After School (
Hangul
The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, . Hangul may also be written as following South Korea's standard Romanization. ( ) in South Korea and Chosŏn'gŭl in North Korea, is the modern official writing system for the Korean language. The let ...
: 애프터스쿨) is a South Korean
girl group
A girl group is a music act featuring several female singers who generally harmonize together. The term "girl group" is also used in a narrower sense in the United States to denote the wave of American female pop music singing groups, many of who ...
with an admissions and graduation concept formed by
Pledis Entertainment. As of December 2019, After School only has one member under the label. According to the group's website however,
Raina,
Lizzy, E-Young and Kaeun are still members of the group.
After School officially debuted in January 2009 with the song "AH!" from the single album ''
New Schoolgirl''. Following the addition of
Uee
Kim Yu-jin (born April 9, 1988), better known by her stage name Uee (sometimes romanized as U-), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of South Korean girl group After School from 2009 to 2017, and ...
in April of that year, they released "
Diva
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...
", which won the "Rookie of the Month" award at the
Cyworld Digital Music Awards
The Cyworld Digital Music Awards () was a South Korean music awards ceremony. It was established in 2006 to recognize songs with the largest monthly digital sales on the Cyworld social network service. Monthly awards were also given to popular so ...
.
Pledis Entertainment then announced the graduation of
Soyoung before adding Raina and
Nana
Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name
* Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname
* Nana ( ...
for the release of "
Because of You", which topped the monthly digital chart for December 2009. Follow-up singles "
Bang!", "
Shampoo
Shampoo () is a hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is used for cleaning hair. Less commonly, shampoo is available in solid bar format. Shampoo is used by applying it to wet hair, massaging the product into the ...
", "
Flashback" and "
First Love
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
" further consolidated their popularity and saw the additions of members Lizzy, E-Young and Kaeun, as well as the graduations of original members Bekah and
Kahi
KAHI (950 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Auburn, California, United States, the station serves the Auburn area. The station is owned by Relevant Radio; the KAHI Corporation programs the station under a time ...
. In 2010, the three newest members at that time formed the group's first subunit,
Orange Caramel
Orange Caramel () is the first subgroup of South Korean girl group After School. The subgroup was formed in 2010 with the third generation After School members Nana, Raina, and Lizzy. As of December 2019, Orange Caramel only has one member u ...
, and in 2011 a second subunit was formed when the group was split into two teams, A.S. Red and A.S. Blue, for the release of their fourth single album.
In the beginning of 2011, the group signed with
Avex Trax to begin their promotions in Japan.
The group made their first official appearance in Japan by collaborating with singer
Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro ( ; ja, 安室奈美恵, Amuro Namie, label=none; born September 20, 1977) is a Japanese former recording artist, producer, songwriter, dancer, model, actress and entrepreneur who was active between 1992 and 2018. A leading figure of ...
for a song from her collaboration album ''
Checkmate!'', titled "Make it Happen". The song won Best Collaboration at the
2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan. The group's debut single, a remake of their Korean hit "Bang!", was released in August that year and charted at number seven on the
Oricon Singles Chart
The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese music industry-standard singles popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Chart rankings are based on physical singles' sales. Until 2017, Oricon did not track download sales. In J ...
. Their debut Japanese album, ''
Playgirlz
''Playgirlz'' is the debut Japanese studio album of South Korean girl group After School, released on March 14, 2012 in Japan under Avex Trax. The album was released in three versions, a CD & DVD Limited Press Edition, a CD & DVD Edition and ...
,'' was released in 2012 and their second Japanese album, ''
Dress to Kill'', fronted by the
Shinichi Osawa
, also known by his stage name Mondo Grosso, is a Japanese musician, DJ, record producer and composer currently signed onto Avex Trax's Rhythm Zone label. Previously he was signed to Sony Music Japan's FEARLESS RECORDS division and released alb ...
produced singles "
Heaven
Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...
" and "
Shh", was released in 2014.
After School received attention for their unique live performances, often incorporating different performance styles into their songs, including drums,
tap dancing
Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor as a form of percussion. Two major variations on tap dance exist: rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap. Broadway tap focuses on dance; it is widely perfo ...
and
pole dancing. The group received the
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation in 2011 and was ranked number five in
''Billboard''s 2017 list of "Top 10 K-pop Girl Groups of the Past Decade". From 2015 onward, Pledis halted both After School and Orange Caramel promotions and the members have embarked on individual music, acting and modeling careers. In 2019, Lizzy revealed that all members had gradually gone their separate ways, however, the group has not officially disbanded.
