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Showtime, NU'EST time! Hello, we are urban electro band, NU'EST.
(Showtime, NU'EST time! 안녕하세요, urban electro band, 뉴이스트입니다.)

—NU'EST

NU'EST (뉴이스트; an acronym for "New Establish Style Tempo") was a five-member boy group under Pledis Entertainment. They debuted on March 15, 2012 with their first single "Face".

Four of the members participated on Mnet's Produce 101 Season 2 in which only Minhyun made to the final 11 to become a member of Wanna One. From July 2017 to December 2018, the group promoted as a four-member sub-unit called NU'EST W in the absence of Minhyun.

The group effectively and officially disbanded on March 15, 2022 on their 10 year anniversary with JR, Aron and Ren leaving Pledis Entertainment on the 14th while Baekho and Minhyun renewed their contracts with the agency.[1]

History[]

Pre-debut[]

In March 2011, it was revealed that Pledis Entertainment was looking for the last member of their upcoming boy group, tentatively called After School Boys (애프터스쿨 보이즈), through a public audition.[2] On June 6, 2011, Dongho and Jonghyun were revealed as two of the members.[3] On June 29, 2011, it was revealed that the group would be debuting at the end of the year with 5–6 members while their official name would be decided soon.[4]

On November 21, 2011, a group photo was released for Pledis' charity album "Happy Pledis 2012 'Love Letter'", which was released on December 1, 2011.[5] The album's title track "Love Letter" was performed by Son Dam Bi and After School and featured Pledis Boys' Minhyun and Dongho and female trainees Ara, Hyelim, and Junghyun. The entire group was also featured in the music video for "Love Letter".

On December 29, 2011, the group held a special stage with After School at the SBS Gayo Daejeon.[6]

2012: Debut[]

On January 17, 2012, a teaser photo was released and revealed that the group would be debuting as a five-member ensemble and under their official name, NU'EST.[7]

2013: NU'EST M[]

On November 8, 2013, Pledis Entertainment announced they are currently working with Yue Hua Entertainment to prepare for the debut of NU'EST-M. The unit consists of all five members of NU'EST and one artist from Yue Hua, Jason. They held their debut stage and press conference on November 11, 2013.[8]

2014-2016: Japanese debut, Bridge the World, Canvas[]

On August 26, 2014, following the end of their tour in Japan, it was confirmed that NU'EST would be making their Japanese debut in the beginning of November.[9] The group released their first Japanese single "Shalala Ring" on November 5.

On May 20, 2015, NU'EST returned in Japan with their second Japanese single "Na.Na.Na.Namida".

The group released their first Japanese full length Bridge the World on November 15.

After completing their promotions in Japan, NU'EST returned with their fifth mini album Canvas on August 29, 2016.

2017–2018: Produce 101 Season 2, Minhyun's absence, NU'EST W[]

Four of the members participated on the reality survival show Produce 101 Season 2 while Aron did not participate due to leg recovery. Minhyun was the only member that made to the final 11 to promote with the project group Wanna One, while the other members formed the four-member subgroup NU'EST W (the W in the name means the group is waiting for him to return), as they released three mini albums between 2017 and 2018.

2019: Minhyun's return, Happily Ever After, The Table[]

Wanna One's contracts came to an end on December 31, 2018 and they officially disbanded on January 27, 2019. All five members of NU'EST then renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment.[10] Minhyun released his first digital single "Universe" on April 3 as a pre-release single for their sixth mini album Happily Ever After, released on April 29.

The group announced that they will make another comeback with their seventh mini album The Table on October 21.

2020: The Nocturne, Drive[]

Pledis stated an announcement in April that NU'EST is making another comeback with a new mini album, The Nocturne, on May 11.

NU'EST released their second Japanese studio album Drive on October 7.

2021: Aron's hiatus, Romanticize[]

On January 2, Aron announced that he would be going on a hiatus to focus on treatment after a medical review, as he has been experiencing symptoms of anxiety. The group will promote with four members.[11]

On April 11, Pledis announced that the group will make a comeback with their second full-length album, Romanticize, on April 19. It is their first in 7 years after the release of Re:Birth in 2014.[12]

On June 29, Aron announced on a special Naver V Live that his health improved and that he would be returning from his hiatus.[13]

2022: Needle & Bubble, disbandment[]

On February 28, 2022, Pledis Entertainment announced that NU'EST's contract would end on March 14, in which JR, Aron and Ren decided not to renew their exclusive contracts while Baekho and Minhyun would renew with the agency, and they would release one final album under the agency the same month.[14] Later that same day, with the news of contract expiration, the group confirmed their disbandment after sharing handwritten letters to their fans.[1] On March 2, it was announced that the best album Needle & Bubble, their final album, would be released on March 15 to mark the group's 10 year anniversary before disbanding.[15] On March 15, their 10 year anniversary, the group officially disbanded.

