What is going on with VCHA? Cancellations, member hiatus and more

JYP Entertainment is known as one of the biggest entertainment companies in Korea, responsible for groups such as ‘Stray Kids’, ‘Wonder Girls’, and ‘Twice’. VCHA is also one of the brand's projects and is a joint project with America's Republic Records.

VCHA is a six-member girl group founded by JYP Entertainment in conjunction with Republic Records.

Image: JYP Entertainment

The members of VCHA are Lexi, Camila, Kendall, Savanna, KG, and Kaylee. All members of VCHA are American.

Image: JYP Entertainment

The member lineup is one that grabbed the attention of K-pop fans as it included non-Asian members Camilia, Savanna, and KG, which is a rare decision for a K-pop group.

Image: Official_VCHA / X

The formation of VCHA is a huge one for JYP Entertainment, as it marks an official collaboration with one of America’s biggest music companies. Republic Records has artists such as Drake, Anitta, and Ariana Grande under their label.

Before VCHA was formed, the members were selected from ‘A2K’, an American and Korean joint reality TV competition that was again, the brainchild of JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, reports Teen Vogue.

Image: Official_VCHA / X

‘A2K’, as reported in the same Teen Vogue article, was meant to select members for a joint K-pop project between JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, with the intent of forming a K-pop girl group meant for a global audience.

Image: Official_VCHA / X

Participants who won 'A2K' ended up on the final lineup of six for VCHA, which we know about today.

Image: Official_VCHA / X

Even before debuting, VCHA has released pre-debut albums. TenAsia reports that VCHA has two pre-debut albums under their name, ‘SeVit (New Light)’, and ‘Ready For The World’.

Image: Official_VCHA / X

The Korea Herald reports that VCHA released their first single on January 26, 2024, titled ‘Girls of the Year’, which put them on the Grammy’s watchlist for “25 Artists To Watch In 2024”!

Image: Official_VCHA / X

In March 2024, VCHA released their second single, titled ‘Only One’. With such fast releases, VCHA was on track to climb the K-pop charts this year until some events happened, which made K-pop fans think the group might be heading towards disbandment.

Image: Official_VCHA / X

Earlier in March, Koreaboo reported that VCHA member Kaylee would be going on an indefinite hiatus from the group due to her poor health. This could have been the beginning of a series of disastrous incidents for the girl group.

Image: JYP Entertainment

Allkpop reported that later in July, VCHA's performance at the Lollapalooza music festival had been inadvertently cancelled. The news started to worry many K-pop fans, who then speculated that the group might be heading towards disbandment.

Image: JYP Entertainment

Allkpop reports that netizens have also taken notice that VCHA has been inactive on their social media since June and last uploaded a YouTube video on their channel in April.

Image: JYP Entertainment

The online suspicion about VCHA disbanding was not unwarranted, as it is quite unusual for a female group from one of South Korea's top agencies to go unexpectedly inactive and cancel shows less than a year after debuting and releasing a new song.

Image: JYP Entertainment