History
Pre-debut
After School was first formed following
Kahi
KAHI (950 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Auburn, California, United States, the station serves the Auburn area. The station is owned by Relevant Radio; the KAHI Corporation programs the station under a time ...
's departure from Korean-American girl group S-Blush, as she began planning to produce a new group together with the current CEO of
Pledis Entertainment. The first member other than Kahi was Bekah, who was a trainee while Kahi was in S-Blush. With Kahi's recommendation, Bekah was brought from Hawaii to South Korea. They were then introduced to
Jungah, followed by
Soyoung and
Jooyeon, forming a five-member group.
After School as a group first made an unofficial appearance on December 29, 2008, at the
SBS Song Festival. Kahi and Jungah performed "Play Girlz" alongside
Son Dam Bi whilst the remaining members, Soyoung, Jooyeon, and Bekah served as backup dancers for Son Dam Bi's performance at the event.
2009: ''New Schoolgirl'', "Diva" and "Because of You"
In the beginning of 2009, a few days before After School's debut, Pledis Entertainment announced that the group's music concept was heavily influenced by the
Pussycat Dolls
Pussycat or Pussy Cat may refer to:
* Cat, a domestic feline
Music Bands
* Pussycat (band), a Dutch country and pop group
* The Pussycats, a 1960s Norwegian rock band
* The Pussycats, a group signed to Kama Sutra Records
Albums
* ''Pussy Cats'', ...
.
On January 15, the group released their debut single album ''New Schoolgirl''.
The album had three songs: the lead single "Ah!", "Play Girlz" and "Bad Guy" (나쁜놈). A teaser for their debut music video was released on the same day and gained over 100,000 views before its release the next day. On January 17, After School made their debut stage on television music program ''Music Core''.
Following promotional activities for "AH!", After School planned to continue to promote "Bad Guy" from their debut single ''New Schoolgirl''. However, the track was deemed unsuitable and was banned from broadcast because a word of profanity was in the lyrics.
![After School DNF Festival](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/After_School_DNF_Festival.jpg)
In April 2009, a new member,
Uee
Kim Yu-jin (born April 9, 1988), better known by her stage name Uee (sometimes romanized as U-), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of South Korean girl group After School from 2009 to 2017, and ...
, joined the group.
The group then released their second single, "
Diva
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...
"
on April 9, 2009.
They first performed the song on April 9, 2009, on ''M! Countdown''. After School went on to win the "Rookie of the Month" award for the month of April 2009 at the
Cyworld Digital Music Awards
The Cyworld Digital Music Awards () was a South Korean music awards ceremony. It was established in 2006 to recognize songs with the largest monthly digital sales on the Cyworld social network service. Monthly awards were also given to popular so ...
with the single.
On May 21, the group released a cover of
Morning Musume
, formerly simply and colloquially referred to as , are a Japanese girl group, holding the second highest overall single sales (of a female group) on the Oricon charts as of February 2012, with the Oricon record of most top ten singles with an ...
's "
Love Machine", entitled "Dream Girl".
In July, it was announced that the group would collaborate with
Son Dam-bi
Son Dam-bi (; born September 25, 1983) is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer. She began her career as a solo singer in 2007. She also made her acting debut in the 2009 Korean drama ''Dream.''
Career
Son first came to fame when she ...
for digital single "Amoled".
It was released on July 16, as part of a promotion deal with
Samsung
The Samsung Group (or simply Samsung) ( ko, 삼성 ) is a South Korean multinational manufacturing conglomerate headquartered in Samsung Town, Seoul, South Korea. It comprises numerous affiliated businesses, most of them united under the ...
.
After School also became the opening act for
The Pussycat Dolls
The Pussycat Dolls were an American girl group and dance ensemble, founded in Los Angeles, California, by choreographer Robin Antin in 1995 as a burlesque troupe. At the suggestion of Jimmy Iovine, Antin decided to take the burlesque troupe ...
's
Doll Domination Tour
The Doll Domination Tour was the second concert tour by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls. It was launched in support of their second studio album, ''Doll Domination'' (2008). The tour was announced in October 2008 with dates in Europe and ...
along with label-mate Son Dam-bi for the Asian dates of the tour.
