The announcement of EVERGLOW’s return after a 2-year hiatus has unexpectedly become the center of online controversy. Rather than excitement over new music, discussions were dominated by unresolved controversies and long-standing concerns regarding the group’s management and reputation. Now operating as a 4-member group after leaving their former agency, EVERGLOW recently confirmed the release of a new mini album titled CODE, scheduled for March 3, 2026. However, the announcement was met with mixed, and in some cases hostile, reactions from international fans.
The negative reaction partly stems from the group’s overseas tour in late 2025, which was staged in a sensitive international context. A section of fans around the world criticized the decision, claiming that the timing was inappropriate. As a result, some netizens have openly stated this “I can’t celebrate” the return and even called for a boycott. This signals significant damage to EVERGLOW’s international fan base, which has historically been their strongest market compared to South Korea’s domestic popularity.
Debuting in March 2019 under Yuehua Entertainment, EVERGLOW was once considered one of the most promising fourth-generation girl groups. The original lineup – E:U, Sihyeon, Mia, Onda, Aisha and Yiren – quickly gained traction with their girl crush concept and high-energy tracks like Bon Bon Chocolat, Adios and Dun Dun. Their music videos have amassed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube, an impressive feat for a group outside the Big 4 system. During 2019-2020, some international fans even nicknamed them a “rival” to BLACKPINK due to the similarities between powerful concepts and globally oriented strategies.
In reality, however, the gap between the two groups remained significant. While BLACKPINK has maintained a strong domestic and international influence, EVERGLOW has struggled to deliver consistent performance on digital charts in Korea. Compared to contemporaries like ITZY and (G)I-DLE, EVERGLOW’s country chart results were modest.
From late 2021 onwards, the group’s momentum began to slow. A prolonged hiatus of nearly two years has led to a notable cooling of public interest, particularly as new fourth-generation powerhouses such as IVE, NewJeans and aespa have risen to dominance. In the rapidly evolving industry of K-pop, prolonged inactivity often results in a shift in audience attention.
Further setbacks exacerbated the decline. In early 2022, member Yiren faced controversy in South Korea, sparking a wave of reactions that affected the group’s internal image. The situation contributed to another period of business disruption. Then, in March 2025, Yiren revealed via Bubble that the group had not received any salaries in six years of operation. The revelation shocked fans and reignited debates on the topic “compensation” contractual model in the idol industry, in which trainees must reimburse production, training and promotion expenses before making profits. While the system is not uncommon in K-pop, the fact that a group with hundreds of millions of views has had no revenue for six years has raised serious questions about financial transparency and investment efficiency.
In June 2025, EVERGLOW officially ended their contract with Yuehua Entertainment, closing the chapter on their original six-member lineup. By September 2025, four members, Sihyeon, E:U, Onda and Aisha, signed with the CHXXTA company and chose to continue under the name EVERGLOW. Yiren returned to China to focus on individual pursuits, while Mia continued on her path.
The renovation presents new artistic and branding challenges. The absence of two key members inevitably alters the vocal distribution, the stage dynamics and the musical color. At the same time, repeated controversies have fragmented the group’s public image. Their imminent return is therefore more than just a musical return: it is a critical test of whether EVERGLOW can rebuild credibility and redefine their identity in an increasingly competitive K-pop landscape.
Sources: Sohu,Sina,X (Twitter),Bubble
