Vcha
{{Short description|American girl group}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| image = VCHA Group Logo.jpg
| caption = The group's official logo
| origin = Seoul, South Korea
| genre = Pop
| years_active = 2023–2024{{Efn|No group activities since May 2024, group activities officially paused from December 2024}}
| label = {{hlist|JYP|Republic}}
| current_member_of = JYP Nation
| current_members =
- Camila
- Lexi
- Kendall
- Savanna
- Kaylee
| past_members =
- KG
| website = {{URL|vcha.jype.com}}
}}
Vcha ({{Korean|hangul=비춰|rr=Bichwo}}; stylized in all caps) is an American girl group based in Los Angeles formed by JYP Entertainment and Republic Records through the reality competition show A2K. The group consists of five members: Camila, Lexi, Kendall, Savanna, and Kaylee. Originally a six-piece ensemble, KG announced her departure from the group on December 7, 2024, citing abuse and mistreatment by staff, resulting in the temporary suspension of group activities.
Name
Vcha is derived from the Korean word "{{lang|ko|비춰}}" (RR: Bichwo), which translates to "to shine upon" or "to illuminate".{{cite web|title=A2K ep.22 "The Final Members"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHgHDGN2Wug|publisher=JYP Entertainment|language=en|format=video|last1=|first1=|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=August 26, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826191836/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHgHDGN2Wug|url-status=live}} The name references the group's purpose to illuminate and inspire fans around the world.{{cite news|title=Meet VCHA: SEVIT (New Light) Debut Interview|url=https://www.sweetyhigh.com/read/vcha-debut-sevit-new-light-interview-092223|work=Sweety High|last1=McArthur|first1=Amanda|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015113710/https://www.sweetyhigh.com/read/vcha-debut-sevit-new-light-interview-092223|url-status=live}} Fans of Vcha are known as "Vlights".{{cite web |last1=Wickes |first1=Hanna |title=VCHA Talk First Comeback, 'Only One' and Opening For TWICE |url=https://www.j-14.com/posts/vcha-talk-first-comeback-only-one-and-opening-for-twice/ |website=J-14 |access-date=18 March 2025 |date=19 March 2024 |archive-date=December 12, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241212053702/https://www.j-14.com/posts/vcha-talk-first-comeback-only-one-and-opening-for-twice/ |url-status=live }}
History
=2023–2024: ''A2K'', debut and opening for Twice=
{{Main|A2K (TV program)|l1=A2K (TV program)}}A2K is a 2023 American reality competition show. A2K, short for "America to Korea", was a collaborative project between JYP Entertainment and Republic Records, with the goal of forming the first American girl group using the K-pop system, intended for a global audience.{{cite news|title=Meet VCHA, the New Girl Group Formed by JYP's 'A2K' Audition|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/a2k-final-lineup-meet-vcha-girl-group-first-official-interview|work=Teen Vogue|last1=Bell|first1=Crystal|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023|archive-date=September 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923111328/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/a2k-final-lineup-meet-vcha-girl-group-first-official-interview|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Get To Know Vcha, JYP Entertainment's New Global Girl Group|url=https://grazia.sg/celebrity/everything-you-need-to-know-about-vcha/|website=Grazia Singapore|language=en-US|last=Low|first=Ester|date=November 21, 2023|access-date=March 22, 2024|archive-date=March 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322111547/https://grazia.sg/celebrity/everything-you-need-to-know-about-vcha/|url-status=live}} The group's name was announced as "Vcha" during the show's final episode on September 22, 2023, alongside the reveal of the six winning contestants. Following A2K{{'s}} bootcamp in Los Angeles, Vcha spent months training for debut at JYPE's Seoul headquarters.