On October 29, Soyoung officially graduated from the group to pursue an acting career. Two new members were then added to the group,
Raina and
Nana
Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name
* Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname
* Nana ( ...
.
On November 25, After School released their new single "
Because of You" which had exceeded over 30,000 pre-orders.
The song marked a change for the group to a more mature and sophisticated concept,
and became extremely popular, winning three
Mutizen awards for the group on SBS' Inkigayo.
2010: "Bang!" and Orange Caramel
At the start of 2010, the group won the Best Rookie Award at both the Billboard Japan Music Awards and
Seoul Music Awards
The Seoul Music Awards (; SMA) is a major South Korean music awards show presented by the newspaper ''Sports Seoul''. The award winners are selected based on a combination of criteria, including music sales, popular votes, and expert judges' op ...
. On March 25, After School released their third single album ''
Bang!''
with new member
Lizzy where the group took on a marching band concept. Kahi revealed that she was inspired after watching the American film ''
Drumline
Marching percussion instruments are instruments specially designed to be played while moving. This is achieved by attaching the drum(s) to a special harness (also called a carrier or rack) worn by the drummer, although not all marching bands us ...
'', and had always wanted to do a marching band concept ever since she took to the stage as an After School member. The group practiced playing the drums for five months with a trainer for the single. The title track entered the Gaon Weekly Chart at number 2 and reached number 29 on the 2010 Gaon year-end digital chart with 2,374,731 digital downloads sold.
In June 2010, Raina, Nana, and Lizzy formed a sub-unit, revealed to be named
Orange Caramel
Orange Caramel () is the first subgroup of South Korean girl group After School. The subgroup was formed in 2010 with the third generation After School members Nana, Raina, and Lizzy. As of December 2019, Orange Caramel only has one member u ...
, and released their first mini-album. Orange Caramel's concept was revealed to be more lighthearted and sweet, unlike many girl groups that have taken on darker, sexier concepts. Orange Caramel debuted on June 16, with the title track "Magic Girl". Their debut mini-album, ''The First Mini Album'', was released on June 21, 2010. The album was a commercial success, peaking at No. 2 on the
Gaon Chart
Gaon may refer to
* Gaon (Hebrew), a non-formal title given to certain Jewish Rabbis
** Geonim, presidents of the two great Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita
** Vilna Gaon, known as ''the'' Gaon of Vilnius.
* Gaon Music Chart, record chart ...
with the lead single "Magic Girl" peaking at No. 18. On December 6, 2010, Pledis Entertainment released ''
Happy Pledis 1st Album'' that consisted of four tracks: the title song "Love Love Love", "Someone Is You", and instrumental versions of the two songs. A portion of the profits from the album was donated to the "
Save the Children
The Save the Children Fund, commonly known as Save the Children, is an international non-governmental organization established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education, health care, and economic ...
" organization. Bekah did not take part nor participate in the promotions for this album due to her two-month break in Hawaii visiting her parents.
2011: ''Virgin'', line-up changes, Japanese debut and A.S. Red & Blue
On January 27, Pledis Entertainment announced that they had signed a contract with Japanese record label
AVEX TRAX for After School to begin activities in Japan by the end of March. After School started their Japanese activities by collaborating with Japanese
R&B superstar
Namie Amuro
Namie Amuro ( ; ja, 安室奈美恵, Amuro Namie, label=none; born September 20, 1977) is a Japanese former recording artist, producer, songwriter, dancer, model, actress and entrepreneur who was active between 1992 and 2018. A leading figure of ...
; featuring in the song "Make It Happen" for her collaboration album. This was the first release to include new member E-Young, who was previously revealed to the public during the group's performance of "''Bang!''" at SBS' Gayo Daejun on December 31, 2010. In March 2012, the song won Best Collaboration at the
2012 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.
After School's first studio album, ''
Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
'', was released on April 29 with new member E-Young. The title track, "Shampoo", was composed by Japanese producer
Daishi Dance
Daishi Dance (born in 1976) is a male Japanese DJ and record producer.
Summary
Daishi Dance performs in the heart of Sapporo, creating melodious house mixes that feature vocals conveying grief and discontent, and using three turn tables in a hyb ...
