This September 15, 2024 marks the ninth year of activity for the group iKON!
The group is created during the show “MIX & MATCH” which CHAN (CHANWOO) joined in 2014, however the other six were already known as TEAM B, having been revealed during the show “WIN: Who Is Next” in 2013 with the aim of creating YG Entertainment’s new group, WINNER.
iKON is officially launched on September 15, 2015, with the members debuting with the track “My type”, from their album “WELCOME BACK”, which was then released on December 28 of the same year.
The group’s hits include “Love scenario”, released in 2018 as part of their second album “RETURN”. The track spent many long weeks in the Korean charts, having achieved the feat of being the second male group to reach number one in 7 music charts, the first being their elders: BIG BANG.
However, the group has also experienced difficult times, with the departure of leader B.I in 2019 after a drug-abuse affair. B.I then took the decision to leave the group as the scandal swelled, shaking fans but not only, as the group and the company found themselves in the wrong spotlight. B.I left JAY (JINHWAN) as leader of the group.
The boys had a hard time of it, as BOBBY expressed on a show in September 2023. BOBBY spoke of a difficult time that damaged the relationship he had with his leader and, above all, friend, although today he says he has forgiven him and that he will remain a friend as well as a brother.
In the meantime, the band made a return to six members with “뛰어들게(Dive)”, released on February 6, 2020, from its third mini-album “I DECIDE”.
Two years later, iKON decides to terminate the exclusive contract between YG Entertainment and the members, a decision taken mutually. The members then signed with 143 Entertainment, which is still their agency today.
The boys were able to blossom individually, as evidenced by the first solos they offered us recently, respecting each other’s style, as well as the album “TAKE OFF”, where we find the spirit that made iKON; hip-hop.
“딴따라 Tantara” appeared on April 25, 2023, the first track from a debut album in this new agency. The track now has 6.7 million views.
Today, the band finds itself on a bit of a break as the members leave to carry out their military services, which are required in South Korea.
One thing’s for sure, though, and that’s that the band are promising us a few more great years when they return, which fans are patiently awaiting.
Once again, Happy Birthday iKON!
Journalist: Anaïs
Translator: Anaïs
Source: SNS iKON
