Will Blackpink Survive the 'Seven-Year Curse'?

There's a thing called the 7-year curse for girl groups.

It's a well-known curse in Korea that girl groups, regardless of their popularity after their debut, don't last beyond 7 years.

It's also called 'the devil's 7 years' or 'the 7-year curse'.

Many girl groups like Sistar, Wonder Girls, Nine Muses, Miss A, Lovelyz, DIA, Momoland, and Brave Girls

have disbanded after failing to surpass the 7-year mark, leading to this description.

• 2014 Debut: Mamamoo, Red Velvet, Laboum, Lovelyz
• 2015 Debut: GFriend, Oh My Girl, Twice
• 2016 Debut: Brave Girls, I.O.I, Blackpink, Momoland
• 2018 Debut: (G)I-DLE, IZ*ONE
• 2019 Debut: ITZY

A significant number of girl groups have already ceased their activities as a full group, and many believe that the 7-year curse has become a reality for the 3rd generation of girl groups.

Industry insiders attribute this largely to the fact that most idol groups sign 7-year contracts with their agencies.

At the end of the contract, they must decide whether to renew or leave. As their careers progress, popular members often desire new opportunities, making contract renewals difficult. When key members leave, the group naturally tends to disband.

The crux of the matter is whether they can successfully navigate the renewal period, whether it's 5 years or 9 years.

Furthermore, it is challenging for girl groups to sustain long-term careers due to their inability to surpass boy groups in album sales and revenue.

It is believed that if they fail to cultivate a strong international fanbase, the lifespan of a girl group is shortened.

In 2023, all four members of Blackpink, a leading K-pop girl group, decided not to renew their contracts with YG Entertainment.

Now, even though they're under different agencies, they'll still collaborate for group activities while focusing on their individual careers.

Jisoo will focus on acting, Lisa on international activities, and Rosé on music, each having established their own labels.

It seems they'll only be getting together briefly for things like releasing new albums and going on world tours.

It's great when beloved groups can maintain their longevity, but it's also wonderful to see new and innovative rookie groups emerge, surpassing previous generations.