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(G)I-DLE Soyeon mentions Soojin to Winner, fans thankful she didn't 'erase' former member

Both K-pop groups Winner and (G)I-DLE lost a member and had to go through a lineup change

While K-pop groups in the past have seen lineup changes with members leaving the groups, some have had the most heartbreaking backstories. In 2019, we saw B.I aka Kim Hanbin and Wonho leave iKON and Monsta X respectively. In May last week, we saw two rookie groups lose their members with Kingdom’s Chiwoo and TO1’s Chihoon leaving their groups suddenly without disclosing the reason. (G)I-DLE too similarly experienced a shocking change as Soojin was put on hiatus due to rumors for almost a year before their label Cube simply announced she had left.

There was a systematic attack on K-pop idols in early 2021 with trolls spreading fake rumors that they were school bullies. While most of the cases were resolved immediately, Soojin’s situation was messily handled. She first released a detailed report pointing out the loopholes of the accusation that she had bullied a classmate. However, she was put on hiatus with fans thinking that Cube was going to resolve her case. But in August, they shared that Soojin had left (G)I-DLE, and a year later in March 2022, they announced that they had terminated their contract with her.

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Soyeon talks about Soojin’s departure

Fans were heartbroken but are touched that (G)I-DLE’s leader Soyeon was able to mention Soojin in a recent variety show. With the general public being extremely touchy about scandals however fake, K-pop agencies school their artists not to mention the scandals even if it's cleared. But that seems to be changing with iKON finally opening up about what they went through when their leader B.I left the group. And now Soyeon has brought up Winner’s lineup change and how she could relate since (G)I-DLE had also lost a member.

During the final episode of the variety show ‘Artist Way’, Soyeon and Winner’s Yoon bonded over how they were the younger members of the group and yet the leader. However, Yoon had not always been the maknae (youngest) as they had initially debuted with five members. Taehyun, the original maknae, was the main vocalist and a popular member of Winner but ended up leaving two years later. And so, (G)I-DLE’s Soyeon confided, “We actually went through something last year,” talking about Soojin’s case and departure. “Back then I thought, ‘if a member leaves a team, isn't that team done for?’ I always had that prejudice. Winner was the only thing that allowed me to believe. Honestly.”

With the immediate success of ‘Tomboy’ - (G)I-DLE’s first comeback after Soojin’s departure - Yoon praised Soyeon, “And your comeback this time went so well right?” He added that since he too had been worried for Winner’s future after Taehyun left he could relate to her, “Because I kinda felt like we were in the same boat, I was sincerely [happy] for you.”

'They deserve all the love'

Fans were touched that Soyeon could still talk about Soojin, “Soyeon saying she used to be in the maknae line but now she is in the middle since soojin’s departure.. i can’t take IT.” Another added, “No because seungyoon and soyeon having a talk about a member leaving is sooo deep. They both went through a lot as leaders of their respective groups.” One was relieved, “I'm so thankful that soyeon can comfortably talk about the lineup change....like mostly, groups have to act like the former member never existed..glad its not the case with idle.”

Another added, “Love that soyeon can freely talk about that stuff and doesn't care about what cube will say but still being careful enough not to affect the group and her members.” One fan commented, “My girls have been through alot. they deserve all the love.” Another said, “I really love this because no matter how hard cube tries to erase soojin, her impact on the group & kpop in general will always be here. the girls and the industry won’t let us forget her.”

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