What Finally Convinced Leader CL To Bring 2NE1 Back Together?

Ever since splitting ways, 2NE1 members missed one another—but the reunion took a long time.

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In the latest episode of You Quiz On The Block, OG K-Pop queens 2NE1 members guested after successfully kicking off their Seoul leg of the “Welcome Back World Tour” in early October.

While discussing 2NE1’s career as one of South Korea’s most sensational K-Pop idols of their era, host Yoo Jae Suk then brought up 2016—the year when the members halted all group activities and focused on solo activities.

2NE1 on “You Quiz On The Block.” | *tvN*

Members Sandara Park, Park Bom, and Minzy all mentioned that navigating life outside the group was tough. Sandara Park, in particular, said that as she pursued different paths, like acting, going on entertainment programs, and even testing out musical theater, she missed her members a lot.

Yoo Jae Suk: It was in 2016. 2NE1 members decide to focus on pursuing solo careers. It must have been a time of great confusion and a lot of searching for answers.

Sandara Park: I think, of the members, I have been the most active in pursuing different kinds of solo activities. I tried acting, going on entertainment programs, and even trying my hand at musical theater, too. Whenever I felt like I had gotten used to something, I tried something different. Meeting new people and trying new things all the time? That was difficult for me, especially because I’m generally a shy person.

Park Bom: Yeah. Meeting hoobae idols after a long time… It reminded me of 2NE1 members a lot.

Yoo Jae Suk: I bet. It’s hard to realize when the group is active together. But once alone? That’s when it hits you.

Minzy: I realized it when I was a part of a girl group program with comedian Kim Sook unnie. Oh, I could not stop thinking about 2NE1 members. It made me realize how we each had such unique talents to bring to the group, in our positions. I noticed that it was 2NE1 members who really filled what I lacked.

So what took 2NE1 so long to come back together?

CL revealed her careful and reasonable thought process behind why, as 2NE1’s leader, she needed to bring the members together at the right time and with the right mindset. For CL, 2NE1 was never “over,” but she wanted all four members to be fully “okay and able” to gather back.

I thought, for us to come back as 2NE1, that I needed to be OK. That all four of us needed to be fully OK to be able to come back together. So, for me, it was about doing that work. I needed to be OK and needed to continue being OK… because, personally, I never once thought it was over for us or that we would stay apart forever. Back then, I couldn’t make any promises to the members, like ‘Yes, we’ll be back someday,’ because that would have been irresponsible, too. And that was tough, for sure. But I’m so grateful that all of us survived through it and made it here.

— CL

It was the 2022 Coachella performance where the full group return began shaping. Though the members had been getting together regularly, on Minzy’s birthday every year, for CL, it was 2022 that “felt right.”

2NE1 Disbanded “Without Proper Explanations” According To CL, And They’re Making Amends With Their Coachella Reunion

Up to four months ago, we were… at least in the ‘system,’ we were a disbanded group. And, you know, for even friends to come together and have one dinner together, it takes a lot of planning and scheduling. So, imagine the work that would go into bringing four members together. Still, we promised we would meet up at least once a year. So, on Minzy’s birthday each year, we got together and had dinner. That’s why I was able to invite the members to Coachella, too. I was invited by myself first. But the timing, it just felt right [to come back together].

— CL

And CL’s call had surely been right. 2NE1’s Coachella reunion led to a renewal photo shoot, and the photo shoot eventually led all the way to the world tour happening. To that, Sandara Park thanked CL for her true leadership!