The group debuted on February 25, 2016, with the extended play Would You Like? with the twelve-member line-up. A thirteenth member, Yeonjung, joined in July 2016. After being on hiatus since 2018, Yuehua's Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao and Meiqi departed from the group on March 3, 2023.
History
2015–2016: Formation and debut
Cosmic Girls photographed during the closing ceremony of Yonsei University on May 26, 2016.
On December 4, 2015, Starship Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment launched a 12-member girl group called WJSN, where the Korean and Chinese members were divided into different subunits.[1]
On December 10, the first unit, Wonder Unit, was announced (Cheng Xiao, Bona and Dayoung).[2] On December 17, the second three-member unit (Xuanyi, Eunseo and Yeoreum) was introduced: Joy Unit.[3] On December 21, WJSN's Wonder and Joy Units released a Christmas cover of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey.[4][unreliable source?] On December 24, the third unit, Sweet Unit, was announced (Seola, Exy and Soobin).[5] On December 31, the final unit was announced: Natural Unit (Meiqi, Luda and Dawon).[6]
WJSN debuted on February 25, 2016, with the release of their debut mini album Would You Like?, including the title tracks "Mo Mo Mo" and "Catch Me".[7][8] The group held their debut stage on the February 25th episode of M Countdown with "Catch Me" and "Mo Mo Mo".[9]
On July 11, Starship Entertainment confirmed that I.O.I's Yoo Yeon-jung would be joining the group.[10] In August 2016, Seola, Exy, Soobin, Eunseo, Cheng Xiao, Yeoreum, and Dayoung teamed up with label mate Monsta X to form the unit Y-Teen. It was a project unit group that promoted as CF models for KT’s phone fare service and would release EPs, music videos, and various entertainment content.[11]
On August 17, WJSN released their second mini album The Secret with all 13 members.[12]
2017–2018: From. WJSN, Happy Moment, Dream Your Dream, WJ Please? and Chinese members hiatus
Cosmic Girls in 2017
On January 4, WJSN released their third mini album From. WJSN.[13][14] The EP contains six tracks including the title track "I Wish".[15]
WJSN held their first solo concert, "Would You Like - Happy Moment," from May 19–20 at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall.[16][17] A total of 2,000 fans gathered in two days.[18]
WJSN's first full-length album, Happy Moment, was released on June 7, with a total of ten tracks including the lead single "Happy". The album ranked number 1 on Hanteo's daily and real-time charts after release.[19]
On February 27, WJSN released their fourth mini album Dream Your Dream, which consists of six tracks including the lead single "Dreams Come True".[20] Their comeback showcase was held at the Yes24 Live Hall on the same day as the album's release.[21][22]
On June 1, WJSN and Weki Meki formed a project group called WJMK and released a digital single "Strong".[23]
Two Chinese members, Meiqi and Xuanyi, participated in the Chinese version of survival show Produce 101 during the first half of 2018.[24][25] The survival show concluded with Meiqi ranking 1st and Xuanyi ranking 2nd, making them both members of the temporary girl group Rocket Girls 101.[26][27]
On September 19, WJSN returned with their fifth mini album WJ Please? and the title track "Save Me, Save You". The Chinese members, Cheng Xiao, Meiqi and Xuanyi, did not participate in the comeback and the group continued as ten members.[28] Meiqi and Xuanyi were preparing to debut with Rocket Girls 101, while Cheng Xiao was filming Legend of Awakening, a Chinese historical fantasy drama as the second lead actress, which would be her acting debut.[29]
On October 2, the group received their first music show win of their career with "Save Me, Save You" on SBS MTV's The Show.[30][31]
2019–2020: WJ Stay?, As You Wish and Neverland
On January 8, WJSN released their sixth mini album WJ Stay?, which consists of seven tracks including the lead single "La La Love".[32] The group continued to promote as ten members, with the Chinese members, Cheng Xiao, Meiqi and Xuanyi, unable to participate in the comeback due to prior commitments.[33]
WJSN held their second solo concert, "Would You Stay - Secret Box," from March 2–3 at the Blue Square Imarket Hall.[34]
WJSN released their special album For the Summer on June 4, which consists of five tracks including the lead single "Boogie Up".[35]
In August 2019, WJSN held their first concert tour titled WJSN 1st Mini Live 2019 "Would You Like?" Zepp Tour in Japan, starting on August 17 in Zepp DiverCity in Tokyo.[36][37]
WJSN released their seventh mini album As You Wish on November 19, which consists of seven tracks including the lead single "As You Wish".[38]
In 2020, WJSN had planned to hold their third concert titled WJSN Concert "Obliviate," starting on February 22, 2020, at the Olympic Hall in Seoul, South Korea and finishing on March 22, 2020, at the Toyosu PIT in Tokyo, Japan.[39] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert was postponed.
