LOONA

LOONA, also known as Girl of the Month and stylized as LOOΠΔ, is a twelve-member girl group formed by BlockBerry Creative. The group's English name is derived from rearranging the first consonants of the Hangul alphabet. The sequence “ㅇㄷㅇㅅㄴ” is transformed into “ㄴㅇㅇㄷㅅ,” forming the unique name LOOΠΔ. This naming concept is referenced in the intros of the group’s music videos. LOONA's debut promotions gained attention for their scale and strategy, introducing members individually over an extended period. From October 2016 to June 2018, each member was presented with a solo digital single and music video, alongside the formation of sub-units. The group debuted as a whole on August 19, 2018, with a concert titled "LOONAbirth," followed by the release of their debut mini-album, [+ +], on August 20, 2018. In March 2022, LOONA joined the second season of Mnet’s reality show [Queendom Puzzle](https://kpopping.com/survivalshows/2023-queendom-puzzle). Some members tested positive for COVID-19, preventing their participation in the show's first round. Despite this setback, the group placed second in the show's finale. Later that year, LOONA embarked on their first world tour, "LOONATHEWORLD," performing in various locations. The tour faced criticism after fans observed health issues among members due to its demanding schedule. On November 25, 2022, BlockBerry Creative announced the expulsion of member Chuu, which led to a legal dispute between the agency and the idol. Shortly after, all members except HyunJin and ViVi filed lawsuits to suspend their exclusive contracts, citing breaches of trust. On January 13, 2023, HeeJin, Kim Lip, JinSoul, and Choerry won their cases, while HaSeul, YeoJin, Yves, Go Won, and HyeJu lost theirs due to contractual provisions. In February 2023, HyunJin and ViVi also filed lawsuits against the agency. Fans speculated that HyunJin delayed her lawsuit to allow ViVi to resolve her visa status. On May 9, 2023, HyunJin and ViVi won their cases, and by June 16, 2023, it was confirmed that all members had successfully terminated their contracts with BlockBerry Creative. On July 17, 2023, JinSoul revealed in an interview that LOONA had not disbanded and expressed the group’s willingness to reunite as twelve members in the future.