Where Are K-Pop’s One-Hit Wonders Today?

A huge hit can be a double-edged sword for any artist! While it’s undoubtedly better than having no success at all, it’s often extremely tough to follow up that massive achievement with another. K-pop artists, in particular, have seen their fair share of groups who are forever associated with one viral or chart-topping song. In this post, we’ll dive into a few of these one-hit wonders in the K-pop world and find out where they are today.

Table of Contents

• Brave Girls and the Unexpected Success of “Rollin”
  • Early Years and Struggles
  • The Viral Breakthrough
  • Post-“Rollin” Challenges and Label Changes
• Crayon Pop and Their Viral “Bar Bar Bar”
  • Quirkiness from the Start
  • The “Bar Bar Bar” Phenomenon
  • Post-Peak Struggles
• Fifty Fifty and the TikTok Hit “Cupid”
  • Humble Debut and International Breakout
  • Legal Turmoil and a Splintered Group
  • Rebooting with New Members
• Conclusion

Brave Girls and the Unexpected Success of “Rollin”

Early Years and Struggles

A one-hit-wonder turned overnight sensation in 2021—that’s the story of Brave Girls and their track “Rollin.” The group’s dramatic turnaround began when a YouTuber, known as Viditor, uploaded a video compilation featuring Brave Girls performing “Rollin” at South Korean army bases. This seemingly simple act ended up playing a crucial role in reviving the group’s career. But how did they get to that point in the first place?

Brave Girls made their debut back in 2011 under Brave Entertainment as a five-member group. Their start was underwhelming, to say the least, as they struggled to gain any real traction in the K-pop scene. In 2016, the group underwent a major shake-up, relaunching with seven members. However, even with the new lineup, they still fell short of making it big. Over the years, they released five singles and two mini-albums, none of which generated significant commercial success.

In 2017, Brave Girls released “Rollin,” which barely registered on the charts at the time. A year later, they even put out a revamped version of the same song to thank the small but devoted fanbase that had supported them—yet the group’s popularity remained stagnant. Members began to leave, and by the time we rolled into 2020, only four of them—Minyoung, Youjeong, Eunji, and Yuna—were still holding on. Desperate for any gig, the group took up performances at military bases—a step seen as quite humble, if not borderline embarrassing, when compared to typical K-pop showcases on major music shows.

The Viral Breakthrough

Then, in 2021, that fateful clip of “Rollin” went viral. By now, it has amassed around 29 million views. The sudden surge in interest came as a shock not only to fans but to Brave Girls themselves. Just days before the clip began circulating, the members had met to discuss the possibility of disbanding due to their continued lack of success. As the video spread, so did the group’s popularity, leading them to re-promote “Rollin” on major music programs and appear at various festivals. Less than a month later, the song soared to number one on the South Korean charts, and it even climbed to the top of the Billboard K-pop 100 in the United States. Considering the track had originally been released four years earlier, this was practically unheard of.

The success of “Rollin” also propelled Brave Girls to achieve several year-end awards in 2021. They broke the record for the longest time between a girl group’s debut and their first music show win. The YouTuber responsible for the clip, Viditor, expressed equal shock, noting that they had made hundreds of K-pop compilations from military performances before—but none had resulted in such a massive response.

Post-“Rollin” Challenges and Label Changes

While the viral moment could have heralded a new era for the group, their label Brave Entertainment struggled to capitalize on the momentum. Subsequent comebacks failed to replicate the success of “Rollin.” After releasing the digital single “Goodbye,” Brave Girls parted ways with Brave Entertainment in February 2023. Many assumed the group was done for good, but it turned out to be a temporary break while they searched for a new label.

In April 2023, the four members signed with Warner Music Korea and rebranded themselves as BBGIRLS. They released a single album, but their promotions once again fizzled. After exiting Warner Music Korea the following year, the members launched their own BBGIRLS Company, where they announced that Yujeong would not be returning. Finally, in December 2024, Minyoung, Eunji, and Yuna signed with GLG Entertainment to continue as a trio. Their comeback single, “Love 2,” dropped on January 15, although questions remain about whether they can recreate the whirlwind success of “Rollin.”

Crayon Pop and Their Viral “Bar Bar Bar”

Quirkiness from the Start

While Brave Girls took a decade before hitting it big, Crayon Pop rocketed to stardom far earlier in their timeline, thanks to “Bar Bar Bar.” Formed under Chrome Entertainment in 2012, Crayon Pop consisted of five members: Geummi, Ellin, Choa, Way, and Soyul. Their debut album barely made a dent in the market, but they set themselves apart with helmet-and-tracksuit outfits and quirky performance styles—opting for fun and offbeat over sleek and glamorous.