WJSN released their eighth mini album Neverland, including the title track "Butterfly," on June 9.[40]
On September 23, WJSN announced the formation of the new sub-unit WJSN Chocome, featuring members Soobin, Luda, Yeoreum, and Dayoung. They released their debut single album Hmph!, and its title track with the same name on October 7.[41][42]
2021–present: Unnatural, Queendom 2, Sequence, contract renewals, and Chinese members departure, Queendom Puzzle
WJSN released their ninth mini album Unnatural, with the title track of the same name on March 31, 2021.[43]
On April 26, 2021, WJSN announced the formation of their second sub-unit WJSN The Black, featuring members Seola, Exy, Bona and Eunseo, along with announcing their first single album My Attitude and its title track "Easy", which was released on May 12.[44]
On January 5, 2022, WJSN Chocome released their second single album Super Yuppers!.[46] On February 21, 2022, it was confirmed that WJSN will be participating in the second season of Mnet competition show Queendom, which ran from March to June 2022.[47] Dawon did not participate in the show, while Bona joined in the third round due to scheduling conflicts with her drama Twenty-Five Twenty-One.[48] WJSN was announced as the winners of Queendom 2 at its live finale on June 2.[49]
On May 6, Starship Entertainment announced the group's will be holding their fourth concert tour, titled '2022 WJSN Concert Wonderland' at the Olympic Hall on June 11 and 12.[50] Following their win on Queendom 2, it was announced that WJSN would be making a comeback on July 5 with their special single album Sequence, with the title track "Last Sequence".[51]
On November 18, 2022, Starship Entertainment announced a fan concert '2023 WJSN Fan-Con Codename: Ujung' that took place on January 7 and 8, 2023.[52]
On March 3, 2023, Starship Entertainment announced that Xuanyi, Cheng Xiao, and Meiqi had departed from WJSN following the expiration of their contracts. In the same announcement, it was also announced that Luda and Dawon chose not to renew their contracts, but did not specify whether they would remain in the group.[53] On March 13, 2023, Soobin clarified that Luda and Dawon have not left WJSN, followed by an official statement by Starship Entertainment backing up the information.[54]
On April 25, 2023, it was confirmed that Yeoreum will be a contestant on the survival show Queendom Puzzle, she ranked fifth place in the final episode, making her also a member of the girl group, El7z Up. The group debuted on September 14, 2023.
^Yoon Sang-geun (May 11, 2020). "우주소녀, 6월 9일 '네버랜드' 컴백 확정[공식]" [Cosmic Girls, 'Neverland' comeback confirmed on June 9 [Official]]. Naver (in Korean). MT Star News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
^ abJeong, Hee-yeon (February 21, 2022). "'퀸덤2' 출연자 공개...브브걸-비비지-이달소-우소-효린-케플러" ['Queendom 2' cast revealed... Brave Girls - Viviz - Loona - WJSN - Hyorin - Kep1er] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Naver.
^Han, Su-ji (March 31, 2022). "우주소녀 보나(김지연), '퀸덤2' 출연할까..".1·2차 무대 불참"" [Cosmic Girls' Bona (Kim Ji-yeon) will appear in 'Queendom 2'..".Not attending the 1st and 2nd stage"]. Top Star News (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
^Yoon, Seong-yeol (June 3, 2022). "우주소녀 '퀸덤2' 최종 우승 '감격의 눈물'..이달소 준우승 [★밤TV]" [Cosmic Girls 'Queendom 2' Final Winner 'Tears of Emotion'.. Loona Runner-up [★Night TV]] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Bit (May 6, 2022). "[공식]우주소녀, 6월 단독콘서트 개최…3년 3개월 만의 오프라인 콘서트" [[Official] WJSN to hold a solo concert in June... Offline concert after 3 years and 3 months] (in Korean). Sports Chosun. Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022 – via Naver.
^Kim, Soo-jin (June 3, 2022). "'띵곡 부자' 우주소녀, '썸머 퀸'도전..7월 5일 기습 컴백" ['Great songs rich' Cosmic Girls, 'Summer Queen' challenge... surprise comeback on July 5th] (in Korean). Star News. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022 – via Naver.
^ abcdPark, Sang-hoo (March 3, 2023). "[단독]우주소녀, 루다·다원·중국 멤버 3인 제외 8명 재계약" [[Exclusive] WJSN, 8 contract renewals except for Luda, Dawon, and 3 Chinese members] (in Korean). JTBC. Archived from the original on March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023 – via Naver.
^Sung, Min-Joo (March 13, 2023). "수빈 "우주소녀는 10명"...계약종료 루다·다원은?" [Subin "There are 10 Cosmic Girls"... What about Luda and Dawon?]. Naver (in Korean). TV Report. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
^Jang, Jin-ri (June 20, 2022). "우주소녀, 유니버스 신규 예능 'TMT 우주소녀' 론칭…'웃수저 그룹' 출격" [Cosmic Girls, Universe's new entertainment 'TMT Cosmic Girls' launch... 'Ugly Boy Group' sortie] (in Korean). Spot TV News. Archived from the original on June 20, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2022 – via Naver.
^"유니버스, 우주소녀 '대저택의 비밀 : 사라진 소녀들' 오픈" [Universe, WJSN's 'Secret of the Mansion: The Vanishing Girls' opens]. TOPDaily (in Korean). Choi Ji-eun. March 29, 2021.
^"U+아이돌Live 베스트아티스트상 1차 투표" [1st vote for U+Idol Live Best Artist Award]. Idol Live TV (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
^Park, Je-cheol (November 29, 2016). 국악예술단 '고창'…2016 서울 석세스 국악 대상 수상 [Gugak Art Troupe 'Gochang'... 2016 Seoul Success Gugak Grand Prize]. News1. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022.
^Lee, Ji-sook (August 17, 2020). [MHN포토] 이달의 소녀 '당찬 소녀들'(2020 소리바다 어워즈) [[MHN Photo] Loona 'Dauntless Girls' (2020 Soribada Awards)]. MHNS. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020.
^"Artist Top 10". V Live. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cosmic Girls.
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