This is not the first time concerns have been raised about the group.
Koreaboo
In 2021 and 2022, MBC hosted a survival show titled My teenage girlfriend to debut a brand new girl group.
After weeks of competition, seven trainees were selected to debut as part Classyreleasing their first mini-album, The lesson is over on May 5, 2022. The group released three mini albums in 2022 and made their Japanese debut with a Japanese version of their debut track, “Shut Down”.
However, in 2023, the group’s activities slowed down considerably, releasing only two non-album singles. After releasing their second single in December, the group had no activity for much of 2024.
Many fans were grateful when it was finally announced that the group would return with a physical album in November 2024. On November 14, the group’s music video for “Psycho and Beautiful” was released.
The physical album was initially supposed to be released on the same day, but suffered four different delays. These delays pushed the album’s physical release to December 20, after a previous delay predicted it would be released on December 9.
Although the album has yet to be released, the group held fan sign events, with attendees receiving a signed piece of paper because the album was not yet available. The group’s promotions have also ended, with no physical album sales to contribute to their performance.
Netizens have expressed concern over the album’s delays, criticizing the group’s company for handling the group’s first official comeback in nearly two years.
- “Isn’t this just a scam? How is it acceptable to not deliver the product on the scheduled date and keep delaying it?
- “Are you telling me they sold the album for money but didn’t provide the physical copy and only kept the fan signs?”
- “It took two years to release it? Couldn’t they have prepared better? This is just too much.”
- “Shadow entertainment companies must be investigated, their finances audited and checked for any human rights abuses or unfair practices. Problematic agencies should be closed. Is the case of slavery on the salt farms the only form of slavery? It seems that there are still many idols tied to unreasonable contracts and forced to suffer unilateral exploitation, starting from the training days. The K-pop industry seems like a huge human rights blind spot.”
- «It can’t simply be a mistake: there must be some ulterior motive. How is this the reward for winning a survival show? It’s devastating. Please terminate the contract.”
- “…What? Seriously, the idol industry comes up with the most bizarre ways to deceive consumers. It’s crazy, I can’t help but swear. If they had fan signs, that means the albums were sold via pre-orders, but now that the promotions are over, consumers still haven’t received the product? This company is crazy.”