Their pre-debut extended play, SeVit (New Light), was released on September 22, supported by the lead single "Y.O.Universe".{{cite news|title=[공식] JYP 新 글로벌 걸그룹 'VCHA', 오늘(22일) 프리 데뷔한다|url=https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2023092299644|work=TenAsia|language=ko|last1=Kim|first1=Se-ah|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=October 2, 2023|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015113605/https://tenasia.hankyung.com/topic/article/2023092299644|url-status=live}} The next day, they performed this song on Show! Music Core as their first public performance.{{cite web|title=VCHA - Y.O.Universe I Show! MusicCore I MBC230923방송|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JW-LTNqZxA|publisher=MBCkpop|language=en|format=video|last1=|first1=|date=September 23, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523164742/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JW-LTNqZxA|url-status=live}} Their second pre-debut single, "Ready for the World", originally the A2K theme song, was released on December 1, 2023.{{cite web|title=VCHA "Ready for the World" Performance Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrnaIP-idnA|publisher=JYP Entertainment|language=en|format=video|last1=|first1=|date=December 1, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=April 3, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403232311/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrnaIP-idnA|url-status=live}}
The group's official debut single, "Girls of the Year", was released on January 26, 2024, with b-side "XO Call Me".{{cite web|title=VCHA, new girl group from JYP Entertainment, to debut in January|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-12-01/entertainment/kpop/VCHA-new-girl-group-from-JYP-Entertainment-to-debut-in-January/1926061|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|last=Kim|first=Ji-ye|date=December 1, 2023|access-date=December 2, 2023|archive-date=January 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102181917/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-12-01/entertainment/kpop/VCHA-new-girl-group-from-JYP-Entertainment-to-debut-in-January/1926061|url-status=live}} In February and March 2024, the group performed as the opening act for a leg of Twice's Ready to Be World Tour, performing in São Paulo, Mexico City, and Las Vegas for a total of five shows.{{cite news|title=México verá debutar a VCHA sobre el escenario ¡Se presentarán en el concierto de TWICE!|url=https://lineadirectaportal.com/entretenimiento/mexico-vera-debutar-al-grupo-vcha-sobre-el-escenario-se-presentaran-en-el-concierto-de-twice-2024-01-16__1030054|work=Linea Directa Portal|language=es|last1=Bedoya|first1=Alejandra|date=January 16, 2024|access-date=January 16, 2024|archive-date=January 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116222401/https://lineadirectaportal.com/entretenimiento/mexico-vera-debutar-al-grupo-vcha-sobre-el-escenario-se-presentaran-en-el-concierto-de-twice-2024-01-16__1030054|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=VCHA abre shows do TWICE no Brasil; conheça o grupo|url=https://billboard.com.br/vcha-abre-shows-do-twice-no-brasil-conheca-o-grupo/|work=Billboard Brasil|language=pt|date=January 16, 2024|access-date=January 16, 2024|archive-date=January 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117012048/https://billboard.com.br/vcha-abre-shows-do-twice-no-brasil-conheca-o-grupo/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=TWICE Are Still Reaching New Heights — and They're Doing It Together|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/twice-cover-may-june-2024|newspaper=Teen Vogue|last=Frances|first=Lai|date=May 21, 2024|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523072152/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/twice-cover-may-june-2024|url-status=live}} On March 10, it was announced that Kaylee would be taking a hiatus due to a health condition. The group's second single, "Only One", was released on March 15, with b-side "Favorite Girl."{{Cite web|title=VCHA The Second Single "Only One"|url=https://twitter.com/Official_VCHA/status/1763428957154668732?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet|website=X (formerly known as Twitter)|author=@Official_VCHA|date=March 1, 2024|access-date=March 1, 2024|archive-date=March 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301181117/https://twitter.com/Official_VCHA/status/1763428957154668732?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Only One|url=https://genius.com/Vcha-only-one-lyrics|website=Genius|quote=|last=|first=|date=March 15, 2024|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523161348/https://genius.com/Vcha-only-one-lyrics|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=VCHA "Only One" Performance Video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brCsmmAlsck&list=PLogK9fiow_GXzRmxoQYHorxmgTSKGM-fH&index=1|website=youtube.com|publisher=JYP Entertainment|language=en|format=video|last1=|first1=|date=March 15, 2024|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523161348/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brCsmmAlsck&list=PLogK9fiow_GXzRmxoQYHorxmgTSKGM-fH&index=1|url-status=live}} In May, Vcha had their first cover story as part of Teen Vogue{{'}}s Girl Group Week.{{cite news|title=VCHA Talk Debut Journey, Touring With TWICE, and Making the Most of Every Moment|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/vcha-cover-interview-may-june-2024|newspaper=Teen Vogue|last=Crystal|first=Bell|date=May 23, 2024|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=May 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523161351/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/vcha-cover-interview-may-june-2024|url-status=live}}
=2024–present: Group hiatus, KG's departure and lawsuit=
Vcha was originally set to make their first music festival appearance at Lollapalooza on August 2, 2024. However, the festival announced in July that they were no longer performing due to "unforeseen circumstances".{{cite web|title=Lineup I Lollapalooza I August 1-4, 2024|url=https://www.lollapalooza.com/lineup|website=Lollapalooza|quote=|last=|first=|date=|access-date=May 23, 2024|archive-date=December 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204072609/https://www.lollapalooza.com/lineup|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=VCHA withdraws from Lollapalooza 2024 lineup |url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/vcha-withdraws-from-lollapalooza-2024-lineup/ar-BB1qjgws |website=The Times of India |publisher=MSN |access-date=30 April 2025}}
