Fromis 9 (Korean: 프로미스나인; stylized in snake case) is a South Korean girl group formed by CJ E&M through the 2017 reality show Idol School. The group is composed of eight members: Roh Ji-sun, Song Ha-young, Lee Sae-rom, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, Park Ji-won, Lee Seo-yeon, and Baek Ji-heon. Originally a nine-piece group, Jang Gyu-ri departed the group on July 31, 2022.
The group debuted on January 24, 2018, with their management under Stone Music Entertainment and their creative direction and production of music under Pledis Entertainment, with the release of their first extended play (EP), To. Heart. Fromis 9's management transitioned to Off the Record Entertainment in September 2018, a new label founded by Stone Music. Subsequently, Pledis Entertainment managed the group from August 21, 2021, until their contract with the agency ended on December 31, 2024.
Name
The group's name "Fromis_" was suggested by netizens through the official Idol School website and chosen by CJ E&M, with described as "From Idol School" and "Promise" in Korean pronunciation, also means "to keep their promise [to viewers] to be the best girl group".[3] Through the announcement of their social media accounts by their agency, the group decided to add 9 in their name to be "fromis_9".[4][5]
History
Pre-debut: Formation through Idol School and "Glass Shoes"
In March 2017, it was announced that Mnet, the same channel responsible for several notable survival shows including Sixteen and Produce 101, would be launching a new reality survival show titled Idol School to form a new girl group.[6] The show premiered on July 13 and ended on September 29, with Roh Ji-sun, Song Ha-young, Lee Sae-rom, Lee Chae-young, Lee Na-gyung, Park Ji-won, Lee Seo-yeon, Baek Ji-heon, and Jang Gyu-ri as the nine members of Fromis. The final line-up was solely decided through live and online votes of viewers.[7][8][9]Pledis Entertainment, led by CEO Han Sung-soo, managed the group's training and debut.[10]
Fromis premiered its own reality program on October 19 titled Fromis' Room about continuing the path to debut. It followed the format of a simulcast, where it combined pre-recorded materials and replays of Facebook Live broadcasts in their dorm.[11] The group's name was later changed to Fromis 9 following the final episode of Fromis' Room on November 23, with the "9" meaning the nine students who graduated from Idol School.[5]
On November 29, Fromis 9 performed their pre-debut single titled "Glass Shoes" at the 2017 Mnet Asian Music Awards in Japan. The song was released as a digital single the following day.[12][13] They also performed the song on the December 15 episode of Music Bank, marking the group's first-ever appearance in a music program.[14]
2018: Debut with To. Heart, To. Day, and From.9
On January 8, 2018, it was announced that Fromis 9 would officially debut with their first extended play (EP) titled To. Heart.[15][16][17] The EP, along with its lead single, "To Heart", was released on January 24.[18] The EP debuted at number 4 on the Gaon Album Chart issued on January 27.[19]
On May 4, it was confirmed that Jang Gyu-ri had entered as a contestant in Produce 48.[20] Fromis 9 continued as an eight-member group and released their second EP, To. Day, on June 5, without Jang due to her participation in the show.[21][22] Fromis 9 went back to being a nine-member group after Jang was eliminated in the 3rd elimination as she ranked at 25th place.[23]
Starting from September 21, Fromis 9 would be managed under Off The Record Entertainment, a new agency exclusively established for Fromis 9 and South Korean-Japanese girl group, Iz*One.[24]
The group released a special single album titled From.9 on October 10 with the lead single, "Love Bomb". It was their first release with all 9 members after the return of Jang Gyu-ri.[25][26] On October 30, Fromis 9 made their acting debut in a web series, Welcome to Heal Inn, on their official VLive page. The series was filmed during Jang's absence.[27]
2019–2021: Fun Factory and My Little Society
On February 8, 2019, a second short/mini season of Welcome to Heal Inn was announced for the Winter Season, this time with Jang Gyu-ri added as a new traveller.[28] In May, Jang made her solo acting debut in the web drama, Compulsory Dating Education.[29]
On June 4, Fromis 9 released their first single album Fun Factory, featuring the lead single "Fun!".[30] The album reached number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart, a new high for the group.[31]
