Letters from Gugudan members after their disbandment
On December 31, 2020, four years and six months after debut, Gugudan have been officially disbanded.
Soon after their disbandment, some of the members shared their own feelings and expressed gratitude through letters about the group's disbandment and their upcoming future career.
1. Hana
"Dear friends,
Hello, this is gugudan’s Hana. At the end of the year, a precious time during which we wrap up the year, we’ve wound up having to convey sudden news. I feel very sorry and regretful. Do you remember the swelteringly hot summer of 2016? Even now, I can’t forget the first time that gugudan stepped on stage and met Danjjaks [gugudan’s official fandom]. I think I’ll remember it for the rest of my life. The days I spent as gugudan’s Hana, promoting together with the other members, were a truly precious time in my life.
After the news [of our disbandment] broke, many people sent us their unsparing support and encouragement about our hard work and struggles up until now. Of course, we weren’t able to smile every day, but because we had Danjjaks by our side, becoming a dependable pillar of strength for us, we were able to dream bigger, and we were happy. And because of that, I was even more worried about what to say in this message to you. In a situation where [Danjjaks] must have been more anxious than anyone, I wish I could have given you strength. I’m sorry.
When Danjjaks sent me messages saying that because I’m a strong and good person, just being my fan was enough to make them happy every day, I was actually the one who found strength [in your messages]. I hope you know that the reason I was able to become a stronger person and find strength, despite my shortcomings, was Danjjaks.
Today was a day when I recalled my past memories clearly, one page a time, as if I were looking through old photos. I’m grateful that when I think of my beloved gugudan members and Danjjaks, I find myself smiling instead of sighing. Although I’m extremely sad that due to COVID-19, we are unable to meet in person, please take care of your health, and I hope we can meet again in the future no matter what. To all of you who stayed by gugudan’s side, supporting and loving us like inseparable best friends, I sincerely thank you with all my heart.
Also, I love and miss you more than Danjjaks know.
I will work harder in the future so that I can repay the love you’ve given us. I love you, Danjjaks.
From gugudan’s Hana".
2. Sejeong
"Now that I’ve finally finished work, I can look back on things and share some words. I thought about writing a handwritten letter, but since I knew I would erase and rewrite a lot, so I’m just uploading it as text.
In 2014, I entered the practice room for the first time and exchanged awkward greetings with the other members. I remember how we first practiced together and all the moments that joined us into one team. All in all, it’s been about six years since we first began practicing together as a team.
In 2015, when I received an offer to appear in auditions for “Produce 101,” I remember telling the PD [producing director] that I wanted to debut with the other members and I had faith that we would debut soon, so I didn’t want to accept the offer. At some point, it just became obvious to me that I would make my start alongside these members. I had that much faith in our talent and I knew what amazing people they were.
I remember when I first became part of the debut lineup at the agency. I was just an ordinary student preparing to major in practical music. I had a strong individualistic streak that made it hard for me to blend in while singing or dancing in a girl group. Of course, I was also a girl going through puberty and being extremely stubborn. But it was the members who taught me how to relax, understand other people, and take care of the small things that are necessary when starting out in a job for the first time. Because of them, I felt with my whole heart that it would be fun if I could be in a team with these people.
Hana, who led me in even the smallest details when I didn’t yet know how to be a functioning member of society. Sojin [Soyee], whom I always feel apologetic toward because she always approached me first and I was too shy to reach back and created distance between us. Nayoung, who knows me so well that we don’t even need to speak. Hyeyeon, who was young then and has probably grown up a lot now, whose feelings I can understand. Haebin, who acted as a mentor to me and talked to us and tried to understand us. Mimi, who had a strong sense of responsibility for her position as the eldest member, and with whom I had a sense of distance because we were late in becoming friends, I am both grateful and sorry. Liu Xie Ning [Sally], whom I found cute because she was still learning Korean, but whom I feel apologetic and concerned about now because I wasn’t able to recognize her deep heart and her scars. Mina, who could have leaned on us more and complained more as the youngest member, but who catches my heart now because I feel like I stood in the way of that young mind too early.
gugudan, who could not help being precious to me, whom I cannot forget. Tomorrow, the effect of our name will fade, but I am trying to comfort my empty heart with the thought that the times we spent together and the memories only we know about will always stay on the page that we wrote together.
I am both happy for and sorry about the past four years and six months that we dreamed together of the same goal. All the stories and thoughts I have to share are too much to be written through words, and I don’t want other people to misunderstand and make presumptions about things that only we understand. Instead of listing them all, I want to say that I am sorry. Even if it was no one’s fault or intention, I want to say that I was always sorry to the members. And more than anything, I was grateful to them.
I will conclude this text with a message to Danjjak [fandom name]. As a young person, I felt that anyone who was not my family could not be forever on my side, so I put myself at a distance from you. But you opened my heart little by little and made me have faith that you are always on my side. I will swallow words like ‘I’m sorry,’ which will only cause them pain, and instead tell them that I have always been grateful to them and that they made me truly happy.
I love gugudan and Danjjak, who will remain forever as happy memories for me. (I wrote this quickly, so I’m sorry that it’s late and that the grammar and content is all over the place… I’m sorry. Thank you for reading this long message".
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