On February 14, 2012, the original six members of EXID got on stage for the first time. On the square in front of Woori Bank in Meyong-dong, they performed their title song “Whoz That Girl”, a cover of BEAST’s “Fiction”, then “Whenever You Play That Song”.((Newsen article about EXID’s debut performance: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201202141920401002))
Two days later, on February 16, EXID’s debut single “Holla” was released.((Newsen article about EXID’s debut performance: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201202141920401002))
The original members are UJI, Hyeyeon (Dami), ELLY, Hani, Haeryeong, and Jeonghwa. They debuted under the company AB Entertainment with the famous producer Shinsadong Tiger.((Newsen article about EXID’s debut performance: https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=201202141920401002))
Leading Up To Debut
Teasers started in December 2011.((Star News December 2, 1011 article about the upcoming girl group: https://star.mt.co.kr/stview.php?no=2011120106173570770&type=1&outlink=1)) On December 4, 2011, Tiger tweeted a couple of pictures of the new group with their backs turned away. He asked everyone to look forward to the fun content that he and his tiger cubs will create.((Blog entry about Shinsadong Tiger’s tweet about EXID: https://blog.daum.net/5625081/1726))
The group was supposed to debut in January, but that plan had to be postponed due to an injury that ELLY suffered. She stretched a ligament while practicing dance.((E-Daily article about EXID’s debut: https://www.edaily.co.kr/news/read?newsId=01111926599428880&mediaCodeNo=258))
On February 3, teaser posters were discovered around central Seoul. AB Entertainment said that they wanted to meet the public in a special way, so they chose the guerrilla teaser posters for the first meeting.((Joy News 24 article about the EXID posters around Seoul: https://m.joynews24.com/v/634712))
Finally on February 14th, they performed on the square in front of Woori Bank. See the videos of that performance at the beginning of this article.((Star Daily News article about EXID’s debut: https://www.mk.co.kr/star/musics/view/2012/02/99001/))
The Members Who Left
As most fans know, the original lineup did not last. The current group consists of Solji, ELLY, Hani, Hyerin, and Jeonghwa. Our focus at LEGGO News is on the current members of EXID, so we do not often get a chance to write about the three who left.
This is the history of the three members who left EXID:
On May 30, 2012, AB Entertainment announced that UJI, Hyeyeon (Dami), and Haeryeong had left EXID. The official statement is that UJI and Hyeyeon left to focus on their studies and that Haeryeong left to become an actress.((Chosun article about three members leaving EXID: https://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201205010100000060020467&servicedate=20120430))
On July 12, 2013, the three members who left EXID redebuted in the girl group BESTie under YNB Entertainment. A fourth member named Dahye completed the lineup.((News article about BESTie’s debut: https://star.mbn.co.kr/view.php?no=543405&year=2013))
On September 5, 2017, YNB Entertainment announced that UJI and Dahye had left the group.((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.
Recently, the three former members have been active in their solo careers:
- UJI recently performed in the musicals “Jekyll and Hyde” and “Marie Antoinette”. She often posts on Instagram and looks especially stylish in her pictures. On her YouTube channel, she uploads covers and the occasional Vlog.
- Hyeyeon (Dami) is an active solo artist. She released several songs with music videos last year, and she chats with fans and sings covers on her YouTube livestreams. Recently, she appears in the television show “Hometown Report”.
- Haeryeong has an Instagram account with frequent updates. She has also acted in several dramas.((Han Cinema page for Haeryung: https://www.hancinema.net/korean_Na_Hae-ryung-filmography.html))
The Members Who Stayed
The members who remained after May 2012 were soon joined by the new members Solji and Hyelin. They debuted in EXID on August 13, 2012 and are still together today. Solji, ELLY, Hani, Hyelin, and Jeonghwa. Follow our updates at LEGGO News for news about their activities.