After seven years, eight mini albums, and one studio album, K-pop boy group CIX will officially disband on April 30, concluding group activities upon the four members’ contract expirations. Throughout their tenure together – first as a quintet and later on, as a quartet – the group has had several career defining moments.From their buzzworthy debut to two epic album trilogies, here’s a look at some of CIX’s most iconic moments over the years.

In 2019, the five-member group (consisting of members Bae Jinyoung, BX, Seunghun, Yonghee, and Hyunsuk) kicked off their debut with an understated splash in “Movie Star,” a sleek dance-pop track with elements of contemporary R&B and future house, earning the quintet its first music show win within seven days after debuting, making CIX only the second K-pop group to do so after WINNER in 2014. With its synth-heavy production, seductive choreography, and an instantly catchy hook, “Movie Star” became widely accepted and praised as one of the best debuts of 2019.

The single’s coinciding album, Hello Chapter 1: Hello, Stranger, also went on to become a commercial success, selling over 70,000 copies in two months. Likewise, the group’s debut showcase reportedly sold out within 30 seconds, with over 16,000 fans trying to get on the server at once. While this was certainly a testament to how well-received the group was right out of the gate, it also didn’t hurt that the group’s main dancer, Bae Jinyoung, was a former member of popular project group WANNA ONE before joining CIX – drawing in even more hype and interest from day one.

Sonically, much of CIX’s early discography, especially in their first four EPs (also known as the HELLO series), has drawn several similarities to that of third-gen veteran group EXO – a comparison that many in the K-pop community do not take lightly. With seamless transitions between dark and brooding R&B, dramatic pop, and electro-hop, and even a bit of funk, fans immediately picked up on the EXO influences and were impressed with how well the members executed these styles with such panache.

The parallels weren’t a coincidence, however, considering several of CIX’s main producers and songwriters had laid the groundwork for some of EXO’s most notable tracks between 2016 and 2018. While being compared to K-pop legends could be detrimental for some groups – especially if they’re unable to match the same level of finesse – it evidently worked wonders for CIX, with many dedicated EXO-Ls tuning in to show their support. With K-pop’s up-and-coming fourth generation of idols underway, and many of them proving to become heavy hitters, CIX was holding their own and showing they had what it took to compete with the best of the best.

While CIX enjoyed mild success with their second and third EPs, it wasn’t until 2021 that the group experienced another breakthrough with “Cinema.” Released as the title track for the quintet’s Hello Chapter Ø :Hello, Strange Dream, “Cinema” deviated from CIX’s darker tones, and opted for a bright retro-inspired sound instead. With its lush synth-pop chords and feel-good aura, the song quickly rose the ranks as a fan-favorite, before going on to become a critical success – both Billboardand TIME listed “Cinema” as one of the standout K-pop releases of 2021. From then on, it was clear that CIX wasn’t going to let themselves be defined by one style; they had only just scratched the surface of their versatility.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t just CIX’s music that captured audiences – it was also their brutally honest and vulnerable themes. In the group’s second EP, Hello Chapter 2: Hello, Strange Place, the members tackle social issues among South Korea’s youth in their lead single, “Numb,” including themes of bullying, poor mental health, and students’ obsession with test results in school. Through intricately written and directed story films to coincide with the release, the members each portrayed troubled teens all battling different struggles. In an industry where songs usually revolve around love, heartbreak, or even self-positivity, it was refreshing to see a group dig even deeper and address modern-day societal issues, no matter how grim.

The storyline would continue in their 2023 album, OK Episode 2: I’m OK, in which the group confronted themes of depression, self-harm, and even suicide through new story films. Finally, it all culminated in CIX’s corresponding title track, “Save me, Kill me,” an emotional bookend for a narrative that was four years in the making. Although the intense themes might’ve been triggering for some, fans were ultimately enthralled and deeply moved by CIX’s commitment to depicting these topics with utmost care and sincerity. Because of this, the group was able to connect with their audience on a deeper, more personal level, and maybe even helped them get through difficult times. This is why storytelling in K-pop matters beyond the glamour and aesthetics of it all.

However, in 2024, after releasing another retro dance-pop track (“Lovers Or Enemies”), C9 Entertainment announced Bae Jinyoung’s departure after his contract’s expiration on August 1. The company also confirmed that CIX would continue as a four-member group with plans of a comeback later that year. The remaining four members would release their last two EPs as a group in 2025: THUNDER FEVER and GO Chapter 1: GO Together.

With Yonghee’s upcoming military enlistment on May 11, and the end of BX, Seunghun, and Hyunsuk’s contracts coming up, all parties have come to an agreement that this is where CIX part ways.

"Since their debut on July 21, 2019, CIX has spent the past seven years sharing many moments with fans through a wide range of activities. At this time, however, the group will be bringing its team activities to a close,” C9 wrote in a statement. "After careful consideration, all parties have come to agree that, under the current circumstances, it is unavoidable to suspend operations as a team," stating that the agency and the four members have been in discussion "over the past several months."

Looking back, CIX's trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable – discovering and refining their sound across seven years while carving out a space entirely their own among K-pop's fourth-gen groups. Not to mention using their music and platform as an outlet for young people who may be stumbling through life and trying to find themselves. Regardless of where the next path takes each of them individually, the body of work they leave behind speaks for itself.