, and the music video was released later that day. The music video for "Let's Step Up", the intro track on the album, featured After School performing a tap-dance routine, which was praised internationally by tap dancers such as Joseph Wiggan. After School began promotions for the "Shampoo" starting with
KBS's ''
Music Bank
Music Bank may refer to:
* ''Music Bank'' (TV program), a South Korean music program by KBS
**''Music Bank World Tour
The ''Music Bank'' World Tour is a worldwide live concert tour of South Korean music show '' Music Bank'' by the Korean Broa ...
''. ''Virgin'' was released in the Philippines on July 23, 2011, along with ''Bang!'' and ''Happy Pledis 1st Album'', and it debuted at number one on the Philippines AstroChart, while ''Bang!'' debuted at number two and ''Happy Pledis 1st Album'' at number three.
![After School concert 2011 (2)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/After_School_concert_2011_%282%29.jpg)
In June 2011, After School made a cameo as a female idol group, Pure, in the Korean horror film ''
White: The Melody of the Curse''. They performed segments of their hit song, "Bang!". On June 17, 2011, Pledis Entertainment announced that original member Bekah was to 'graduate' from After School after concluding promotions for ''Virgin''. Bekah released her 'graduation' song "Take Me to the Place" on July 11. In July, Pledis Entertainment announced that After School would separate into two sub-units, A.S. Red & Blue, as part of the group's second comeback project for the year, with the units releasing "In the Night Sky" and "Wonder Boy" respectively. On July 9, After School held their second official Korean fan meeting at Sookmyung Women's University. 'Graduate' Bekah joined the fan meeting.
Prior to their official debut in Japan, After School held a showcase in Japan at Akasaka BLITZ in Tokyo on July 17, 2011, selling out tickets within one minute. After School officially debuted in Japan on August 17 with the release of their first Japanese single, "Bang!", which peaked at number seven on the ''
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
'' Weekly Chart. After School also participated in the prestigious 'a-nation' concert tour as part of their Japanese promotions. After School's second Japanese single, "
Diva
Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...
", was released on November 23. The single was accompanied with a new Japanese song called "Ready to Love".
''Happy Pledis 2011'' was released on December 1 and featured all Pledis artists, including Son Dam-bi and pre-debut
NU'EST
NU'EST (; short for New Establish Style Tempo) was a South Korean boy band formed and managed by Pledis Entertainment. The group consisted of five members: JR, Aron, Baekho, Minhyun and Ren. They debuted on March 15, 2012, with the single ...
(then called Pledis Boys). A portion of the "
Happy Pledis" earnings were donated to
UNICEF
UNICEF (), originally called the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in full, now officially United Nations Children's Fund, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Devel ...
, and the album was also a gift to the fans. The group also partnered with
Shibuya 109 for a Christmas advertising campaign. After School ended the year by headlining the
MTV EXIT
The MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign is a multimedia initiative produced by MTV EXIT Foundation (formerly known as the MTV Europe Foundation) to raise awareness and increase prevention of human trafficking and modern slavery. ...
live concert along with American band
The Click Five
The Click Five (often abbreviated as TC5) was an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. The original members, most of them students at Berklee College of Music, started on January 1, 2004, and played in various local venues. They then ...
on December 17, 2011, in
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh (; km, ភ្នំពេញ, ) is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since the French protectorate of Cambodia and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its economic, indus ...
, Cambodia.
2012: ''Playgirlz'', "Lady Luck/Dilly Dally", line-up changes and "Flashback"
After School's third Japanese single was a double A-side single consisting of two songs, "
Rambling Girls" and a Japanese remake of their 2009 hit "
Because of You". The single was released on January 25, 2012, and debuted at number six on the
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
Daily Singles Chart. The single then debuted at number seven on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart with sales of 12,110. Since then, the single has sold over 17,000 copies in Japan. On February 29, 2012, After School released a promotional digital single, "Just in Time", to promote the new album which was released the following month.
"Just in Time" is also used in a
Samantha Thavasa
Samantha Thavasa is a Japanese luxury fashion house founded in 1994 by Kazumasa Terada. The label is known primarily for its handbags popular among women in their twenties. Other accessory lines such as Samantha Thavasa Deluxe, Samantha Vega, S ...
commercial featuring After School, who are models for the fashion company.
![After School Guess party02](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/After_School_Guess_party02.jpg)
After School's first Japanese album, ''
Playgirlz
''Playgirlz'' is the debut Japanese studio album of South Korean girl group After School, released on March 14, 2012 in Japan under Avex Trax. The album was released in three versions, a CD & DVD Limited Press Edition, a CD & DVD Edition and ...
