Babymonster's Rami suspends activities due to health issues; YG returns to profit on same day
Agency posts $6.78 million Q1 operating profit as concerns rise over overworking high-performing rookie groups, particularly Babymonster
Rami, a member of K-pop girl group Babymonster, will temporarily suspend all activities due to health concerns, YG Entertainment announced Friday.
According to the agency, Rami will not participate in the remainder of the group's Asia tour, which begins in Singapore May 17 and runs through the end of June.
Currently on its first world tour, 'Hello Monsters,' the septet recently wrapped up its Japan leg and is scheduled to perform in Singapore, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Taipei.
'Since her debut, Rami has continued her activities while receiving ongoing treatment and care, despite persistent health issues, out of a strong desire to repay the love of her fans,' YG Entertainment said in a statement. 'However, as her condition showed little improvement, medical professionals recently advised her to suspend all activities and take complete rest.'
Babymonster will carry on with a six-member lineup. In the second half of the year, the tour will travel to North America with concerts scheduled in Toronto, Rosemont, Atlanta, Fort Worth, Oakland and Seattle.
'The members are working harder than ever to perfect the newly arranged performances, which will include additional cover songs,' the agency added. 'We ask for your continued support as the team does its best to fill Rami's absence.'
Rami's hiatus was announced the same day YG Entertainment reported its first-quarter earnings, prompting renewed questions about the agency's artist management and scheduling intensity.
The company posted 9.5 billion won ($6.78 million) in operating profit from January to March, marking a sharp turnaround from a 7 billion won ($5 million) operating loss in the same period last year — a 14.7 percent year-on-year increase.
YG Entertainment attributed the recovery to strong growth in its newer intellectual property, particularly rookie girl group Babymonster and boy band Treasure, both of which have received strategic investment since last year.
Launched in April 2024, Babymonster has released a debut EP, 'Babymons7er,' and an LP, 'Drip,' within its first year. With little downtime, the group held a two-show concert at KSPO Dome in Seoul in January — becoming the fastest female act to headline the venue, just eight months after its debut.
The group kicked off its world tour in North America in February with performances in Newark and Los Angeles. Following high demand, six additional North American shows were announced for August.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Korea celebrates first National Gugak Day, with diverse festival
'Gugak is core pillar of K-culture', says Minister Yu In-chon South Korea officially marked its first-ever National Gugak Day on June 5 with a series of cultural events designed to spotlight the continued relevance of traditional Korean music. Declared by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon during a commemorative ceremony at Gyeongbokgung, the new national day aims to bridge the past and present by raising public interest in gugak and activating the gugak-centered cultural industry. 'To promote gugak, revitalize its cultural industries, and elevate public awareness, we declare June 5 as National Gugak Day,' said the minister in his speech. 'With the enactment of the Gugak Promotion Act and the inaugural celebration today, I believe we've reached a significant milestone in the history of gugak.' He continued, 'Gugak has accompanied our lives for centuries, present at every moment of joy, sorrow and celebration. It has been preserved and developed across generations, arriving here today. Its growing global popularity as a core pillar of K-culture is thanks to the dedication of those who have quietly upheld its traditions.' Yu, now serving his second term as culture minister, also took a personal moment during the ceremony, noting that this would likely be his final official appearance before stepping down following the recent change in government. 'This may be the last time I address you at an official event like this. My heart is full of gratitude and emotion,' he said. June 5 was chosen for National Gugak Day to commemorate the first official record of yeominrak, meaning 'music enjoyed by the people,' which appeared in the Annals of King Sejong on this date in 1447. The day encapsulates the ethos of shared cultural heritage and aims to invite all citizens to appreciate and participate in Korea's traditional performing arts. To mark National Gugak Day and the broader Gugak Week running from June 5 to 30, a wide array of cultural events is taking place across the country. At Gyeongbokgung Palace's Geunjeongjeon Hall, audiences can experience a commemorative performance titled "Sound of the Heavens, Music of King Sejong (Sejongjo Hoerye-yeon)," while Gwanghwamun Square hosts the Yeominrak Grand Festival, featuring street parades of traditional nongak from six different regions, special performances, and interactive activities. Beyond Seoul, performances, educational programs, hands-on workshops, academic symposia, and conferences are being organized by regional gugak centers and cultural foundations nationwide, offering opportunities for the public to engage with Korea's traditional music heritage.
Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Lee Byung-hun to headline Korean dub cast for 'The King of Kings'
Record-breaking box office hit brings A-list voices to animated biblical epic Actor Lee Byung-hun will lend his voice to Charles Dickens in the Korean dubbing of "The King of Kings," joining a star-studded cast for the animated film that has become the highest-grossing Korean production in US box office history. Thursday's cast announcement by Mofac Studio revealed Jin Sun-kyu as Jesus, Lee Ha-nee as Catherine Dickens alongside Lee and Yang Dong-geun as Peter. Veteran actors Cha In-pyo (Pontius Pilate), Kwon Oh-joong (King Herod), and Jang Gwang (High Priest Caiaphas) round out the ensemble. The film follows Dickens and his son Walter exploring the life of Christ, based on the author's posthumously published work "The Life of Our Lord." Written and directed by Jang Seong-ho, the production had already turned heads with its A-list Hollywood voice cast featuring Pierce Brosnan, Oscar Isaac and Kenneth Branagh. The animated feature has emerged as an unexpected box office phenomenon since its April 11 release. It claimed second place in its opening week with $19.4 million, trailing only "A Minecraft Movie" while outpacing several major studio releases. By early June, "The King of Kings" had earned $60.2 million in the US and Canada, with worldwide gross reaching $67 million. It became the highest-grossing Korean film in North American box office history, surpassing "Parasite," which earned $53.8 million following its Oscar sweep in 2020.
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
SHINee's Taemin announces Japan arena tour
Taemin to hold 11 shows across Japan Taemin, the youngest member of veteran K-pop group SHINee and a successful soloist, is set to embark on a new arena tour in Japan, just five months after wrapping up his first solo world tour. The upcoming tour will kick off with three nights at Pia Arena MM in Kanagawa from Sept. 13 to 15. It will then continue across five Japanese cities, including Saga on Sept. 20 and 21, Shizuoka on Oct. 4 and 5, Chiba on Nov. 29 and 30 and Hyogo on Dec. 24 and 25, for a total of 11 shows. Eariler this year, Taemin successfully completed his first solo world tour 'Ephemeral Gaze,' which began in August 2024 on Korea's Yeongjongdo in Incheon at Inspire Arena and concluded with final shows in KSPO Dome in Seoul this April. The tour spanned 29 cities in 20 countries, marking a major milestone in his solo career. The upcoming Japan arena tour will include stops in cities that were not part of the world tour, offering new opportunities to connect with local fans. Meanwhile, SHINee recently celebrated its 17th anniversary with the release of the latest album "Poet | Artist." The group also held a three-day concert, 'SHINee WORLD Ⅶ [E.S.S.A.Y] (Every Stage Shines Around You),' at KSPO Dome in Seoul from May 23-25.