The “Bar Bar Bar” Phenomenon

Initially released in June 2013, “Bar Bar Bar” did not blow up immediately. However, by late July, the song went viral, eventually topping Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100 and landing at No.3 on the Gaon Digital Chart. The famously low-budget music video—reportedly filmed for just $347—featured their now-iconic “Straight-Five Engine Dance,” a simple, eye-catching routine that fans found irresistibly catchy. With its repetitive lyrics and memorable choreography, “Bar Bar Bar” cemented Crayon Pop as a must-watch group during that summer.

The track’s success even led to a Sony Entertainment contract, propelling Crayon Pop toward a more global audience. Though they faced stiff competition on music shows—often losing to Exo’s “Growl”—the attention garnered by “Bar Bar Bar” brought in an estimated $2 million to Chrome Entertainment within a year.

Post-Peak Struggles

Despite their success, fans observed that Crayon Pop’s subsequent releases never quite matched the impact of “Bar Bar Bar.” The group continued to promote until 2017, when they announced an indefinite hiatus, effectively concluding most group activities. Soyul exited officially, married H.O.T member Moon Heejun, and later appeared on “The Return of Superman.” Geummi reportedly married and had two children, with some rumors placing her in the U.S. Ellin turned to streaming and social media but remained relatively low-profile.

The twin sisters, ChoA and Way, continued working in music and content creation. However, in October 2023, ChoA disclosed she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness during a routine pre-pregnancy checkup. She reassured fans that she’d passed several follow-up tests, though her January 2023 update revealed a heartfelt longing for normalcy and hopes for a future child. Sadly, even with some modest achievements following “Bar Bar Bar,” Crayon Pop remains best known for that single, epitomizing the one-hit wonder label in K-pop.

Fifty Fifty and the TikTok Hit “Cupid”

Humble Debut and International Breakout

Among the newest entrants to the one-hit wonder conversation is Fifty Fifty. Debuting on November 18, 2022, under the label Attrakt, they initially flew under the radar with members Saena, Aran, Sio, and Keena. Then came February 2023, and the single “Cupid” changed everything. The key to this overnight sensation? A fan-made sped-up version on TikTok, bolstered by a “Twin Version” that spread like wildfire.

With its catchy hook, upbeat vibe, and playful choreography, “Cupid” quickly became a global favorite on short-form video platforms. In no time, Fifty Fifty joined the ranks of the most-streamed K-pop girl groups on Spotify, with “Cupid” accruing over 954 million streams. They also became the fastest K-pop group to land on the US Billboard Hot 100—four months post-debut—and the first K-pop girl group to break into the top ten of the UK charts.

Legal Turmoil and a Splintered Group

The group’s sky-high success came crashing down in June 2023, when all four members attempted to suspend their contracts with Attrakt, alleging contractual violations, unclear finances, and medical negligence. Attrakt hit back with criminal charges against producer Ahn Sung-il and others from The Givers, claiming they manipulated the members into terminating their contracts.

A court eventually sided with Attrakt due to lack of evidence, triggering a major rift within Fifty Fifty. Keena withdrew her lawsuit and returned to the label, but Sio, Aran, and Saena persisted on a different path. On October 23, Attrakt terminated the contracts of the remaining three members, leaving Keena as the sole original member. She then represented the group alone at the Billboard Music Awards on October 29.

Rebooting with New Members

Determined to keep the brand alive, Attrakt introduced a second-generation Fifty Fifty with Keena plus four newcomers—Chanelle, Yewon, Hana, and Athena—who debuted via the mini album “Love Tune” on September 20, 2024. Meanwhile, Sio, Aran, and Saena joined another agency, Massive E&C, announcing plans to re-debut as Ablume in late 2025. Naturally, fans are split about which side they’ll support and whether any iteration can replicate the viral magic of “Cupid.”

Conclusion

The stories of Brave Girls, Crayon Pop, and Fifty Fifty reveal just how unpredictable the K-pop industry can be. Whether sparked by a viral compilation, a low-budget dance routine, or a TikTok sped-up track, each group found sudden, explosive popularity—only to face the uphill battle of following up that initial success or even just surviving internal and external pressures. Yet, K-pop is nothing if not surprising; at any moment, another unexpected twist can redefine a group’s trajectory. While some are destined to remain one-hit wonders, others just might have another big moment waiting around the corner.