F.T. Island: K-Pop Boy Group Disappointed With FNC Entertainment, Hongki And Label Disagree On Their Comeback
When it comes to K-pop idol groups, the ones most in the K-pop community know about are those signed to the big three: SM Entertainment, YG Entertainment, and JYP Entertainment. For some examples, SM Entertainment formed So Nyeo Shi Dae (better known as Girls’ Generation) and EXO, YG Entertainment formed Big Bang and 2NE1, and JYP Entertainment formed GOT7 and Twice. All the aforementioned K-pop idol groups are extremely popular more than others.
Despite this fact, this does not take away that smaller entertainment labels can form K-pop idol groups who can hang with those signed to the big three. Probably the biggest example of such is BTS, also known as Bangtan Boys or Bulletproof Boy Scouts. Just in 2015 alone, their label, Big Hit Entertainment, had more album sales in Korea than all the artists in YG Entertainment combined or JYP Entertainment combined. That on its own is a feat that is near impossible to accomplish yet BTS did.
Sadly, not all entertainment labels live up to the standards of what K-pop idol groups signed to them expect. That is the case with Five Treasure Island, better known as F.T. Island. Apparently, the K-pop boy group signed to FNC Entertainment is disappointed in their label. Not only that, there seems to be a dispute between one of F.T. Island’s members, Hongki, and FNC Entertainment on when F.T. Island will make their comeback.
“Our fans gifted candles to all of our company employees, but nobody has thanked us. I hate FNC.”
To be fair, Hongki’s statement could simply be him upset with FNC Entertainment and not the rest of F.T. Island. Over the years, Hongki has been notorious for criticizing his label especially for their poor promotions and advertisement of F.T. Island. Just last year, Hongki said that FNC Entertainment was dirty and cheap in accordance to F.T. Island’s new single at the time, “Puppy,” not being promoted, as reported by KpopStarz. However, it seems F.T. Island as a whole is becoming more upset with FNC Entertainment as seen when Jaejin said “they needed to leave the label as soon as possible.”
“We have to hurry and leave there. Seriously, nobody contacted us (after receiving the gift). It makes me mad.”
Presently, there is some disagreement between F.T. Island, specifically Hongki, and FNC Entertainment on the K-pop boy group’s comeback. Hongki recently posted on his official Instagram account an article talking about F.T. Island’s comeback happening next month in July. FNC Entertainment, on the other hand, is saying something different in a statement released to Korean news outlet Star News.
“F.T. Island is coming back in the second half of the year. But their comeback date is still unconfirmed. The members themselves talked about their comeback on ‘V’ app, and they’re talking about their comeback date with the label. The songs on the albums have to be prepared, so we can’t say for certain when they will come back. Please wait a little.”
It is sad to hear that F.T. Island and FNC Entertainment are having problems with each other. K-pop fans, especially Primadonnas (devoted fans of F.T. Island) are taking the side of F.T. Island because they notice there are hardly any promotions at all for the K-pop boy group. And just so it is known, FNC Entertainment knows how to promote groups. AOA (Ace of Angels) is signed to them and they are doing extremely well. Choa is starting to get her acting chops while Seolhyun is known for being a “CF Contract Queen.” All that was possible because FNC Entertainment promoted them well. Why aren’t they doing the same for F.T. Island?
[Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images]
