2NE1 members Dara, CL, Bom and Minzy. Image: Twitter/@88rising
K-pop girl group 2NE1 has regrouped and will be back later this year for their 15th anniversary concert and a world tour, their label YG Entertainment announced.
In a video uploaded on their social media pages, YG big boss Yang Hyun-suk mentioned plans to pull together a concert series for 2NE1, whose members are Bom, CL, Minzy and Dara, or more popularly known in the Philippines as Sandara Park, who rose to fame from being a talent show contestant into being a successful actress and singer before going back to her native South Korea.
The group recently met with Yang for talks at the agency’s headquarters in Seoul on Thursday, June 27, their first meeting in eight years.
“I’d like to share in this interview that the first successful YG female group was 2NE1. The members of 2NE1 told me that they’d like to hold a concert commemorating their 15th anniversary. So we caught up and happily discussed making it all happen within this year,” said Yang.
The YG founder said 2NE1’s anniversary concert will be held in October in Seoul, while a performance venue in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan for the end of November and December have been booked.
“We’re in the process of adjusting schedules for further performances. I think this concert will be quite special. It resonates with those who grew up with 2NE1’s music, sharing those memories. And in the case of 2NE1, they have an incredible number of hit songs, so all the staff are working hard together to create a successful show,” Yang said.
The quartet debuted under YG Entertainment in 2009, releasing hit songs including “I Don’t Care” and “Ugly” before disbanding in November 2016. The group’s last single, “Good Bye” was released in January 2017.
‘Welcome back, Blackjacks’
Park made known her excitement to reunite with her bandmates on Instagram, as she welcomed back 2NE1 fans, who call themselves the “Blackjacks.”
“What’s up, We’re 2NE1 ♠️♥️ WELCOME BACK, #BLACKJACKS #2NE1 #투애니원 #YG #WELCOME_BACK,” she captioned her post.
Some celebrities showed some love to Park’s post, including her fellow Star Circle quest alum and batch mate, Joross Gamboa, who she remained friends with through the years.
Screenshots from Sandara Park’s Instagram
Other groups will also have a comeback
Meanwhile, Yang said another K-pop girl group Blackpink will also have its own comeback and world tour next year, but he did not specify the details.
“I think a lot of artists will be active simultaneously. There will be a highly anticipated comeback from Blackpink, and it will also be the year Blackpink starts their world tour,” he said.
Other projects in the YG pipeline included BabyMonster and Treasure’s first global tour next year, while other groups are also gearing up for a comeback.