All Girl Groups Who Debuted In 2019 Have Disbanded… With Only One Exception!

A shocking stat has caught the attention of Korean netizens: only one girl group that debuted in 2019 is still active in the K-Pop industry today.

Rocket Punch debuted in 2019 and disbanded in 2024. | Woollim Entertainment

Typically, K-Pop groups sign a seven-year contract when they first debut. As such, fans would expect that most of 2019’s debut acts would still be around until 2026 at minimum.

The reality, however, is drastically different. The long list of disbandments includes several groups that were well-loved in South Korea and internationally, including Cherry Bullet (who disbanded in April 2024) and Rocket Punch (who disbanded in December 2024).

Many international fans will also remember the smaller 2019 girl groups who have since parted ways, like BVNDIT, HINAPIA, FANATICS, and Z-GIRLS. As of May 2025, at least 30 girl groups that debuted six years ago are not currently active.

The exception to the rule is none other than ITZY. Since their debut in February 2019, the JYP Entertainment girl group has continued to thrive. ITZY sold over 1 million albums on Circle Chart last year alone, with their most recent mini-album, Gold, selling more than 700,000 copies.

Now, ITZY is in the midst of preparing for a highly anticipated comeback on June 9. Released less than a week ago, the album trailer for their new release, Girls Will Be Girls, has surpassed 1 million views on YouTube. The group is also reportedly planning a new world tour this year.

Alongside ITZY, there’s also another 2019 girl group that has not yet disbanded: EVERGLOW, who debuted in March 2019. The group gained substantial international popularity in their early years, recently returning from a hiatus with new music and concerts in North America and Europe. On May 13, however, Yuehua Entertainment confirmed that all EVERGLOW members would be leaving the company.

Yuehua Entertainment’s Girl Group EVERGLOW Will Disband

Despite this, member Sihyeon assured fans via TikTok Live that they have no intention of disbanding and will “of course… still stay a group.” Fans presume they’re seeking a new agency together, but the group is technically temporarily inactive in the meantime.

EVERGLOW’s Sihyeon Bluntly Speaks On “Disbandment” After Leaving YueHua Entertainment

Following EVERGLOW’s contract termination, netizens are debating possible explanations for the decline 2019 girl groups have experienced. Many point to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hit just as these groups should have been building momentum. Others suggest they were overshadowed by powerhouse groups that debuted in 2021 and 2022, which would include leading acts like IVE, LE SSERAFIM, and NJZ (also known as NewJeans).

| Instiz

• COVID really had a huge impact…
• Cherry Bullet, EVERGLOW, and Rocket Punch did get mentioned in the beginning… It’s a such shame about all of them.
• It’s both surprising and kind of sad that only ITZY are still around
• EVERGLOW disbanded…???
• Let’s be real, more than COVID, it was the girl groups that debuted in 2021–2022 who ended up taking all the spotlight.
• Exactly. If you look at the top 4th-gen girl groups now, a lot of them debuted around that time.
• IZ*ONE’s spin-off groups, SM Entertainment’s first new girl group in a while, and Min Hee Jin’s girl group basically kicked off 4th-gen girl groups lol

Meanwhile, the list of active boy groups from 2019 remains fairly strong, including TXT, AB6IX, CIX, and OnlyOneOf.