Cherry Bullet (Korean: 체리블렛; RR: cheri beullet) was a South Korean girl group formed and managed by FNC Entertainment. They debuted on January 21, 2019, with their first single album titled Let's Play Cherry Bullet. The group's final lineup was composed of seven members: Haeyoon, Yuju, Bora, Jiwon, Remi, Chaerin, and May. Originally consisting of ten members, Mirae, Kokoro, and Linlin left the group in December 2019.[1] They disbanded on April 22, 2024 after four out of the seven members terminated their contracts with FNC Entertainment.
Haeyoon was previously introduced as one of the female trainees to represent FNC Entertainment on the Mnet survival show, Produce 48 in 2018. She finished in 19th place and hence did not become a member of the produced girl group, Iz*One.[2]
Bora previously was a trainee at Music K Entertainment. Both she and fellow member Yuju appeared in BTS' Love Yourself: Her highlight reel, with Yuju also making an appearance in Honeyst's "Someone to Love" music video.[3]
Remi was a trainee with Avex Proworks and first appeared in the live-action segments of Pretty Rhythm: Dear My Future in 2012 as one of the Prism Mates but did not pass the audition to become an official member.[5] She modeled for Repipi Armario at Point 65th Fashion Show's 2014 Spring Collection.[6] Kokoro was also a student at Avex Artist Academy in Nagoya, Japan, and she was scouted by FNC Entertainment in 2016.[7]
2018–2020: Debut with Let's Play Cherry Bullet, members departure, and digital singles[edit]
The group's debut reality show Insider Channel Cherry Bullet premiered on November 28, 2018, on Mnet. The reality show was made to introduce the group and each of its 10 members to viewers.[8]
Their first single album, Let's Play Cherry Bullet was released on January 21, 2019, with consisted of the lead single "Q&A", and two other songs, "Violet" and "Stick Out". They held their debut showcase on the same day at YES24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.[9] On May 9, 2019, it was revealed that Cherry Bullet would come back on May 22 with their second single Love Adventure with lead single "Really Really".[10][11]
On December 13, 2019, FNC announced that Mirae, Kokoro, and Linlin had left the group and terminated their contracts for personal reasons.[12] The remaining members of Cherry Bullet would then continue as a seven-member group with no additional members, and Haeyoon would then take over as the new leader of the group.
The group released their first digital single "Hands Up" on February 11, 2020.[13][14] On August 6, 2020, Cherry Bullet made their comeback with the new digital single "Aloha Oe".[15]
On January 4, 2021, it was announced that Cherry Bullet have joined the social media platform Weverse.[16] The group released their first EP Cherry Rush and its lead single "Love So Sweet" on January 20.[17] On February 3, 2021, it was announced that Cherry Bullet would be managed by FNC Entertainment's new sub-label, FNC W, which is specialized for girl groups.[18]
Bora, Jiwon, and May took part in the Mnet survival show Girls Planet 999, which aired from August 6, 2021, to October 22, 2021.[19] Jiwon was eliminated in episode 8, finishing in 16th place in K-Group. May was eliminated in episode 11, finishing in 8th place in J-Group and 24th place overall. Bora was eliminated in the final episode, placing 9th in K-Group and 15th place overall.
On March 2, 2022, Cherry Bullet released their second EP Cherry Wish and its lead single "Love In Space".[20]
On March 7, 2023, Cherry Bullet released their third and final EP Cherry Dash, and its lead single "P.O.W! (Play On the World)".[21] On May 18, 2023, it was announced that members Bora, Jiwon, and Chaerin would be participating in the Mnet survival show Queendom Puzzle.[22] Chaerin was eliminated in the first elimination round in episode 7, while Jiwon and Bora were eliminated in the second elimination round in episode 9.[23][24]
On April 22, 2024, FNC Entertainment announced that the group had officially disbanded after members Haeyoon, Jiwon, Remi, and May terminated their exclusive contracts with the agency. Yuju, Bora, and Chaerin will remain under FNC for individual activities.[25]
Jiwon and Yuju were models for the Korean uniform brand Smart in 2018, alongside BTS.[26] The members were also selected to represent the brand in 2019.[27]
^Lee, Geum-jun (February 17, 2023). "체리블렛, 봄의 컴백 알린다…'P.O.W!'로 컴백 예고" [Cherry Bullet announces spring comeback... Announcing a comeback with ‘P.O.W!] (in Korean). EtNews. Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Naver.
^Gong, Mi-na (April 26, 2023). [단독]체리블렛 지원·채린·보라, '퀸덤 퍼즐' 합류…글로벌 인기 노란다 [[Exclusive] Cherry Bullet Jiwon, Chaerin, and Bora Join the 'Queendom Puzzle'... Global popularity.]. SpoTV News (in Korean). Retrieved April 26, 2023 – via Naver.
^Go, Ara (July 26, 2023). "'퀸덤퍼즐 탈락5人' 상아-채린-주이-서연-소은, 우리 다시 만나![엑's HD화보]" ['Queendom Puzzle 5 eliminated' Sang-A-Chae-Rin-Joo-Yi-Seo-Yeon-So-Eun, let's meet again! [X's HD pictorial]]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved August 8, 2023.
^Lee, Soo-hyun (August 9, 2023). "'퀸덤 퍼즐', 나나→휘서14인 파이널 진출…파이→보라7인 탈락" ['Queendom Puzzle', Nana → Huiseo advances to the 14-member final... Fye → Bora 7 eliminated]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved August 9, 2023.
^Cherry Dash (EP) (photobook). Cherry Bullet. South Korea: FNC W, Kakao Entertainment. 2023. Credits.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
