Hot Issue (Korean: 핫이슈; stylized in all caps) was a South Korean girl group formed by S2 Entertainment in 2021. The group consisted of seven members: Mayna, Nahyun, Hyeongshin, Dana, Yewon, Yebin, and Dain. The group debuted on April 28, 2021, with their first extended play (EP), Issue Maker.[1] The group officially disbanded on April 22, 2022.
The group name "Hot Issue" stands for Honest, Outstanding, and Terrific, and expresses a strong ambition to create honest and great issues in the music industry.[2]
Before they debuted, Dana was a former child actress, starring in the JTBC drama Happy Ending in 2012 and in the SBS drama One Well-Raised Daughter in 2013.[3][4] Mayna was a contestant on the Chinese survival show, Produce 101 China, but was eliminated in episode 7 after being ranked 52.[5]
On April 8, 2021, S2 Entertainment announced through social media networks that Hot Issue would debut on April 28, with "Gratata" being revealed as the lead single of Issue Maker on April 12.[6] On April 28, at 6 PM KST, their first EP, Issue Maker, was released along with the music video for "Gratata", with a debut showcase being held at Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul several hours before they debuted.[7] The next day, the group made their music show debut on Episode 707 of M! Countdown on April 29.[8]
On September 2, S2 Entertainment announced that Hot Issue would be making a comeback in September.[9] They released their first single album Icons on September 29, with the lead single of the same name.[10]
On April 22, 2022, after 4 months of no updates, S2 Entertainment announced that the group has officially disbanded, 6 days before their debut anniversary. The decision was made after a long period of discussion about their future and direction of the group.[11]
^Choo, Seung-hyun (April 8, 2021). "핫이슈 데뷔 프로모션 일정 공개…콘셉트 궁금증 ↑" [Hot Issue Debut Promotion Schedule Revealed...Concept Curiosity ↑]. Se Daily (in Korean). Retrieved April 14, 2021.
^Gong, Mi-na (March 16, 2021). "'홍승성 회장 설립' S2엔터, 1호 걸그룹 핫이슈4월 데뷔[공식]" ['Establishment of Chairman Hong Seung-seong' S2 Enter, No. 1 Girl Group Hot Issue Debut in April [Official]] (in Korean). Star News. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^Son, Hyo-jung (April 20, 2012). "'해피엔딩' 심혜진 "최민수와20년만에 부부로 재회 소감?친정 오빠 같다" ['Happy Ending' Shim Hye-jin "How do you feel about reuniting with Choi Min-soo as a married couple after 20 years? It's like a real brother"] (in Korean). TV Report. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^Choi, Jin-kyung (April 12, 2021). "걸그룹 핫이슈, 데뷔 초읽기…28일 '그라타타'" [Girl group Hot Issue, debut countdown...'Gratata' on the 28th]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved April 14, 2021.
^"[사진]'홍승성 그룹' 핫이슈 데뷔" [[Photo] 'Hong Seung-seong group' Hot Issue debut] (in Korean). Osen. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021 – via Chosun.
^Jimin, Kyung (September 2, 2021). "핫이슈, 9월 컴백 확정..'MZ세대 대표 걸그룹' 노린다 [공식]" [Hot Issue, comeback confirmed in September... Aiming for 'MZ Generation's representative girl group' [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^Sun, Mi-kyung (September 10, 2021). "핫이슈, 29일 컴백 확정..MZ세대 아이콘 노린다[공식]" [Hot Issue, comeback confirmed on the 29th.. Aiming at the MZ generation icon [Official]] (in Korean). Osen. Retrieved January 4, 2022 – via Naver.
^"핫이슈, 데뷔1년만 해체(전문)" [Hot Issue, disbanded after 1 year of debut]. Joy News24 (in Korean). April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
^"✨2021년을 빛낸✨ 올해의 <신인 여자아이돌> 후보를 소개합니다!" [✨Brightening up 2021✨ Introducing this year's <Rookie Idol> nominees!] (in Korean). Korea Consumer Forum. June 21, 2021. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 22, 2021 – via Twitter.
