Sugar (South Korean group)
{{Short description|South Korean girl group}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2014}}
{{infobox musical artist
| name = Sugar
| background = group_or_band
| image =
| landscape = yes
| caption =
| genre = {{hlist|K-pop| J-pop}}
| label = Starworld (South Korea)
Toy's Factory (Japan)
| years_active = 2001–2006
| associated_acts =
| website =
| current_members =
| past_members =
- Ahyoomee
- Hye Seung
- Lee Ha Rin
- Hwang Jung-eum
- Park Soo-jin
}}
Sugar (Hangul: 슈가, Japanese: シュガー) was a South Korean girl group formed by Starworld in 2001. The group's final lineup was composed of Ahyoomee, Hye Seung and Lee Ha Rin.
During their career, the group saw moderate success in the Korean music market and released multiple songs in Japan. Sugar's Japanese singles "Take It Shake It" and "Real Identity" were notably the theme songs for Kaleido Star.
The group officially disbanded after their contract with Starworld expired in December 2006,{{cite web|url=http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/enter/music_news_detail.htm?No=5020 |title=KPOP News: Sugar disbands officially|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113185727/http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/enter/music_news_detail.htm?No=5020|archivedate=2007-01-13 |accessdate=2013-01-25|publisher=KBS World Radio|date=2006-12-20}} while only Ahyoomee maintained her career with Starworld until 2007 before transferring to the Starworld's affiliated label SM Entertainment.
History
The company that formed Sugar, Starworld was a company founded in 1997 by Lee Soo-Young, the member of the South Korean group "Runway" (활주로; Hwaljuro){{cite web|url=http://e-starworld.co.kr/intro.asp|title=회 사 소 개|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020604183756/http://e-starworld.co.kr/intro.asp|archive-date=2002-06-04}} and father of the South Korean-American singer Sunny.{{cite web|url=https://imnews.imbc.com/news/2017/culture/article/4450469_31211.html|title=써니, 아버지와 한무대…대학밴드 활주로 50주년 공연|date=3 November 2017 }} Sugar made their first public appearance on music show in December 2001 with the pre-debut single "Sweet Love". The group later released their debut album, Tell Me Why, with the single "Tell Me Why" on March 13, 2002. Sugar was most compared by fans to the female groups M.I.L.K. and Shinvi for their similar musical styles and images. Many girl groups during this time only released a debut album before leaving the music market. However, Sugar returned in 2003 with the release of their second album, Shine on June 18. Member Sae Byul changed her stage name to Hye Seung (her real name) ahead of their comeback.
Sugar made their official debut in Japan with the release of their first album titled Double Rainbow, with the first single "Go the Distance" on February 4, 2004. They released the single〈All my loving / Cherry Blossom Train (Sakura 列車)〉and〈Wind and Flowers (Wind and Flowers) / Present / Heart & Soul〉Subsequently, in March and July, they were used as the soundtrack of the anime Kaleido Star. The singles and album all charted and were met with moderate success.
Sugar released their 2.5th Korean album titled Secret on October 6, 2004. After the release, member Jung Eum decided to leave the group and pursue a solo career in December 2004.{{cite web|url=http://www.reviewstar.net/Article/ArticleView.php?WEB_GSNO=10019592|script-title=ko:황정음, '슈가' 탈퇴이유 밝혀 "사실은…"|date=9 January 2012|website=Review Star|language=ko|access-date=19 July 2022|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129100416/http://www.reviewstar.net/Article/ArticleView.php?WEB_GSNO=10019592|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last=Ko|first=Hong-ju|title=Ayumi Denies Her Tweet Was Aimed at Hwang Jung Eum|url=http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=2753|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413143536/http://enewsworld.interest.me/enews/contents.asp?idx=2753|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 April 2013|website=enewsWorld|access-date=2013-03-15|date=13 January 2013}} Following Jung Eum's departure, new member Lee Harin was added to the group to replace Jung Eum's position in January 2005.{{cite web|title=SUGAR's Lee Harin releases a new song|url=http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/sugars-lee-harin-releases-a-new-song-024759398.html|publisher=StarN via Yahoo!|accessdate=25 January 2013|date=2012-05-26|archive-date=2014-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322002033/http://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/sugars-lee-harin-releases-a-new-song-024759398.html|url-status=live}} With the new line-up, Sugar released their fourth Japanese single, a ballad titled "Heartful" on February 16. Six months later, Sugar released their fifth Japanese single titled "Sunflower / LOVEACCELE". It was able to reach #29 on the Oricon and remained on the charts for 7 weeks.File:Park Soo Jin (actress, born 1985) from acrofan.jpg
Sugar released their third Korean album, Sweet Lips in September 2005. In the same year, they released their second Japanese album, COLORS 4 WISHES on November 2. Member Soo Jin then announced her departure from Sugar to pursue an acting career in May 2006. Following her departure, Sugar released a DVD entitled "7 STARS", which contained all of their Japanese music videos. In July 2006, member Ahyoomee began her career as solo singer but remained with the group. Sugar remained in their hiatus and reported that they would add a new member to replace Soo Jin.