On December 7, 2024, KG announced that she had decided to terminate her contract with JYP Entertainment and leave Vcha, citing "incidents of abuse and mistreatment by certain staff members".{{cite news|title=KG leaves VCHA citing 'abuse and mistreatment'|url=https://news.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20241208050049|work=The Korea Herald|last1=Hwang|first1=Dong-hee|date=December 8, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024}} She filed a lawsuit against JYP USA at the Los Angeles Superior Court on December 6.{{cite news|title=VCHA's KG to leave group due to 'abuse and mistreatment' from label employees|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-08/entertainment/kpop/VCHAs-KG-to-leave-group-due-to-abuse-and-mistreatment-from-label-employees/2195411|work=Korea JoongAng Daily|last1=Lee|first1=Jian|date=December 8, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208161254/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-08/entertainment/kpop/VCHAs-KG-to-leave-group-due-to-abuse-and-mistreatment-from-label-employees/2195411|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Complaint; Filed by: K. M. (Plaintiff); As to: JYP USA Inc. (Defendant) December 06, 2024|url=https://trellis.law/doc/232416305/complaint-filed-by-k-m-plaintiff-as-to-jyp-usa-inc-defendant|website=Trellis.Law|language=en|date=December 6, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208055626/https://trellis.law/doc/232416305/complaint-filed-by-k-m-plaintiff-as-to-jyp-usa-inc-defendant|url-status=live}} According to KBS News and Hankyung, she said in her statement that, although she endured high-intensity work and extreme restrictions on her personal life, she received little salary and ended up in debt. She later stated that she did not want to blame anyone but the industry and also attributed her decision to leave to controversial issues in the industry, including a member's suicide attempt and the development of eating disorders. She closed her statement by saying that she hopes her decision to leave will help other trainees who are also struggling and that she would continue to work towards becoming a singer.{{Cite web|title=비춰 케이지 "스태프 학대로 팀 탈퇴"..."K팝 시스템 변화되길"|url=https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/mobile/view/view.do?ncd=8125394|website=KBS 뉴스|language=ko|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208045256/https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=8125394|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title="스태프에 학대 당해"...비춰 케이지 팀 떠난다|url=https://www.hankyung.com/article/2024120821425|website=한국경제|language=ko|date=December 8, 2024|access-date=December 8, 2024|archive-date=December 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208045653/https://www.hankyung.com/article/2024120821425|url-status=live}} JYP USA later disputed her claims, citing them as "exaggerated", while also confirming the group's activities have been temporarily suspended as a result of the label's dispute with KG.{{cite web|title=VCHA KG's claims are 'false and exaggerated,' says JYP USA|url=https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-09/national/socialAffairs/VCHA-KGs-claims-are-false-and-exaggerated-says-JYP-USA/2195871|website=Korea JoongAng Daily|date=December 9, 2024|access-date=December 9, 2024|archive-date=December 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241209175524/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2024-12-09/national/socialAffairs/VCHA-KGs-claims-are-false-and-exaggerated-says-JYP-USA/2195871|url-status=live}}
Members
=Current=
=Former=
- KG (2023–2024)
Discography
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of extended plays, with selected details ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Details |
| scope="row" | SeVit (New Light)
|
{{hidden|Track listing|
}} |
|---|
=Singles=
Videography
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of music videos, showing year released and directors |
| scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Director(s) ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | "Y.O.Universe"
| 2023 | Naive Creative Production | {{Cite web|title=VCHA "Y.O.Universe" M/V|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=M8EsxRh0zOc|website=YouTube|date=September 22, 2023|archive-date=October 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009073609/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=M8EsxRh0zOc|url-status=live}} |
| scope="row" | "Girls of the Year"
| 2024 | Shin Hee-won | {{Cite web|title=VCHA "Girls of the Year" M/V|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C2jqN47O1Oz/?igsh=MWF1NXk0ampwcTJ6aw==|website=Instagram|last=@j.oooooo|date=January 26, 2024}} |
Accolades
=Listicles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Name of publisher, year listed, name of listicle, and placement |
| scope="col" | Publisher
! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Listicle ! scope="col" | Placement ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Teen Vogue
| 2024 | style="text-align:left" | 12 Girl Groups to Watch in 2024 | Placed | {{Cite web|title=12 Girl Groups to Watch in 2024|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/girl-groups-to-watch-2024|website=Teen Vogue|last1=Dodson|first1=P. Claire|last2=Delgado|first2=Sara|last3=Momenian|first3=Donya|last4=McNab|first4=Kaitlyn|date=May 24, 2024|access-date=June 2, 2024|archive-date=June 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240602224920/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/girl-groups-to-watch-2024|url-status=live}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://vcha.jype.com/}}
{{JYP Entertainment}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups established in 2023
Category:JYP Entertainment artists
Category:Republic Records artists
Category:American expatriates in South Korea