JBJ in Produce 101 Season 2
Produce 101 is a Korean survival show that was created by Mnet in 2017. This show is about 101 male trainees from different agencies who will compete against each other in singing, dancing, or rapping to be able to debut in a boy band called WannaOne, with 11 members in it.
Before coming together as a group, each JBJ member was a participant of this show, where they worked really hard to be a member of WannaOne. Even though in the end, they didn’t make it, these boys already proved to the audience that they are very talented in many aspects and ways.
Here is a cut scene of JBJ members’ appearance in Produce 101 Season 2:
Debuting as JBJ
We mentioned earlier, Produce 101 Season 2 was held with the purpose of creating the 11-member band WannaOne, meaning that a lot of male trainees will fail to achieve getting a position in the band. This goes for the members of JBJ as participants of the show who didn’t make it to the top.
But despite their elimination, JBJ members had already captured the hearts of many fans, not just in Korea, but all around the world too, who earnestly wanted to see them together on the stage.
Unlike the other group, JBJ debuted in a unique way. It all started with a fanmade teaser with the seven members of the group, including Tae Hyun, Sag Gyun, Kenta, Jin Longguo (Yongguk), Hyun Bin, Dong Han, and Tae Dong who gathered some attention and interest from Produce 101 viewers and even gained support from various Korean communities online. The idea didn’t take long to reach the boys and agencies ears.
In early June 2017, the boys and agencies took into account the feedback and started discussing the possibility of fulfilling fans’ wishes. The path became clearer after CJ E&M a company behind Mnet and LOEN Entertainment expressed their interest to help their debut.
A piece of good news finally came on July 25th, from Fave Entertainment, a sub-company of LOEN Entertainment, announcing that everything has been set and they are the ones who will manage JBJ for the next seven months with a possible contract extension too if JBJ receives positive responses. But sadly, it was later reported that Tae Dong won’t be participating in JBJ due to an ongoing conflict between The Vibe Label and his own agency.
Two months later, JBJ had their first reality show called Just Be Joyful JBJ that was aired on M2 channel. This show was introducing their story and the preparations leading up to their debut. And finally, on October 18th, 2017, JBJ debuted with an extended play titled Fantasy. The first official performance was the next day at M! Countdown.
JBJ Group Disbandment
Despite JBJ’s extensive back and forth on the potential extending contracts, in the end, it was confirmed that the group will be disbanding. Here is the official statement, “7 months of promotions will conclude with the expiration of the management contract on April 30th.”
They also added, “Until now, the members, agencies, and staff went through honest and serious discussions for a long time regarding the expiration and extending of JBJ’s members’ contracts. Many opinions were changed and it was recognized that the members have to move to the next stage, each of their dreams and futures is also important.”
After this explanation, JBJ members then released their comment, “Although there is a lot of sadness and nervousness for the future, we accept our current individual situation. And with this, we know well that the only way to live up towards the support that we received is to work harder towards different dreams. We once again express our sincere gratitude to fans that allowed for a miracle to occur.”
And continued by saying, “We ask for your endless support and encouragement for the members of JBJ that are beginning on a new start line with a nervous heart and for each of our individual activities. We will work hard so that we can promise to improve in the future.”
JBJ also released a special song with a music video titled “Just Be Star.” The MV was about their clips of the group’s activities from their debut until the present, and it also shared the members’ farewell messages. Here is the MV:
In the Epilogue concert of JBJ, all the members were very emotional and each of them extended their personal goodbye to the fans.
Noh Tae Hyun vowed that this wasn’t the end of JBJ. Here is the clip and translation:
https://twitter.com/j_g_youtube/status/988026264773578752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E988026264773578752&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaboo.com%2Fnews%2Fjbj-members-say-last-goodbyes-officially-disband%2F
“First of all, the six members have gone through so much as well as our staff. I’m sorry, I don’t think this is the end! I will continue to believe that if you call our names any time, we’ll be able to come together just like today.” – Noh Tae Hyun.
Kenta asked all the fans to keep supporting them as they walk their separate paths.
https://twitter.com/j_g_youtube/status/988067862878142464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E988067862878142464&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaboo.com%2Fnews%2Fjbj-members-say-last-goodbyes-officially-disband%2F
“I’ve been happy for the past 7 months, thanks to everyone. I want to continue on with the members… I want to sing and dance in front of everyone. I want to be with our helpful staff forever. I want to continue to show this side of myself to all my friends and family who have cheered me on so far. Thank you for everything, I’ll miss you. The six of us will continue to work hard on our separate paths, so, I hope you’ll be able to cheer us on and be with us. I said this yesterday too, but I’ll never forget about these moments. I hope you won’t forget either. Thank you so much.” – Takada Kenta.
Not only he thanked the fans, but Sang Gyun thanked the staff who worked tirelessly to make everything happen as well.
https://twitter.com/j_g_youtube/status/988016049353195520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E988016049353195520&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaboo.com%2Fnews%2Fjbj-members-say-last-goodbyes-officially-disband%2F
“As we’ve said before, there’s always an end to a beginning, so I’ll say my goodbyes for today. Our Joyfuls, I’m sorry… no matter what everyone is doing… just as you’ve always cheered us on, we will continue to cheer you on wherever we are. Our members have worked hard until today, and our JBJ staff has worked hard as well. They’ve always missed seeing our performance because they were busy working in the backstage, but to see them watching us right now… it makes me realize that it is truly the end. I’ve been really happy thanks to Joyfuls (JBJ’s official fandom name), thank you.” – Kim Sang Gyun.
Longguo thanked their fans for allowing them to debut and live out their dreams.
https://twitter.com/j_g_youtube/status/988026714105135105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E988026714105135105&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaboo.com%2Fnews%2Fjbj-members-say-last-goodbyes-officially-disband%2F
“Thank you for allowing, not just me, but all six of us to debut… I pray it won’t be our last. Thank you.” – Longguo (Kim Yongguk).
Hyun Bin thanked all the fans who suffered every kind of weather to come and support them throughout the past 7 months.
https://twitter.com/j_g_youtube/status/988025645807489025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E988025645807489025&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaboo.com%2Fnews%2Fjbj-members-say-last-goodbyes-officially-disband%2F
“Our fans always worked hard for us. Even when we made a comeback during the coldest weather, the fans came to see us even though it must’ve been hard. Thank you for always loving us. I’m sincerely grateful for our Joyfuls who came to meet us until the very end. Thank you, from JBJ’s Kwon Hyun Bin.” – Kwon Hyun Bin.
And the last but not least, Kim Dong Han, the maknae.
https://twitter.com/j_g_youtube/status/988007087002157056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E988007087002157056&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.koreaboo.com%2Fnews%2Fjbj-members-say-last-goodbyes-officially-disband%2F
“I was able to promote as an idol and now it seems indescribable, I hope everyone will welcome us and support us no matter what path we walk in the future… I’ve tried with so many things and it was so fun. I’ll never forget this experience, thank you.” -Kim Dong Han
