In this article, the current stage names of the members will be used. This will avoid confusion since some of their names have changed over the years.
December 2011 is when the teasers started. Shinsadong Tiger would be debuting a six-member girl group under the company AB Entertainment.((One of the very first news articles about EXID, from December 1, 2011: https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2011120106173570770&type=1&outlink=1)) The original members were UJI, Hyeyeon (Dami), ELLY, Hani, Haeryeong, and Jeonghwa.((Newsen article about EXID’s debut: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201202141920401002))
January 2012 is when EXID had planned to debut, but ELLY suffered an injury that pushed the debut back. While practicing dance, her right ankle ligament was stretched.((E-Daily article about EXID’s debut: https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01111926599428880&mediaCodeNo=258))
February 14, 2012 is when the original six members got on stage for the first time. At the square in front of Woori Bank in Meyong-dong, they performed their title song “Whoz That Girl”, a cover of BEAST’s “Fiction”, and then “Whenever You Play That Song”.((Star Daily article about EXID’s debut showcase: https://www.mk.co.kr/star/musics/view/2012/02/99001/))
On February 16, two days after the showcase, EXID’s debut single “Holla” was released.((Newsen article about EXID’s debut: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201202141920401002))
At this time of year, we celebrate the debut of EXID.
The Members Who Left
We talk a lot about the current members of EXID, but what about the three members who left? If you are curious about their history and current activities, continue reading.
On May 30, 2012, AB Entertainment announced that UJI, Hyeyeon (Dami), and Haeryeong left EXID. They shared that UJI and Hyeyeon left to focus on their studies, and Haeryeong left to become an actress.((Chosun article about three members leaving the group: https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201205010100000060020467&servicedate=20120430)) That was the official statement.
On July 12, 2013, the three members who left EXID re-debuted in the new girl group BESTie under YNB Entertainment. The four-member group consisted of them and a fourth member named Dahye. UJI’s stage name was changed from “Yuji” to “U-JI”, and Hyeyeon started using her real name instead of “Dami”.((News article about BESTie’s debut: https://star.mbn.co.kr/view.php?no=543405&year=2013))
On September 5, 2017, it was announced that UJI and Dahye left the group BESTie.((Naver article about UJI and Dahye leaving the group: https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/now/article/112/0002954854)) The company never made a statement about the other two members leaving. Instead, activities tapered off then ceased.
Today, the three former members of EXID are active in their solo careers.
- UJI is active on her Instagram account @__yudidi_. Recently, she has started uploading song covers to her YouTube account <here>. She was also on the FC Rumor W soccer team with Jeonghwa in 2020.((Our article about FC Rumor W: https://leggonews.com/2020/08/12/jeonghwa-plays-soccer/))
- Hyeyeon (Dami) is active on her Instagram account @hyeyeon_official. She often uploads covers on her YouTube account <here>.
- Haeryeong also has an Instagram account @haeryung_na_. She has acted in several dramas.((Han Cinema page for Haeryung: https://www.hancinema.net/korean_Na_Hae-ryung-filmography.html))