K-pop groups that will celebrate 10 years of debut in 2025

For many years, the K-pop industry was haunted by the dreaded “seven-year curse”, responsible for causing groups to disband and being extremely feared by fans of South Korean music.

The term, as scary as it is, refers to the length of the contract signed by the groups after their debut. This is because, since the 2010s, the South Korean Fair Trade Commission has issued a new regulation, which requires that entertainment contracts have a maximum duration of seven years.

With the end of the stipulated period, companies and artists begin to discuss a possible renewal. When conversations did not result in a new contract, the teams’ final fate was often the dreaded disbandment. For this reason, many fans to this day are apprehensive about the arrival of the seventh year.

However, over time, the “seven-year curse” has become less and less common. This is because, nowadays, even if all the members leave the company, it is still possible for them to stay together — as is the case with groups like GOT7 and THE BOYZ.

Proving that the “curse” is getting weaker and weaker, in 2025, big names from the third generation of K-pop will celebrate their 10-year debut anniversary. Among them is TWICE, a girl group formed by JYP Entertainment through the survival program “SIXTEEN”, which debuted on October 20, 2015.

Check out other groups that will celebrate a decade together in 2025!

1. GFRIEND

Composed of Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB and UmjiGFRIEND debuted through Source Music on January 16, 2015, leaving the company in 2021 after the end of their contracts. However, at the end of 2024, the group confirmed that they would make a new comeback in 2025 to celebrate 10 years of debut.

2. CLC

On March 19, 2015, Cube Entertainment launched the girl group CLC, consisting of Seunghee, Yujin, Eunbin, Sorn, Elkie, Seungyeon and Yeeun. In May 2022, the company announced that the set had “officially ceased its activities”, however, in 2023, Sorn clarified that the group did not disband, and that the members were focused on carrying out their separate activities at the moment. For now, there is still no prediction of a possible return of the CLC in its complete formation.

3. OH MY GIRL

OH MY GIRL was formed on April 21, 2015 by WM Entertainment, and today is still active consisting of six members: Hyojung, Mimi, YooA, Seunghee, Yubin and Arin. Its original lineup also had two more members: JinEwho left the group and the company in 2017 due to health problems; and Jihowho confirmed her departure from girlgroyp and WM in May 2022 after the end of her contract.

4. MONSTA X

Boygroup from Starship Entertainment, MONSTA X currently consists of six members: Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney and IM. Formed through the survival program “NO.MERCY”, their debut took place on May 14, where the group also had Wonho in its formation. The idol announced his departure from the group in 2019, following controversies. At the moment, Joohoney, Kihyun and Hyungwon are carrying out mandatory military service, and are expected to be discharged later this year.

5. SEVENTEEN

With 13 members (S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, June, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, D.K., Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino), SEVENTEEN debuted on May 26, 2015 through PLEDIS Entertainment, with the album “17 CARAT”. Currently, the group is only promoting with 13 members as Jeonghan is carrying out mandatory military service, and June is working as an actor in China.

6. DAY6

One of JYP Entertainment’s main bands, DAY6 currently consists of four members: Sungjin (guitar), Young K (low), Wonpil (keyboard) and Dowoon (battery). Its debut took place on September 7, 2015 and, initially, it also featured the guitarist Jae in its formation. However, in December 2021, the artist ended his contract with the company and left the group.

7. iKON

Debuting on September 15, 2015 by YG Entertainment, after being formed through the survival program “Mix & Match”, iKON currently has six members in its lineup: Bobby, Jay, JUNE, Song, D.K. and Chan. In 2019, the leader BI decided to leave the group after the repercussions of a controversy. On the penultimate day of 2022, after the end of their contracts with YG, the sextet left the company and signed with 143 Entertainment on January 1, 2023, where they remain to this day.

Also read: 5 K-pop groups whose birthdays are in January