AOA

AOA, short for Ace of Angels, is a South Korean girl group formed in 2012 by FNC Entertainment. Originally an eight-member line-up, the group included Choa, Jimin, Yuna, Youkyung, Hyejeong, Mina, Seolhyun, and Dohwa. AOA debuted with a unique 'transformer' concept, alternating between band and dance performances. This concept featured seven members as "full angels" and Youkyung as a "half-angel/half-mortal," making them a "7+1" group. Their debut title track "Elvis" was released on July 30, 2012, followed by their second single album "Wanna Be" in October of the same year. In late 2012, a five-member band unit, AOA Black, was introduced, emphasizing their musical diversity. In 2013, AOA Black released their debut song "MOYA" as the dance group continued to climb the charts with "Confused" from their single album Red Motion. Their breakthrough came in 2014 with "Miniskirt," produced by Brave Brothers, ElephantKingdom, and Galactika. The song was a commercial success, reaching number 11 on the South Korean charts. AOA's popularity skyrocketed with subsequent releases like "Short Hair" and "Like a Cat," both of which landed in the Top 5. Their winning streak continued with "Heart Attack" in 2015, which peaked at number 2 and finished cementing their status in the K-pop scene. The group also branched out into the Japanese market, releasing the album Ace of Angels in 2015 and Runway in 2017. They continued to release music, including their third studio LP and first full-length Korean album, Angel's Knock, in 2017. However, their rise to fame was not without challenges. Choa left the group in 2017, followed by Mina in 2019. That year, the group issued their sixth EP New Moon, which went to number 3 on the Circle Albums Chart. In 2020, former member Mina accused Jimin of bullying, leading to Jimin's exit from the group and the entertainment industry.