Fifty Fifty, the K-pop girl group, is set to make a comeback as a five-member ensemble in September. This return comes after a tumultuous year marked by legal battles between the group and their agency, Attrakt.
In June of last year, the original members—Sio, Saena, Aran, and Keena—sought to suspend their contracts with Attrakt. They cited the agency’s failure to provide financial transparency and inadequate care for their health. However, the Seoul Central District Court denied their injunction and subsequent appeal. Keena later withdrew her legal action and returned to Attrakt, while the contracts of the remaining three members were terminated. Attrakt then filed a lawsuit seeking 13 billion won ($9.9 million) against the former members and their supporters, including producer SIAHN, who was behind their hit song “Cupid.”
Attrakt announced that the rebranded Fifty Fifty will feature Keena and four new members selected through closed auditions. “We confirmed the four new members in April,” the company stated. Initially, the group was set to return in June, but the comeback was postponed to September to ensure higher quality music and performances.
The agency acknowledged the challenging period the group faced over the past year. “Last year, Fifty Fifty achieved remarkable success with ‘Cupid,’ reaching No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 on the UK Official Singles Chart,” Attrakt said. “They also won the K-pop Song of the Year award at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards. However, we had to halt all activities due to the legal issues.”
Attrakt expressed gratitude to the fans who have been waiting patiently. “We are aware that we have this opportunity today thanks to the fans. To meet their expectations, we plan to release a new song before the official album and engage in various promotional activities. We aim to make Fifty Fifty the best K-pop girl group.”
Fifty Fifty debuted with “Cupid” in 2022 and quickly rose to fame, especially on TikTok. Despite being under a small label, they made headlines by entering the Billboard Hot 100 just 130 days after their debut. However, their activities were put on hold due to the legal dispute.
Last August, Attrakt secured an investment from David Yong, CEO of Singapore-based Evergreen Group Holdings, and began searching for new members. Auditions were held in various countries, including Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.
Keena will be joined by four new members in the revamped group. “We’ve been holding auditions to find new members for the group’s new phase. We finalized the four new members in April,” Attrakt announced. The comeback, initially planned for June, was delayed to September to ensure better quality in music and global marketing.
The new quintet will release a single that highlights their unique musical identity before their official comeback. Fifty Fifty originally debuted as a four-member group on February 24, 2023, with “Cupid,” which reached No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 just 130 days after their debut. They climbed to No. 17 and stayed on the chart for 25 consecutive weeks, a first for a K-pop girl group.
However, the group faced internal strife when members Aran, Sio, and Saena left following the termination of their contracts by Attrakt in October last year. The legal battle centered around claims that the agency violated its contract by failing to provide proper medical care and financial transparency.
In August, just before the public announcement of the Evergreen investment, the Seoul Central District Court dismissed Fifty Fifty’s motion to nullify its exclusive contract with Attrakt. The group’s legal representatives immediately filed an appeal.
Earlier in August, the members broke their silence with a handwritten letter to fans, apologizing for the situation and thanking supporters. They expressed a desire to “right the wrongs” in their relationship with the agency and continue their activities as true artists in a trustworthy environment.
While Attrakt lists Fifty Fifty as its only artist, the future remains uncertain. The new investment could help the group return to the spotlight, finance new acts, or be used in other ways. Meanwhile, “Cupid” continues to climb the singles and radio charts, even though the group has not appeared in public for months.