'', was released on March 14, 2012. The album contains all their Japanese singles plus a Japanese version of their latest Korean single, "Shampoo", and six original Japanese songs. The regular edition of the album also included a Japanese version of Orange Caramel's "Shanghai Romance" as a bonus track. The album debuted at number six on the ''
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nov ...
'' Daily Album Chart, with estimated sales of around 11,000 on the first day.
[ The album debuted at number eight on the ''Oricon'' Weekly Album Chart with sales of 16,000. On April 23, 2012, Avex Trax announced that After School would release their fourth Japanese single, "]Lady Luck/Dilly Dally
"'Lady Luck/Dilly Dally" is the fourth Japanese single from South Korean girl group After School. It is a double A-side single consisting of two a-sides and one b-side, the b-side being exclusive to the CD only edition. The single was scheduled t ...
", on June 13, 2012. The single is a double A-side single and the regular edition also contains an additional track, "Slow Love", which is the song used on the Eyefull Home commercial. The single debuted at number 3 on Oricon's Daily Singles Chart with sales of 7,648 and at number 6 on Oricon's Weekly Singles Chart with sales of 13,424 respectively. As of the end of 2012, the single has sold over 17,000 copies in Japan.
After School started their promotion tour for ''Playgirlz'' in late April. With a total of four dates, the tour kicked off at Zepp
The Zepp music halls are a group of Japanese music venues covering every area of the country. They play host to many international tours and are a popular stop among Japanese musicians. Each venue takes the Zepp name, along with the city in which ...
Tokyo on April 27, followed by Zepp Nagoya on April 28 and Namba, Osaka on April 30. The tour's first stop at Zepp Tokyo on April 27 marked the admission and first performance of new member Kaeun, who joined the group on stage to perform "Let's Do It" and the Japanese version of "Bang!". Kaeun continued to make appearances for the other stops on the tour. On June 5, Pledis Entertainment announced that Kahi would graduate from the group to pursue a solo career, as well as to study acting. After School's tour finished on June 17 at Tokyo Dome City Hall
The Tokyo Dome City Hall (TDC Hall) is a facility for sports, fashion shows, circuses, and live music, located inside Tokyo Dome City in Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), i ...
, which was also the last time Kahi performed with the group. She stayed with the group until September to help with promotion.
After School's fifth Korean single album, '' Flashback'', and a music video for the title track were released on June 20. This was the first release to include new member Kaeun, as well as being the first release to not include Kahi. Jungah, who was revealed to be the group's new leader after the departure of Kahi, said that the album's title refers to the group's desire to return to their original image and produce music for all ages.
2013–2015: "First Love", ''Dress to Kill'', line-up changes
After School held a fan meeting in Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
on February 23, 2013, and performed in front of over 3,000 fans. Due to the success of the fan meeting in Bangkok, After School held another fan meeting in Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
on March 30. This meeting was also held as a charity event with the proceeds from the ticket sales going to children in need. A total of 1,000,000 Taiwan dollars was raised for charity.
The group released their first compilation album, '' The Best of After School'', on March 27, 2013, along with their first live DVD of their Playgirlz Japanese concert. Their sixth Korean maxi-single, "First Love
First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1).
First or 1st may also refer to:
*World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement
Arts and media Music
* 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
", was released on June 13, and was produced by Brave Brothers
Kang Dong-chul (, born June 7, 1979), also known by his stage name Brave Brothers, is a South Korean rapper, record producer and songwriter for Brave Entertainment. He was a producer and composer for YG Entertainment from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, h ...
. This single marked the first time the group had worked with the producer since " Because of You" in 2009. Their fifth Japanese single "Heaven
Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...
", was released on October 2. "Heaven" debuted at number 6 on the Oricon Daily Singles Chart with over 18,596 copies sold during its debut week. On December 19, the music video for " Shh", the group's sixth Japanese single, was released on YouTube. On February 20, 2014, After School released a single titled "Week" in collaboration with Brave Brothers for his 10th anniversary project.
After School's second full-length Japanese album, '' Dress to Kill'', was released on March 19, 2014. The album has twelve tracks including "Heaven", "Shh", and "Ms. Independent", the title track. The album was released in three versions: a CD + DVD version which includes music videos and a special fanmeeting video, a CD version with a bonus track of the Japanese version of "Flashback", and another CD version (Mu-mo special) with the bonus track "Lucky Girl".
