Short n Sweet: A Brief History of PRISTIN
PRISTIN, originally known as Pledis Girlz, was a South Korean girl group formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2016. PRISTIN made their debut on March 21, 2017, with their EP Hi! PRISTIN and quickly gained attention for their self-produced music that showcased their talent at writing and composing. The group consisted of ten members: Nayoung, Roa, Yuha, Eunwoo, Rena, Kyulkyung, Yehana, Sungyeon, Xiyeon, and Kyla. Despite a promising start, the group disbanded on May 24, 2019, after only three of the ten members renewed their contracts with Pledis Entertainment.
Before their official debut, the members of PRISTIN were involved in various activities within their company. Xiyeon appeared in After School's music video for "Bang!" in 2010, and several members made cameos in music videos for Orange Caramel and SEVENTEEN. Many members appeared on the television show Produce 101, with Nayoung and Kyulkyung earning spots in the project girl group I.O.I before debuting with PRISTIN. During their time as Pledis Girlz, the group held weekly concerts and released the digital single "We," which was composed and written by the members themselves. Their final concert as Pledis Girlz was titled "Bye & Hi," after which they adopted the name PRISTIN, derived from "prismatic" and "elastin."
PRISTIN's official debut in 2017 was marked by the release of their mini-album Hi! PRISTIN and its title track "Wee Woo." The group's unique approach to blending rock and synth sounds with a lively pop style quickly set them apart in the K-pop scene. They became the first rookie girl group to perform their debut song on a live broadcast during Mnet Present.
Their follow-up mini-album Schxxl Out, featuring the single "We Like," continued to showcase their self-producing capabilities. However, member Kyla took a hiatus in October 2017 due to health issues, which impacted the group's activities.
In 2018, PRISTIN introduced a sub-unit called PRISTIN V, consisting of Nayoung, Roa, Eunwoo, Rena, and Kyulkyung. The sub-unit released the single album Like A V, further highlighting the versatility and talents of the members. Additionally, Kyulkyung made her solo debut with the Chinese digital single "Why." Despite these individual successes, PRISTIN's overall group activities remained minimal, leading to their eventual disbandment in 2019.
After the disbandment, several members pursued solo careers or joined new groups. Nayoung signed with Sublime Artist Agency for modeling and acting, while Roa, Yuha, Eunwoo, and Rena formed the girl group HINAPIA, which later disbanded due to the pandemic. Xiyeon pursued acting, signing with Sooyeongang Entertainment, and Kyla focused on her solo music career, releasing the mini-album Watch Me Glow. Kyulkyung continued her career in China amidst legal battles to terminate her contracts with Pledis Entertainment and XCSS Entertainment.
Even though their time together was relatively short, PRISTIN's legacy in K-pop remains notable for their self-producing talents and their brief but impactful presence in the industry.