Rumors of a new girl group under PLEDIS Entertainment are quickly gaining traction online but instead of excitement, the news has sparked widespread frustration among K-pop fans.
A post on popular Korean forum theqoo recently went viral after claiming that two high-profile trainees are likely to debut in the agency’s next girl group.
The names mentioned immediately attracted attention:
While the alleged training caused an initial stir, the conversation quickly turned from the trainees themselves towards criticism of the company behind them.
Instead of celebrating a potential debut, many netizens expressed anger and skepticism towards PLEDIS Entertainment’s track record with girl groups.
Comments flooded online communities, with reactions such as:
- Just seeing the name of the company drives me crazy.
- With what conscience do they debut with another girl group?
- They can’t even manage groups properly.
- Please don’t do this again.
The intensity of the reaction highlights a long-standing problem: fan distrust in the agency’s ability to manage girl groups.
Much of this criticism stems from PLEDIS’ history with bands like After School and PRISTIN.
In particular, PRISTIN remains a sore point for enthusiasts. Once hailed as one of the most promising rookie groups, they experienced a long period of inactivity before finally disbanding in 2019, despite strong initial momentum.
Although it was never officially confirmed, many fans believe that the group lost priority during the wave of survival show projects like Produce 101 AND School of idolswhich led to the birth of groups like fromis_9 and IZ*ONE.
Whether accurate or not, this perception has significantly damaged the company’s reputation among fans.
As the debate continues, some fans have shifted their attention to the alleged interns themselves.
Many expressed concern rather than enthusiasm, with comments such as:
- She’s so cute, but I’m worried about her future there.
- If they debut them, I just hope they are treated well.
- Members deserve better.
The situation reflects a rare case in which the wait for a debut is overshadowed by concern for management rather than the artists themselves.
With no official confirmation from PLEDIS Entertainment yet, the alleged girl group remains unverified. However, one thing is clear: Before they even debut, the group is already under intense scrutiny, putting even more pressure on the agency to prove fans wrong.
Sources: theqoo, Koreaboo
