CLC

* Korea
* Japan

Members| * Seunghee
* Seungyeon
* Yeeun
* Yujin
* Eunbin
* Yujin
* Elkie

**C**rysta**L** **C**lear known by their acronym **CLC** (Hangul:씨엘씨/Ssi El Ssi) was a girl group under **Cube Entertainment**. They debuted on March 19, 2015 with their EP **First Love** and the title track **Pepe**. The group originally consisted of 5 members: Seunghee, Yujin, Seungyeon, Sorn and Yeeun. 2 new members, Elkie and Eunbin were added in the new EP High Heels. CLC released their fandom name as **Cheshire** due to their logo being a cat.

Following Elkie's departure from Cube and Yujin's participation in the reality television show *Girls Planet 999*, on the second episode of the show, according to the latter herself on August 13, 2021, she revealed that Cube Entertainment had dismissed CLC and its members, leading viewers into speculating that the group had disbanded, with no official confirmation yet from Cube.

On May 20, 2022, Cube Entertainment announced that CLC has officially disbanded.

## History

### Debut and early releases

On March 19th, 2015, CLC officially debuted in Cube Entertainment with their first EP **First Love** and the title track **Pepe**. The group debuted with 5 members consisting of Seungyeon, Yeeun, Sorn, Yujin, and Seunghee. During the promotion of the EP, the group also performed their debut stage on M Countdown.

On April 16, 2015 CLC released their first digital single **Eighteen**. They started promoting quickly with a comeback stage already finished a day after the EP was released. Soon, the EP **Question** was released with its lead single **Curious (Like)**. A special version was released featuring Eighteen and First Love.

### Japanese Debut, New Members, Fandom

CLC's released its third mini album **Refresh** with the lead single **High Heels** on Feburary 29, 2016 with two new members: Elkie and Eunbin. While Elkie could promote with the rest of the group, Eunbin could not per Produce 101's contract restrictions. On February 29, the music video for High Heels without Eunbin was released.  The full version of the M/V inculding Eunbin was soon released on March 21.

On April 13th, 2016, the group released their first Japanese mini album **High Heels**. This album consists of the Japanese versions of Pepe, First Love, Like and High Heels.

CLC released their fourth Korean EP **Nu.Clear** on May 30, 2016 with the title track and leading single **No Oh Oh**. On July 27, 2016 CLC released their second Japanese EP **Chamisma**.

On Jun 21, 2016, CLC revealed the name and logo of their fandom ***Cheshire***. The fandom's logo has a purple and yellow colour scheme, which referenced the Cheshire cat from Disney's Alice in the Wonderland (1951).

### Crystyle and Free'sm

On Jan 17, 2017, CLC released their hip hop EP **Crystyle** with the leading single and title track **Hobgoblin** co-written by former Cube Entertainment turned P Nation artist HyunA. Although the EP had a much different sound than their previous releases, it turned out to be a huge success. The EP soon reached US music programme Billboard's World Albums chart at #6 while the title track peaked at #4 on the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart.  The EP is considered to be the turning point for CLC as it saw a dramatic change in the group, with future releases mostly having much more of a hip-hop, edgy, girl-crush feel every since.

On August 3, CLC released their newest EP **Free'sm** with the R&B ballad lead single **Where Are You?** and the performance/title track video **I Like It**. The EP had almost the exact opposite sound of the previous EP, creating a new fairy, elegant image for the group.

### Black Dress, Me, and Devil

On Feb 1, 2018, CLC released **To The Sky** as a pre-release track for the group's 7th EP **Black Dress** which featured the leading title track of the same name.

On Jan 30, 2019, CLC released their 8th EP **No.1** with the leading title track **No** written by Cube Entertainment artists Soyeon and Yeeun. During the promotion of the EP, the group finally made their first music show win on the music programme *The Show*.  The EP had also entered the Billboard World Albums list at #5, the Billboard Heatseekers Albums list at #19, the Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart at #4. As the Heatseekers Albums list includes very few KPOP acts, CLC became the first K-pop girl group to land on the list since Red Velvet‘s RBB in 2018. No.1 sold 1,000 copies in the week ending Jan. 31, according to Nielsen Music, marking their best U.S. sales week to date.