On December 20, 2006, their contract with Starworld expired and it was announced through KBS World Radio that the group had disbanded. It was stated that each of the current members wanted to embark on solo careers and that the company decided not to renew their contract with the members. Ahyoomee continued under Starworld to pursue a solo career before transferring to Starworld affiliated label SM Entertainment. Hye Seung planned to become an actress, while Harin aimed to begin a music career in Japan.
Members
- Ahyoomee {{Small|(December 2001–December 2006)}}
- Hye Seung {{Small|(December 2001–December 2006)}}
- Lee Ha-rin {{Small|(January 2005–December 2006)}}
- Park Soo-jin {{Small|(December 2001–May 2006)}}
- Hwang Jung-eum {{Small|(December 2001–December 2004)}}
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" scope="col" style="width:10em;"|Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Album details ! colspan="2" scope="col" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Sales |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" |KOR Recording Industry Association of Korea and Music Industry Association of Korea monthly album chart positions:
! scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" |JPN
|
|---|
| colspan="5" |Korean |
| scope="row" | Tell Me Why
|
| — | — | |
| scope="row" | Shine
|
| 19 | — | |
| scope="row" | Sweet Lips
|
| 21 | — | |
| colspan="5" |Japanese |
| scope="row" | Double Rainbow
|
| — | — | |
| scope="row" | Colors 4 Wishes
|
| — | 138 | |
| colspan="5" | {{small|"—" denotes album did not chart.}} |
= Single albums =
= Singles =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Year ! colspan="1" scope="col" |Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Album |
| scope="col" style="width:2.5em;font-size:90%;" |JPN {{cite web |title=SUGARのランキング情報 |trans-title=Sugar Ranking Information |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/331334/rank/single/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Oricon |language=ja}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Go The Distance"
| rowspan="3" |2004 | — | rowspan="2" |Double Rainbow |
| scope="row" | "All My Loving / サクラ列車"
| 40 |
| scope="row" | "風と花束 / Present / Heart & Soul"
| 32 | rowspan="3" |Colors 4 Wishes |
| scope="row" | "Heartful"
| rowspan="2" |2005 | — |
| scope="row" | "ひまわり / Loveaccele"
| 29 |
| colspan="4" |{{small|"—" denotes single did not chart.}} |
Awards
| class="wikitable" | |
| Year | Awards |
|---|---|
| |2002
| SBS Music Awards: Choice Award | |
| rowspan="2" |2004
| SBS Music Awards: Best Dance Award | |
| Mnet Asian Music Awards: Best Female Video[http://mama.interest.me/history?type=winner&year=2004 "2004 M.net Korean Music Festival Winners list"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701225741/http://mama.interest.me/history?type=winner&year=2004 |date=2015-07-01 }}. MAMA. Retrieved 2014-06-12. |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Sugar (band)|Sugar}}
- [http://people.search.naver.com/search.naver?where=nexearch&query=슈가&key=PeopleService&os=94521 Sugar in naver people]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061230155639/http://www.toysfactory.co.jp/sugar/profile.html Official profile] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Mnet Asian Music Award for Best Female Group}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sugar}}
Category:South Korean girl groups
Category:Musical groups established in 2002
Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2006
Category:2002 establishments in South Korea