Chuu former member of the Kpop girl group Loona has recently signed up with a new agency after getting removed from Loona by BlockBerry Creative. Chuu was originally a member of the girl group Loona which debuted in 2016. Chuu’s removal from BlockBerry Creative has been a controversial matter since 2022 in Kpop. We all know how cool and good music Kpop idols make. And their choreography is always cherry on the top. But do we know all the truth or struggles our idols have to face behind this?
The departure of Loona’s Chuu the previous year opened up almost everyone’s eyes and presented us with another cruel reality of some companies like BlockBerry Creative and their mistreatment toward artists or even trainees. Chuu’s departure was a kind of warning to such companies that their black marketing can be revealed anytime no matter how much they try to dig it under the soil.
Let’s revise who are Loona
Loona is originally twelve member girl group formed by BlockBerry Creative. The group consists of HyunJin, Haseul, Vivi, Heejin, Yves, Yeojin, Chuu, Kim Lip, Go Won, Olivia Hye, Jinsoul, and Choerry. Loona’s fans are called Orbit isn’t it very pretty and cute? Unlike other Kpop groups’ debut, Loona started their pre-debut in 2016 and debuted as a whole in 2018. In their pre-debut project, BlockBerry Creative revealed all the members one by one with the release of promotional singles. Loona before debuting as a group released a pre-debut track titled “Favourite” on 7 August 2018 featuring all twelve members.
And On 20 August 2018, Loona featuring all twelve members officially debuted with extended play [+ +] (reads as “plus plus”). Later in 2020, Loona released two more EP’s [&] and [12:00], which later won many titles. But Loona’s leader HaSeul couldn’t participate in Loona’s promotional activities in 2020 due to her health issue, although her vocals are featured in a few songs of EP’s. In 2021 the group made a comeback with their fourth EP [&] showcasing all twelve members, confirming HaSeul’s return to Loona.
The girls gifted Orbits with their summer special EP “Flip That” on 20 June 2022. On 12 December 2022, BlockBerry Creative announced Loona will come back with the sixth EP [0] on January 2023, which was of course postponed for an indefinite period, due to members of Loona filling legal injunction to suspend their contract with BlockBerry Creative. This brings Orbits to light the mistreatment of members by the company.
Also Read: Loona: What Do We Know About The Members?
Chuu’s Introduction and Her Injunction
Chuu’s real name is Kim Ji-Woo, a South Korean singer and television personality. She is a member of the former girl group Loona. Chuu is the most famous member of Loona compared to other members as her pre-debut solo song “Heart Attack” gained a lot of popularity.
She has done a lot of solo activities besides group activities and is popularly known for her super friendly and extroverted behaviour in variety shows. Chuu was not only recognized by her fans but also by non-fans because of her various appearances in variety shows. Following up her popularity she was a host of her YouTube series name Chuu Can Do It aka Chuu Protect the Earth. On 25 November 2022, BlockBerry Creative removed Chuu from Loona accusing her as a bully, who abuse staff members and use verbal speech. This accusation made by BlockBeery Creative was pretty lame as they couldn’t provide any evidence of it plus Chuu’s fans and co-workers who have worked with Chuu before defended her. In January 2022, Chuu herself came up and filed a provisional injunction to suspend her contract with BlockBerry Creative. And in Mach court sided with Chuu.
Chuu Continuing Her Career with a New Start.
𝙸'𝚖 𝙲𝚑𝚞𝚞. 𝙰 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚛.#welcomeCHUU #CHUU #츄 pic.twitter.com/CRs9cJ5Vc1
— CHUU (@chuu_atrp) April 7, 2023
Chuu recently signed up with a new company named ATRP. ATRP released an official statement on 7 April 2023 confirming the news. The complete statement released by ARTP reads as:
We are very happy to welcome Chuu as our agency’s first artist. We will give full support so that Chuu, who has unlimited potential, can fully display her talent as an artist and continue her activities enjoyably and happily. Please show lots of support and interest for Chuu who is taking a new leap.”
ARTP is a new entertainment company created by CEO Kim Jin-Mi, who served as a general director at WM Entertainment. WM Entertainment is the agency behind the debut of popular groups B1A4, Oh My Girl and ONF. ARTP CEO Kim Jin-Mi believes ARTP will lead an independent expansion of K-pop worldwide.
Also Read: Woo!ah! Kpop Girl Group Members: All About Them
BlockBerry Creatives Attempts to Bring Down Chuu.
Chuu’s removal from BlockBerry Creative has become a highly controversial matter in Kpop. On 25 November 2022, BlockBerry Creative released a statement regarding Chuu’s removal from Loona from the group’s fan cafe. The statement reads Chuu will be removed from Loona due to allegations of power abuse, including verbally abusive language toward staff. But for not providing any proof of Chua’s abusing staff, the allegation made by BBC ( BlockBerry Creative) is baseless.
Since Chuu had to do solo activities along with her activities as a member of Loona, it was obvious Chuu should be paid more than she deserves, but that wasn’t the case. BlockBerry Creative was making her overworking without paying properly which was later revealed by Dispatch.
Even after all this, BlockBerry Creative petitioned to Korea Entertainment Management Association (CEMA) on December 2022 to ban Chuu from all kinds of entertainment activities. The company claimed Chuu violated the terms of the contract by signing with a new label BY4MSTUDIO. Later on, on April 4 CEMA choose to side with Chuu and dismissed BlockBerry Creative petition due to lack of evidence.
BlockBerry Creative tried all means to tarnish Chuu’s image publicly but it’s the public who defended Chuu and took sides with the fair one.
Also Read: LOONA’s Chuu Files Lawsuit Against Blockberry Creative – Suspension of Her Contract
The Departure of Members of Loona one by one.
It was pretty obvious by now that BlockBerry Creative wasn’t only mistreating but also the rest of the other members. Loona member Yeonjin revealed on September 2023 on their fan app called Fab, that the group hasn’t been paid by the company since their debut.
After Chuu’s departure, the other nine members Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul, Choery, Haseul, Yeonjin, Yves and Go Won and Olivia Hye filed an injunction to suspend the contract with their agency BlockBerry Creative. Out of nine four members (Heejin, Kim Lip, Jinsoul and Cherry) have won the lawsuit finding that their contract stipulates the same terms as Chuu, while the rest members are still trying to suspend their contract with BlockBerry Creative as soon as possible.
Hope our Loona members can end their contracts with BlockBerry Creative and start their careers independently without any binds or rules from BlockBerry Creative. Orbit has always been supportive so far and wishes only the best for the girls.
Also Read: Otakukart’s Top 15 Best Kpop Girl Group Members Of 2022
