Seo Su-jin (서수진), a former member of the popular South Korean girl group (G)I-DLE, became embroiled in controversy in 2021 due to school bullying allegations. She subsequently suspended all entertainment activities and officially terminated her contract with her former agency, Cube Entertainment, and withdrew from the group in 2022, causing her career to enter a slump.
However, Seo Su-jin did not abandon her entertainment career. In October 2023, she signed with new agency BRD Entertainment and returned to the music scene as a solo artist. Her musical style also shifted upon her return, moving away from her group's previous sound to embrace a more mature, personal, and even rebellious image on stage. Unexpectedly, Seo Su-jin recently shared an update on her latest comeback, much to the dismay of fans who have long awaited new music.
During a recent livestream, Seo Su-jin unexpectedly informed fans that she likely would not be able to release new music this year, with the earliest possible release being early next year. Even then, no concrete release date has been set. She admitted during the broadcast, “Honestly, I don't think I'll have a comeback this year,” adding that an early next year comeback is more probable, but the specific date remains undetermined.
Following the news, fan reactions were intense. Seo Su-jin's last work, “BADITUDE,” was released on August 27, 2024, meaning over 400 days have passed since her last comeback. The new announcement that she likely will not release new material this year has led many fans to direct their frustration towards her agency, BRD Entertainment.
Many fans expressed disappointment with the company's management, with some directly urging Seo Su-jin to “leave the company and save herself,” believing she deserves a better environment for her career development. Others have begun to worry about her future in the entertainment industry.
One fan passionately commented on social media platform X, “Oh my god, Soojin, leave that company quickly! Please save yourself!” Another stated, “She might not have a comeback this year, but probably next year, we just don't know when exactly.” A frustrated fan also exclaimed, “I'm so frustrated, she deserves better treatment.”
Some have even speculated whether Seo Su-jin's prolonged lack of new releases means her contract with the company might not expire this year. Others worry that even if her contract is indeed nearing its end, she might not yet know which company she will work with next.
On the other hand, some fans are calling for continued support for Seo Su-jin while waiting for new music, commenting, “Now more than ever, we need to be by her side, keep streaming her music and content, don't leave her alone.”
Looking back at Seo Su-jin's solo activities, after leaving (G)I-DLE in 2021, she officially began her solo career in November 2023. Since then, she has released two mini-albums and one single album. Her first mini-album, “AGASSY,” sold approximately 73,000 copies in its first week, and her second mini-album, “RIZZ,” sold about 67,000 copies. However, her latest work, “BADITUDE,” saw a significant drop in first-week sales to approximately 11,000 copies compared to her previous two releases.
Seo Su-jin's personal revelation that she “won't have a comeback this year” not only leaves fans concerned about the indefinite wait for new music but also prompts some to focus on her current emotional state.
One fan wrote on X, “I'm so scared, this might reflect not just the company's decision, but her own feelings. Every time she releases something, she faces a lot of attacks but doesn't get enough protection, and her fanbase is gradually shrinking. The situation is so tense now that we haven't even properly considered how she's coping with all of this.”
Currently, the exact date of Seo Su-jin's next comeback remains unannounced, and fans can only continue to await official updates.
