently 10 members

 

[Vampire]

I didn't realize there was a 12-member group curse until I read this! From what I know out of all the groups you pointed out, it seems like LOONA has suffered the most, especially when we consider what could have been; their pre-debut hype was truly on an insane level.

Please pick this as thread of the month. These are the fun and interesting conspiracy theories K-pop is meant to be about

Unfortunately, @Chiharu never posted the Monthly Check-Up for August, so there won't be a Thread of the Month. Maybe if she posts a Monthly Check-Up for September, she can let us submit threads from like, the last week of August or something so that maid can have a chance!

 

[Chiharu]

I didn't realize there was a 12-member group curse until I read this! From what I know out of all the groups you pointed out, it seems like LOONA has suffered the most, especially when we consider what could have been; their pre-debut hype was truly on an insane level.


Unfortunately, @Chiharu never posted the Monthly Check-Up for August, so there won't be a Thread of the Month. Maybe if she posts a Monthly Check-Up for September, she can let us submit threads from like, the last week of August or something so that maid can have a chance!

Not u calling me out like this...smsm never submits anything for monthly check-up anyway but I'm generous, so I suppose I could allow threads from the latter half of August

 

[Chiharu]

The success case
IZ*ONE
(2018~2021)

IZ*ONE was a girl group consisting of the top 12 contestants from MNET's survival show Produce 48. They debuted in 2018 and had a smooth career for the 2.5 years duration of their contract as a temporary group. Although for a short time, IZ*ONE remains the only 12-membered kpop group to retain all its original members from start to finish of their agreed contract.

iktr...iz*one truly The Queens

 

[hatmixx]

Avoid?! They are currently 10 members

Bona never left! Curse avoided!