At the beginning of 2014, After School began filming a beauty variety show for KBS titled ''After School's Beauty Bible''. The show focused on the members becoming beauty editors and providing the viewers with information and tips about Korean beauty, with topics ranging from makeup to style and trends. The show became quite successful and aired in over 100 countries through KBS World
KBS World is the Korean Broadcasting System's international broadcasting service. It consists of KBS World Radio, KBS World television channel and KBS Korea.
History
The foreign-language radio broadcast from KBS (before its restructure into a ...
's YouTube channel. The second season of the show began airing in September. After School's second Japanese tour, "Dress to SHINE", began on November 21, 2014, in Tokyo and ended on November 24 in Osaka. On December 31, Jooyeon's contract with Pledis Entertainment expired, and she announced her graduation from After School that same day. Jooyeon continued to promote as a member of After School in Japan, as her contract with AVEX TRAX had not yet expired. After School released their music video for "Shine" on February 9, 2015, to promote their Japanese compilation album ''BEST
Best or The Best may refer to:
People
* Best (surname), people with the surname Best
* Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer
Companies and organizations
* Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain
* Best Lock Corporation ...
'' which was released on March 18. Jooyeon officially graduated from the group on March 20, at a fan-club event at Negishi Tokyo Cinema in Tokyo, held to promote the album, where she received her graduation diploma.
2016–2019: Line-up changes and solo endeavors
On January 28, 2016, Pledis Entertainment announced that Jungah had graduated from the group after seven years of activity due to the expiration of her contract. With the lack of group promotions, members Uee and Nana took a more active role as actresses. MBC's ''Marriage Contract'', starring Uee, began airing on March 5. In the drama, she played the character of Kang Hye-soo, a single mother with a terminal illness who enters into a contract marriage. In November, Uee starred in the MBC drama ''Night Light'', alongside Jin Goo
Jin Goo (born July 20, 1980) is a South Korean actor. He won Best Supporting Actor at the Grand Bell Awards and Blue Dragon Film Awards for his role in Bong Joon-ho's 2009 noir thriller ''Mother''. He is also known for his role in the critically ...
and Lee Yo-won. She played the character of a poor woman who is able to turn her life around with an opportunity. Nana made her acting debut in a support role in TvN's ''The Good Wife'', a Korean remake of the American drama of the same name, with the show debuting on July 8. On June 17, Raina's second duet with San E
Jung San (; born ), more commonly known by his stage name San E (), is a South Korean rapper. He debuted in 2010 under JYP Entertainment, where he was the label's first solo rapper. He left the company in 2013 to sign with hip hop label Brand Ne ...
, titled "Sugar and Me", was released, peaking at number five on the Gaon chart
Gaon may refer to
* Gaon (Hebrew), a non-formal title given to certain Jewish Rabbis
** Geonim, presidents of the two great Talmudic Academies of Sura and Pumbedita
** Vilna Gaon, known as ''the'' Gaon of Vilnius.
* Gaon Music Chart, record chart ...
. Lizzy joined the hosting lineup for FashionN's ''Please Take Care of My Vanity 2''. Kaeun had been focusing on her DJ gigs, and had confirmed an acting debut in pre-produced drama ''The Idolmaster KR'', which premiered in early 2017. E-Young opened a music academy on September 19, featuring piano, vocal, bass, and electric guitar lessons as well as dance and singing classes for those wishing to become idols.
On May 31, 2017, Pledis Entertainment announced that Uee had graduated from the group after eight years of activity due to the expiration of her contract. After School was to continue as five members for the first time in eight years since the group debuted. On May 1, 2018, Pledis Entertainment announced that Lizzy had graduated from After School after eight years of activity due to the expiration of her contract. Pledis Entertainment later stated that despite this, Lizzy would still continue to be a member of After School's subgroup, Orange Caramel. Days later, it was reported that Kaeun will be the center for the Korean group in " Nekkoya (Pick Me)", Mnet
M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...
's ''Produce 48
''Produce 48'' () was the third season of the South Korean reality competition series ''Produce 101''. It was a large-scale project in which the public "produces" a girl group by voting for members out of a pool of 96 contestants from South Kor ...
