WayV has faced numerous hurdles since they were first launched in 2019
WayV, the Chinese boy group under SM Entertainment, made their debut in 2019 with the goal to conquer the ever-competitive Chinese music market. Over the last five years, they’ve faced numerous challenges.
One of the significant hurdles WayV encountered was the lingering effects of the Hallyu ban in China. SM primarily aimed WayV at the Chinese market, but despite China’s later decision to lift the K-pop ban, artists based in Korea continued to suffer from various obstacles in the market.
Another noteworthy episode in WayV’s challenging journey was ex-member Lucas’ controversy. Lucas was one of the most popular members of the group, but in May 2021, he became embroiled in a scandal over his private life.
SM halted the release of content associated with Lucas, including his collaboration single “Jalapeño” with Hendery. Ultimately, Lucas suspended his activities and left the group.
WayV faced the challenge of repeated delayed comebacks. In December 2022, the group was set to return with the album “Phantom.” Unfortunately, the passing of China’s former President Jiang Zemin led to a postponement in their album-related content release schedule.
In their most recent comeback with “On My Youth,” WayV faced yet another delay as they had to postpone promotional activities due to the passing of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Despite these setbacks, WayV has continued to persevere, and their fans have shown unwavering support throughout their journey.