The group released their third EP My Little Society on September 16, 2020, with lead single "Feel Good (Secret Code)".[32] On September 10, Off The Record confirmed that Lee Seo-yeon would sit out of all promotions for the EP due to a recent leg injury, and the group would promote as eight members.[33] The EP reached no. 3 on the Gaon Album Chart.[34] On May 17, the group released their second single album 9 Way Ticket, featuring the lead single "We Go".[35]
2021–2022: New management, Talk & Talk, Midnight Guest, and From Our Memento Box
On August 16, 2021, it was announced that Fromis 9 had departed from Off The Record and that Pledis Entertainment would take over the group's management.[36] On September 1, the group had their first release under the new label with the special single "Talk & Talk".[37] On September 7, the group achieved their first ever music show win on SBS MTV's The Show with "Talk & Talk".[38] A day later, members Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, and Lee Seo-yeon released the song, "Star" (별), a remake of the OST track of the same name from the 2006 film Beauty is Painful.[39]
On January 17, 2022, Fromis 9 released their fourth EP Midnight Guest, featuring the lead single "DM".[40]
On February 24, it was announced that member Baek Ji-heon would be taking a break from activities due to health concerns.[41] Baek returned to activities with the release of the group's fifth EP From Our Memento Box, released June 27, featuring the lead single "Stay This Way".[42] On July 24, Fromis 9 released a cover of IU and Fiestar's single "Sea of Moonlight" as a part of Re:born Project's Summer Vacation Project.[43]
2022–present: Jang Gyu-ri's departure, Unlock My World, Supersonic, and departure from Pledis Entertainment
On July 28, 2022, Pledis Entertainment announced that member Jang Gyu-ri would be leaving the group on July 31 with Fromis 9 continuing as an eight-member group. In their press release, Pledis stated that when Fromis 9's management was transferred to the company in 2021, every other member signed a completely new contract with the company and only Jang chose to transfer her original contract from CJ ENM's Off The Record that would last only one year.[44]
On October 28, it was announced that members Lee Sae-rom and Lee Seo-yeon would be taking a break from activities due to health concerns.[45] Sae-rom returned to activities at the end of that year, during a performance at 2022 SBS Gayo Daejeon.[46] Seo-yeon also returned to activities by the event.[47]
On May 15, 2023, Pledis Entertainment announced Fromis 9 would be releasing their first studio album titled Unlock My World on June 5, which would also be their first release as an eight-member group.[48] On October 11, the group released the single "Love Me Back" as part of the soundtrack for the Naver webtoon Operation: True Love.[49]
In July 2024, Fromis 9 were confirmed to be preparing for a new album, set for release in August.[50] During July, the group also performed at a series of festivals, including Weverse Con[51] Kwave Music Festival in Manila[52] and their first ever appearances at Waterbomb festival across three cities.[53] On July 18, Fromis 9 announced their fifth single album titled Supersonic, which was released on August 12.[54] The album's title track peaked at number two on South Korea's Circle Chart.[55]
On November 29, Pledis Entertainment announced that the exclusive contracts with Fromis 9 would officially expire on December 31.[56] On December 6, it was announced that they would be releasing the single "From" on December 23, before departing from the label.[57]
^"Love Bomb (Japanese ver.)" was scheduled to release on March 13, 2020, as Fromis 9's Japanese pre-debut single, but delayed indefinitely due to the COVID-19pandemic.
^"Love Bomb" did not enter the Gaon Digital chart top 200, but peaked at number 81 on Download component chart.[86]
^"Fun!" did not enter the Gaon Digital chart top 200, but peaked at number 73 on Download component chart.[87]
^"Feel Good (Secret Code)" did not enter the Gaon Digital chart top 200, but peaked at number 27 and 83 on the component Download and BGM charts, respectively.[88][89]
^"Sea of Moonlight" did not enter the Gaon Digital chart top 200, but peaked at number 42 on Download component chart.[90]
^Credited as Fromis 9 but only features Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, and Lee Seo-yeon.
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