'' official song, confirming her participation in the show. Despite never leaving the top 12 during the show's run, and ranking 1st for more weeks than any other contestant, Kaeun placed 14th during the finale of ''Produce 48'' and therefore failed to make it to the final line-up. It was later revealed that Kaeun had placed 5th, making it into the final lineup, but was artificially removed from it via vote manipulation.
On May 15, 2019, Lizzy mentioned that After School members gradually went their separate ways. Kaeun and Raina left the group in July and December 2019, respectively, following their contract expiration. On July 5, 2019, Kaeun released "Remember You" (기억할게) her first digital single that marked her departure from Pledis Entertainment. In December 2019, E-Young announced on Instagram that she also left the group and company following her contract expiration and she is working on her solo album.
On June 3, 2021, members Jungah, Jooyeon, Bekah, Raina, and Kahi reunited as After School as part of a guest appearance on SBS' internet program ''MMTG'' for its special Hidden Gems segment. After deciding on "Bang" and "Diva" during the program, the five members performed the two songs as part of ''MMTGs Hidden Gems concert on June 12.
Members
After School has an admission-graduation system, where members are added or withdrawn in a "natural" manner.
;Current members
* Raina
*Nana
Nana, Nanna, Na Na or NANA may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Nana (given name), including a list of people and characters with the given name
* Nana (surname), including a list of people and characters with the surname
* Nana ( ...
* Lizzy
*E-Young
*Kaeun
;Former members
*Kahi
KAHI (950 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a news/talk format. Licensed to Auburn, California, United States, the station serves the Auburn area. The station is owned by Relevant Radio; the KAHI Corporation programs the station under a time ...
* Jungah
* Soyoung
* Jooyeon
*Uee
Kim Yu-jin (born April 9, 1988), better known by her stage name Uee (sometimes romanized as U-), is a South Korean singer and actress. She is best known for being a former member of South Korean girl group After School from 2009 to 2017, and ...
*Bekah
Timeline
ImageSize = width:800 height:300
PlotArea = left:75 bottom:20 top:10 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:01/17/2009 till:2022
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Colors =
id:a value:rgb(1,0,0) legend:FirstGeneration
id:b value:rgb(1,0.5,0) legend:SecondGeneration
id:c value:rgb(1,1,0) legend:ThirdGeneration
id:d value:rgb(0,1,0) legend:FourthGeneration
id:e value:rgb(0,0,1) legend:FifthGeneration
Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:2010 gridcolor:black
PlotData =
color:blue width:7 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from
bar:Soyoung from:start till:10/29/2009 Color:a
bar:Bekah from:start till:07/11/2011 Color:a
bar:Kahi from:start till:06/17/2012 Color:a
bar:Jooyeon from:start till:03/20/2015 Color:a
bar:Jungah from:start till:01/28/2016 Color:a
bar:Uee from:04/22/2009 till:05/31/2017 Color:b
bar:Raina from:11/21/2009 till:end Color:c
bar:Nana from:11/21/2009 till:end Color:c
bar:Lizzy from:03/25/2010 till:end Color:c
bar:E-Young from:12/31/2010 till:end Color:d
bar:Kaeun from:04/27/2012 till:end Color:e
Sub-units
Orange Caramel
Orange Caramel was the first After School unit group, consisting of Raina, Nana, and Lizzy. They debuted in June 2010 with "Magic Girl". Their last release, "The Gangnam Avenue", was released in 2014.
A.S. Red & Blue
A.S. Red & Blue were special unit groups decided by fan voting. The line-ups were finalized on July 11, 2011. A.S. Red consisted of Kahi, Jungah, Uee and Nana, while A.S. Blue consisted of Jooyeon, Raina, Lizzy, and E-Young. Two single albums were released on July 20, 2011. The ''Red'' single album had two songs, "In The Night Sky" (밤 하늘에 ''Bam Haneure'') and "Hollywood", and the ''Blue'' single album also had two songs, "Wonder Boy" and "Lady". NU'EST
NU'EST (; short for New Establish Style Tempo) was a South Korean boy band formed and managed by Pledis Entertainment. The group consisted of five members: JR, Aron, Baekho, Minhyun and Ren. They debuted on March 15, 2012, with the single ...
and Seventeen's S.Coups served as back-up dancers for the "Wonder Boy" music video and during live performances on stage.
