Disrespectful To Former Members? DAY6’s New Album Title Has Fans Divided

Many feel it’s disrespectful to former members.
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Koreaboo

DAY6‘s recent comeback has been met with mixed reactions.

DAY6 in suits
From left: DAY6’s Sungjin, Dowoon, Wonpil, and Young K  | JYP Entertainment

Korean pop-rock band DAY6 announced its comeback as all members, Sungjin, Young K, Dowoon, and Wonpil, have been discharged from their mandatory military service.

This marks their first comeback in three years. They previously released The Book of Us: Negentropy – Chaos Swallowed Up in Love on April 19, 2021. Their upcoming album releases on March 18, 2024.

From left: Wonpil, Jae, Young K, Dowoon, Sungjin
From left: Wonpil, Jae, Young K, Dowoon, Sungjin | JYP Entertainment

MyDays (DAY6’s fandom) were initially excited about the announcement since it’s been so long awaited. However, after hearing the title of the upcoming album, the fandom had mixed feelings. DAY6’s eighth mini-album is entitled Fourever.

This is DAY6’s first comeback as a four-member group since Jae‘s (also known as eaJ) departure. So, the title being a combination of “four forever” is clearly intentional as it indicates that DAY6 will now be just four members from now on.

Jae
Jae | JYP Entertainment

On January 1, 2022, at 12 AM KST, Jae announced that he would be taking a hiatus from the band in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter). Apparently, this was also his announcement that he would officially be leaving JYP Entertainment months after MyDays’ speculation that he already had.

Hello My Day.

I am sincerely grateful for everyone who has been with DAY6 and me. For the past six years, I have had a very happy time and made memories that will last forever with me. I have had a lot of thoughts and ideas, and put in a lot of work, but I am still lacking in many ways, so I can’t stay where I am right now.

After discussing with JYP, I am sorry to tell you that we have made the decision for me to take a break from DAY6’s activities for the time being. I will cherish the memories, from the sweat and journeys together to the crying and rejoice that we felt for the past six years. and will return more improved. This has been DAY6’s Jae.

Thank you!

— Jae

Just half a day later, JYP Entertainment shared a contradicting statement. It said that Jae’s contract with the agency had officially been terminated as of December 31, 2021, and that he is officially no longer a part of DAY6.

| fans.jype.com

Hello, this is JYP Entertainment.

First of all, we would like to apologize to My Days who have been nothing but completely supportive for DAY6. We are sorry for the sudden, shocking news.

As of December 31, 2021, Jae’s contract with the agency has expired. For personal reasons, he will no longer be a part of the team DAY6. We inform you that we reached this conclusion after through discussion and that we respect Jae’s decision to terminate the contract.

While our relationship with Jae has come to an end, we will always support him in his endeavors and wish him the best on this new adventure he has set on.

Additionally, JYP Entertainment will continue to try its best in managing DAY6’s  future activities. We thank you, My Days, for the undivided love and support.

— JYP Entertainment

Since then, MyDays have received endless mixed messages. After this statement from the agency, Jae reassured fans via live stream that there would be an OT5 comeback one day, hopefully after the members fulfilled their military service. He asked for MyDays to trust the DAY6 members.

It’s going to take a little bit of time for the boys to come back and be ready full circle because they’re on military duty, right? So once everyone’s back, we’ll probably sit down, have another discussion, because we already talked about it. I think we’re good. You’re just going to have to trust me. Or if you don’t trust me, trust the boys. That’s all there is to it. So there will be group activities as a whole. In my mind right now, I say yes. I would be very surprised if there came a reality in the future where we did not participate again as DAY6. I don’t know about the name or how that situation’s going to go, but the five of us will most likely be on a stage again.

— Jae via @lunekyh on Twitter

Yet, since Jae’s contract with JYP Entertainment expired and the company announced his departure, the company has continually erased him from the group’s history. For instance, he was removed from many group photos, social media posts, etc.

Still, MyDays have held out hope for Jae’s return, remembering his words. When DAY6’s official social media accounts shared advertising posts for the release of Moonrise cassettes, including Jae, MyDays were excited. Former members are usually removed even if they were involved in creating an album after they departed from their group (a recent example would be MONSTA X‘s Wonho).

Jae has also continually shown support for DAY6 despite his absence. While the DAY6 members all renewed their contracts with JYP Entertainment except for Jae, fans still believed we could one day have an OT5 comeback. Other groups have continued even with members in different companies (Girls’ Generation, MONSTA X, MAMAMOO, GOT7, and 2PM, to name a few). Since Jae moved back to the U.S. following his JYP Entertainment departure, he has been working on his solo music as eaJ.

We have renewed contracts with all of the DAY6 members including Sungjin, Young K, Wonpil, and Dowoon. DAY6, who is a group with music symbolism, and JYP, who has had extensive experience in band management, want to continue a meaningful partnership based on a strong relationship of trust. We plan to become a strong support system for DAY6’s future and will spare no effort in providing the support they need.

— JYP Entertainment

Now that DAY6’s comeback has been confirmed with only four members, many fans support DAY6’s new direction. This includes the new album’s title, calling it “brave.”

Yet, others think the title choice was disrespectful to former members. Some MyDays believe the company chose it to stir up controversy.

Actually, the group name “DAY6” originated from the group’s original lineup with six members. Former member Junhyeok departed on February 27, 2016.

JYP Entertainment initially announced the debut of a five-member band called 5LIVE, composed of Sungjin, Jae, Young K, Junhyeok, and Wonpil. In 2014, the band began promotions by appearing on the fourth episode of Mnet’s reality survival program Who is Next: Win and releasing a song titled “Lovely Girl” as part of the original soundtrack of the 2013 TV series Bel Ami.

In mid-2015, drummer Dowoon joined the line-up, and the band was renamed Day6.

— Wikipedia

Original DAY6 lineup
Original DAY6 lineup | JYP Entertainment

Fans pointed out that after Junhyeok’s departure, DAY6 released “Letting Go.” Since Jae’s departure, the upcoming album is titled Fourever, so it doesn’t feel coincidental but an intentional choice made by JYP Entertainment.

On February 27, 2016, JYP Entertainment stated that Junhyeok had departed from the band due to personal reasons and terminated his contract with the company. Day6 continued as a five-member band. On March 30, 2016, Day6 released their second EP, Daydream, with the lead single “Letting Go.”

— Wikipedia

Some fans feel terrible for Jae, especially. They said the title is like a “slap in the face” to him, considering he’s stayed supportive of the group.

So, DAY6’s recent social media posts have included many negative comments from MyDays expressing their disappointment. They feel Fourever is a “childish” and “controversial” title choice.

Screenshot_20240304_133442_Instagram

Screenshot_20240304_133418_Instagram

The album’s title is not MyDays’ only concern regarding DAY6’s comeback. Netizens spotted a controversial prop in the trailer film. Read more below.

JYPE Boycott Genocide: Prop In New DAY6 Video Sparks Outrage

Source: Wikipedia

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