CLC released two digital singles **Me** and**Devil**respectively on May 29 and September 6, 2019. The two popular songs successfully got on the US music programme Billboards World Digital Song Sales chart at number 5 and 7 at debut. 'ME' had also became the second-best-selling K-pop song that past week in America behind BTS's 'Black Swan'.

### Logo change, Helicopter, Further activities

On August 19, 2020, CLC announced a change in their logo and official color. Compared to the original cute and innocent pink cat logo, the new logo gave off an elegant and strong vibe which matched the new direction of the group more. Soon, they also revealed the new official colors for the group and the new Cheshire logo. First, there is *Pantone 116 C*, which resembled the pleasant energy and positive image of CLC members. Second, there is Pantone 235 C, which resembled CLC’s more grown and mature tone. At last , there is Pantone 323 C which symbolizes CLC's wide and diverse musical spectrum like the blue, uncharted waters with no end beyond the deep sea. For the new fandom logo, it symbolically expresses the image of a Cheshire Cat’s tail.

Just a day after, DIVE Studios introduced their IDOL 42 Season 3's official hosts as the entire CLC group. On the radio show, viewers will get to know the members more through different activities.

On September 2, 2020, CLC came back with their highly anticipated first single album after an entire year with **Helicopter**, featuring the title track of the same name. The single album sold very well and became the highest-selling album of the group. The music video of the title track also broke all of the group's records by achieving more than 20 million views in less than four days.

For the promotion of *Helicopter*, CLC started to do a number of gigs such as appearing on BuzzFeed Celeb for a game of Who's Who, releasing promotional videos in collaboration with the Seongdong-gu district to promote the district's urban regeneration , singing the title track in multiple languages ,etc.

### Elkie and Sorn's Contract Termination and Departure from Cube and CLC

On December 25, 2020, member Elkie had sent a request to terminate her contract with Cube, citing a lack of support and development from the group. After Cube received the request, they had 14 days to respond her income statement before taking further action.

On February 3, 2021, it had been announced from Cube Entertainment that Elkie would be departing from the group and the record label following her contract termination and a mutual agreement between both parties. As of then, CLC will continue to do activities as a 6-member group.

On August 13, 2021, during the second episode of *Girls Planet 999*, it was revealed from Yujin that Cube Entertainment had dismissed CLC and its members, leading viewers into speculating that the group had disbanded, with no official confirmation yet from Cube. Additionally, on August 18, member Sorn returned to being an active YouTuber, albeit all her previous videos were deleted (which belonged to Cube) which Sorn ambiguously referred to as "letting go" but assures fans that she will create more new and fun memories from now on on her new journey.

On November 16, Cube Entertainment announced Sorn's departure from the agency and CLC following the termination of her contract in a mutual agreement between both parties.

### Seungyeon and Yeeun's departure from Cube and disbandment

On March 18, 2022, Cube Entertainment announced Seungyeon and Yeeun's departure from the agency after deciding not to renew their contracts.

On May 20, Cube Entertainment released a statement announcing that CLC has officially disbanded, and the operation of the CLC U CUBE would be terminated as of June 6.

## Discography

### Korean

#### Mini Albums

* First Love
* Question
* Refresh
* Nu.Clear
* Crystyle
* Free'sm
* Black Dress
* No.1

#### Digital Singles

* Eighteen
* To The Sky
* ME
* Devil
* Helicopter

### Mini Albums

* High Heels
* Chamisma

## References

1. ↑ [1]
2. ↑ CLC Reveals Official Fan Club Name
3. ↑ CLC’s Latest Album Makes Top 10 On Billboard World Albums Chart
4. ↑ '더쇼' CLC, 'NO'로 첫 1위.."팬들 감사" 눈물 [★밤TView]
5. ↑ [2]
6. ↑ #CLC #씨엘씨
7. ↑ CLC New CHESHIRE Logo & Official Colours
8. ↑ Introducing IDOL 42 Season 3's official hosts! Let's give a warm welcome to @CUBECLC
9. ↑ CLC More Than Triples Their Own 1st-Week Sales Record With “Helicopter”
10. ↑ CLC Plays Who's Who
11. ↑ 걸그룹 CLC, 서울 성동구 도시재생 홍보영상 공개
12. ↑ K-POP STARS sing in INA/THAI/TAG 🎤| CLC | TRANSONGLATION