At exactly midnight on July 22 (Korean time), YG Entertainment shocked fans by announcing a comeback poster and a video in which Executive Producer Yang Hyun Suk personally revealed plans for 2NE1 in 2025. According to the announcement, 15 years after their debut, the iconic K-pop girl group will have three concerts in 2024 in Seoul, Osaka, and Tokyo, from October to December. Additionally, YG boldly declared that 2NE1 will embark on a world tour in 2025 to celebrate their 15th anniversary.
Right after the announcement, the news of 2NE1’s return caused a “shock” on global social media. On YG Family’s official fan page, the comeback poster for 2NE1 garnered nearly 900,000 interactions, almost 70,000 comments, and over 260,000 shares.
Similarly, the post about the legendary Gen 2 K-pop group’s comeback on the platform X (Twitter) attracted 20 million views and over 300,000 likes and interactions from fans. This led many non-fans (people who are not fans) to wonder what makes 2NE1’s comeback cause such a “disturbance” on social media.
The return of the legendary, top-tier Gen 2 K-pop group
In 2009, a new era of K-pop officially began when YG Entertainment debuted 2NE1 with four members: CL (Lee Chae Rin), Dara (Sandara Park), Minzy (Gong Minzy), and Park Bom. With just their first debut, 2NE1 shook the entire K-pop market at that time with two hit songs, “FIRE” and “I Don’t Care.” Their debut song “FIRE” quickly became a huge hit with its addictive hip-hop music style.
The two versions of the “FIRE” music video, “street ver.” and “space ver.,” attracted millions of views within 24 hours. This achievement was seen as a dream for many K-pop groups of the same era. Just six months after their debut, 2NE1 swept award ceremonies, winning impressive awards such as Best New Artist at the MelOn Music Awards and Song of the Year at the Mnet Asian Music Awards.
It can be said that compared to other Gen 2 K-pop girl groups, 2NE1 created a difference that not all groups could achieve. From their concept to their distinctive music, 2NE1 provided an experience that, after 15 years, still resonates with the audience.
Many timeless hits from 2NE1 can be named, such as “Lonely,” “Ugly,” and “I Am The Best.” These songs propelled 2NE1 into the golden age of their career and etched their name into K-pop history. Among them, “I Am The Best,” a super hit blending Electro House and Hip Hop, became a rare K-pop music video to reach 100 million views on YouTube in 2014.
Not only in the Korean music market, but 2NE1 also dominated the music markets in Europe and America, pioneering the challenging endeavor of breaking into these markets. Yet, what 2NE1 achieved made even the most critical audiences respect them. For instance, “I Am The Best” reached No.1 on Billboard’s World Digital Songs chart more than three years after its release. The song’s popularity even landed 2NE1 and “I Am The Best” on playlists of radio stations in New York and Boston (USA). In 2017, Billboard also listed 2NE1 as the number one K-pop girl group of the decade.
“I Am The Best” – one of 2NE1’s career super hits
A comeback proving nothing is impossible after their shocking and regrettable disbandment in 2014
2014 was probably an unforgettable year for the K-pop fan community in general and Blackjacks (2NE1’s fandom) in particular. After exploding with “Crush” – an album that achieved many successes contributing to 2NE1’s golden era, fans could not believe their eyes when they had to witness the legendary group ending their prime with the announcement of their disbandment and the departure of the youngest member, Minzy.
The issue started with Park Bom’s regrettable incident. In 2014, while at the peak of her career with 2NE1, Park Bom was embroiled in a shocking drug smuggling scandal across Asia. The main vocalist of 2NE1 was accused of smuggling amphetamine-containing drugs disguised as gummy candies from the USA into South Korea.
Despite her efforts to clarify, claiming it was medication and she was unaware it was illegal in Korea, Park Bom couldn’t calm the public’s anger. As a result, she had to temporarily stop her activities, and the other members focused on solo projects. This was seen as the starting point that triggered the series of events leading to 2NE1’s disbandment.
Just a few months later, member Minzy unexpectedly announced the termination of her contract with YG on April 5, 2016. YG’s president Yang Hyun Suk wrote an apology letter to fans, denying rumors of 2NE1’s disbandment and assuring fans that 2NE1 would return in the summer of 2016 as a trio. But eventually, fans were deeply disappointed when YG announced 2NE1’s official disbandment in November 2016. This news left the K-pop fan community stunned by the regrettable and incomplete end of the “one-of-a-kind” K-pop group.
And a return promising to bring a new breeze to the currently saturated K-pop market
In the context of a K-pop market gradually becoming saturated with girlcrush concepts, a series of exhausting dramas, encore disasters creating “shame” for the new generation of idols, and “top-tier” K-pop groups “enlisting” in both literal and figurative senses, the comeback of the legendary girl group 2NE1 brings unbelievable excitement to fans.
After their explosive reunion performance at Coachella 2022, 2NE1’s fans feared that this would indeed be their last stage with all four members. There was no reason for them to believe that the group would return with a four-member lineup in the future. Yet, after two years, YG and 2NE1 have 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 broadcast of “2 O’Clock Escape Cultwo Show,” member Dara shed tears and shared, “This still feels like a dream. It feels amazing, although it’s very difficult for us to practice. We started practicing this week, and we have been working hard. We danced continuously for seven hours, and all four of us worked hard because we know this moment is precious. Although our bodies are very tired, I feel very happy and comfortable.”
Dara once shared that she couldn’t believe 2NE1 would disband, and perhaps at this moment, Dara, CL, Park Bom, and Minzy can hardly believe that all four members will reunite to bring a dedicated concert to fans after seven years. After all, whether seven years, 15 years, or longer, 2NE1 remains an “ideology” and a legendary group in the hearts of fans. Surely, 2NE1’s first comeback this October will create a “quake” and an emotional, nostalgic moment for the Blackjack community who have been waiting for the group all this time.