2023-2024: Group reunions[]

On September 23, 2023, all five members of NU'EST came back together since their disbandment and shared photos from their hangout.[16]

On the March 19, 2024 broadcast of After School Club, member Aron revealed that NU'EST would be getting together for a dinner to celebrate their 12th debut anniversary ahead of Minhyun's enlistment.[17]

Aftermath[]

All members made their solo debut:

Members[]

Member Position(s) Years active
Aron (아론) Lead Dancer, Lead Rapper, Vocalist 2012–2022
JR (제이알) Leader, Main Rapper, Main Dancer, Vocalist, Face of the Group 2012–2022
Baekho (백호) Main Vocalist 2012–2022
Minhyun (민현) Lead Vocalist, Visual 2012–2022
Ren (렌) Vocalist, Maknae 2012–2022
Pre-debut (as Pledis Boys)
Seungcheol (승철) N/A N/A
Doyun (도윤)

Sub-units[]

Table[]

Name NU'EST-M[n 1] NU'EST W
Aron Former Former
JR Former Former
Baekho Former Former
Minhyun Former
Ren Former Former

Discography[]

Korean[]

Studio albums[]

Best albums[]

Mini albums[]

Single albums[]

Digital singles[]

Special singles[]

Collaborations[]

Features[]

Japanese[]

Studio albums[]

Best albums[]

Singles[]

Digital singles[]

Taiwanese[]

Best albums[]

  • Smash Hits (2013)

Concerts[]

Fan concerts[]

Concert participations[]

Awards and nominations[]

Year Recipient Award Won
Asia Artist Awards
2021 NU'EST AAA Best Achievement Won[18]

Gallery[]

Main article: NU'EST/Gallery

Notes[]

  1. Jason was a exclusive member of the sub-unit.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Soompi: NU’EST Members Share Heartfelt Letters With Fans About Their Disbandment
  2. (KR) Chosun: '애프터스쿨 보이즈' 만들어진다..데뷔 임박
  3. Soompi: Kahee Reveals Two Members of After School Boys
  4. Soompi: After School Boys to Debut at Year’s End
  5. (KR) Hankyung: ‘애프터스쿨 보이즈’ 플레디스 보이즈 멤버 공개 ‘일곱명의 훈남들’
  6. (KR) Chosun: 플레디스 보이즈, 오늘(29일) 가요대전 통해 모습 전격 공개
  7. (KR) Chosun: 플레디스 보이즈, 남성 5인조 '뉴이스트(NU'EST)'로 데뷔
  8. Soompi: NU’EST To Debut In China As NU’EST-M With New Member
  9. Soompi: NU’EST Successfully Completes Japanese Tour, Japanese Debut Single to be Released in November
  10. Soompi: All 5 NU’EST Members Renew Contracts With Pledis Entertainment
  11. Soompi: NU’EST’s Aron To Temporarily Halt Activities Due To Health Concerns; Group To Promote With 4 Members
  12. Soompi: NU’EST Confirmed To Make Comeback With Full Album In April
  13. Soompi: NU’EST’s Aron Officially Announces Return From Hiatus
  14. Soompi: NU’EST’s JR, Aron, And Ren To Leave PLEDIS Entertainment + Baekho And Minhyun To Renew Contracts
  15. 뉴이스트(NU’EST) on Twitter: NU'EST The Best Album 'Needle & Bubble' 💿 2022.03.15 (https://weverse.onelink.me/qt3S/76d6ea94) (March 2, 2022 tweet)
  16. Soompi: NU’EST Members Reunite + Share Photos From Group Hangout
  17. Soompi: NU’EST Members Reunite For Group Hangout To Celebrate 12th Debut Anniversary
  18. Soompi: Winners Of The 2021 Asia Artist Awards

Official links[]

Korean
Japanese
Chinese