Endorsements
In 2009, After School were the endorsement models for brands such as Samsung and Adidas, collaborating with label-mate Son Dam-bi
Son Dam-bi (; born September 25, 1983) is a South Korean singer, actress and entertainer. She began her career as a solo singer in 2007. She also made her acting debut in the 2009 Korean drama ''Dream.''
Career
Son first came to fame when she ...
for Samsung's Amoled. On June 29, 2011, After School became the models for The Saem Cosmetics alongside popular star Lee Seung Gi
Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.
He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...
. In September 2011, they became endorsement models fo
Landrover Shoes
with members Kahi, Juyeon, Uee and Nana releasing a commercial film for the brand. In August 2011, After School collaborated with Hello Kitty
, also known by her full name , is a fictional Character (arts), character created by Yuko Shimizu, currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. Sanrio depicts Hello Kitty as an Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphi ...
for the release of their Japanese debut single "Bang!", and again in 2012 for their first Japanese album, ''Playgirlz
''Playgirlz'' is the debut Japanese studio album of South Korean girl group After School, released on March 14, 2012 in Japan under Avex Trax. The album was released in three versions, a CD & DVD Limited Press Edition, a CD & DVD Edition and ...
''. They were also models for Shibuya109, starring in a Christmas campaign commercial where large banners featuring festive-themed photos of After School measuring 21 meters by 9 meters were plastered onto and inside the Shibuya 109 building.
In January 2012, After School was chosen as the endorsement models for Samantha Thavasa
Samantha Thavasa is a Japanese luxury fashion house founded in 1994 by Kazumasa Terada. The label is known primarily for its handbags popular among women in their twenties. Other accessory lines such as Samantha Thavasa Deluxe, Samantha Vega, S ...
. In April 2012, the group also became models for deodorant brand Rexena. They were also chosen as representatives for the Japanese food company Hanryuen and fashion brand CECIL McBEE. In February 2013, After School and label-mate Son Dam-bi became the new faces of the women's SPA (Specialty Private Apparel) brand Mixxo, and continued their collaboration with the brand in 2014. They were the endorsement models for Mixxo in the Korean, Chinese, and Japanese markets.Son Dam Bi and After School are the new muses of 'Mixxo'
February 22, 2013, allkpop
Discography
* ''
Virgin
Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...
'' (2011)
* ''
Playgirlz
''Playgirlz'' is the debut Japanese studio album of South Korean girl group After School, released on March 14, 2012 in Japan under Avex Trax. The album was released in three versions, a CD & DVD Limited Press Edition, a CD & DVD Edition and ...
'' (2012)
* ''
Dress to Kill'' (2014)
Filmography
;Reality shows
*2009: ''MTV Diary of After School''
*2010: ''Playgirlz School''
*2013–2014: ''After School's Beauty Bible''
*2014–2015: ''After School's Beauty Bible 2014 F/W''
;Dramas
*2009: ''
You're Beautiful
"You're Beautiful" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Blunt. It was written by Blunt, Sacha Skarbek and Amanda Ghost for Blunt's debut album, ''Back to Bedlam'' (2004). It was released as the third single of the album in 2005.
In t ...
''
*2016: "
The Good Wife
''The Good Wife'' is an American legal and political drama television series that aired on CBS from September 22, 2009, to May 8, 2016. It focuses on Alicia Florrick, the wife of the Cook County State's Attorney, who returns to her career in law ...
"
;Movies
*2011: ''
White: The Melody of the Curse''
;DVD
*2013: Afterschool First Japan Tour 2012 -Playgirlz- DVD
;Radio
*2012–2014: Afterschool Playgirlz Radio ~ 1st Japan Radio Show
Tours and concerts
;Headlining
*2012: ''Playgirlz 1st Japan Tour "PlayGirlz"''
*2014: ''Playgirlz 2nd Japan Tour "Dress to Shine"''
;Supporting
*2009: ''
Doll Domination Tour
The Doll Domination Tour was the second concert tour by American girl group The Pussycat Dolls. It was launched in support of their second studio album, ''Doll Domination'' (2008). The tour was announced in October 2008 with dates in Europe and ...
''
Awards and nominations
State honors
Notes
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
South Korean girl groups
Musical groups from Seoul
South Korean dance music groups
Pledis Entertainment artists
Musical groups established in 2009
Avex Trax artists
K-pop music groups
2009 establishments in South Korea