GFriend was a South Korean girl group that made a significant impact on the K-Pop industry. Formed by Source Music in 2015, the group initially consisted of six members: Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB, and Umji. They debuted with their first extended play, Season of Glass, on January 15, 2015, and rapidly gained popularity, even though they were from a small agency.
The group continued to enjoy commercial success the following year with their third EP, Snowflake, which included the lead single "Rough". The song won first place on numerous music shows, and the EP itself reached number 3 on the Gaon Album Chart, cementing GFriend's status as a rising star in the industry. In 2016, GFriend released their first studio album, LOL, which peaked at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.
The group's popularity continued to grow, with their fourth EP, The Awakening, receiving pre-orders of over 100,000 copies. The same year, GFriend released their fifth EP, Parallel, which was later re-issued under the title Rainbow. The EPs showcased the group's versatility and range as they explored different musical styles and themes.
In 2018, GFriend released their sixth EP, Time for the Moon Night, and a special EP, Sunny Summer. The group also made their official Japanese debut with the compilation album GFriend 1st Best and embarked on their first Asian tour. GFriend's second studio album, Time for Us, was released in 2019, followed by their seventh EP, Fever Season.
The group's final releases were part of the "回" series in 2020, which included two EPs and their third studio album. These releases demonstrated GFriend's musical maturity and growth, as they tackled more complex and introspective themes. In 2020, GFriend also became the first-ever girl group to be interviewed for the Grammy Mini Masterclass.
Unfortunately, on May 22, 2021, GFriend announced their disbandment, after all members left Source Music upon the conclusion of their contracts. Despite their relatively short career span, GFriend had a profound impact on the K-Pop industry, earning numerous accolades and setting a high bar for future girl groups.
