GWSN

GWSN
GWSN in July 2019 (From left to right: Miya, Seoryoung, Minju, Lena, Anne, Seokyoung, SoSo)
Background information
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop
Years active	2018 (2018)–2023
Labels	The Wave Music
Past members	Miya Seokyoung Seoryoung Anne Minju SoSo Lena
Korean name
Hangul	공원소녀
Hanja	公園少女
Literal meaning	Park Girl
Revised Romanization	Gongwon Sonyeo
Japanese name
Kanji	公園少女
Transcriptions Romanization Kōen Shōjo
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	公園少女
Simplified Chinese	公园少女
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Gōngyuán Shàonǚ

GWSN (Korean: 공원소녀; RR: Gongwon Sonyeo), also known as Girls in the Park, was a South Korean girl group formed in 2018 by Kiwi Pop (now known as The Wave Music). The group consisted of seven members: Miya, Seokyoung, Seoryoung, Anne, Minju, Soso, and Lena, and debuted on September 5, 2018^[1] with the title track "Puzzle Moon"^[1] from their extended play The Park in the Night Part One.

Name

GWSN is an abbreviation of Gongwon Sonyeo. The group describes "gongwon" (lit. park) as a place "where anyone, who is male or female or old or young, can go and enjoy themselves, heal their wounds and dream".^[1] The abbreviation also has a separate meaning in English, with G standing for 'Ground' and WSN standing for the directional markers 'West,' 'South,' and 'North,' with the significance being that the group wants to reach out to people from every direction.^[1][2][3] 'Gong-won' can also be translated into 'gong,' meaning zero in Korean, and 'won,' which represents the English word one, meaning that when the seven members get together, they will forever be one.^[2][3]

History

2018–2019: Debut with The Park in the Night series

On June 14, 2018, Kiwi Pop, a subsidiary of Kiwi Media Group, released a teaser image for their first girl group named GWSN and the opening of their social media accounts with their reveal date set to June 18, 2018.^[4] Shortly after, members were each revealed along with a short video and an image starting with Minju, followed by Lena, Anne, Soso, Seoryoung, Miya, and finally Seokyoung, who was a former contestant on Mnet's Produce 101 TV series, where she came in 30th place.^[5]

In order to increase their pre-debut popularity, the group held multiple busking events all over South Korea in public spaces, performed in middle schools and high schools, as well as held live video events on their Facebook page and uploaded dance covers of popular songs onto their YouTube.

On July 8, Mnet announced a reality TV show named Got Ya! GWSN featuring all the members of GWSN.^[6][7]

On September 5, 2018, GWSN made their debut with the extended play (EP) The Park in the Night Part One with the lead single, "Puzzle Moon".^[8] They then went onto holding their debut showcase at Yes24 Live Hall, Seoul, South Korea. They officially made their debut in the Korean music program M Countdown on September 6.^[9]

On March 13, 2019, GWSN released their second EP The Park in the Night Part Two, with the lead single "Pinky Star (Run)".^[10]

GWSN released their first studio album The Park in the Night Part Three along with the lead single "Red-Sun (021)" on July 23.^[11] This was funded through fan contribution on Makestar, where a total of US$27,491.03 was raised.^[12]

On October 2, GWSN was the opening act for Jessica Jung's fanmeeting in Japan, XOXO Jessica Jung Fan Meeting.^[13]

2020–2023: The Keys, The Other Side of the Moon and disbandment

On January 17, 2020, it was announced that member Soso would be taking a hiatus due to a ruptured ankle ligament and that the group will continue to promote as six members.^{[14][better source needed]} On April 3, 2020, it was reported that GWSN was moved to a new sub-label from Kiwi Media Group known as MILES.^[15] The group made their comeback on April 28 with their third EP The Keys and its title track "Bazooka!", without member Soso.^[16]

GWSN was set to release their fourth EP The Other Side of the Moon and its lead single "Like It Hot" on May 20, 2021, but the album's release date was pushed back to May 26.^[17] The group would be moved to The Wave Music, which was formerly named Kiwi Media Group.^[18]

In 2022, Anne made her screen debut as Kim Yoon-ji in The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die.^[19]

On January 22, 2023, it was announced through multiple news outlets that all 7 members' exclusive contracts with The Wave Music had been terminated on the 12th of that month by the Seoul Central District Court.^[20] On June 28, 2023, Miya confirmed in an interview with NHK that GWSN had disbanded in January after all 7 members won the lawsuit.^[21]

Members

• Miya (미야)
• Seokyoung (서경)
• Seoryoung (서령)
• Anne (앤)
• Minju (민주)
• Soso (소소)
• Lena (레나)

Discography

Extended plays

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions	Sales
		KOR [22]
The Park in the Night Part One	Released: September 5, 2018 Label: Kiwi Pop, Kiwi Media Group Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Puzzle Moon (퍼즐문) Shy Shy (볼터치) Let it Grow ~ a little tree Yolowa (욜로와) Melting Point Lullaby (잘자)	12	KOR: 9,301[23]
The Park in the Night Part Two	Released: March 13, 2019 Label: Kiwi Pop, Kiwi Media Group Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Pinky Star (Run) Toktok (수천 개의 별, 수천 개의 꿈) Bloom (True Light) Miss Ping Pong One & Only Growing Toktok (the park night version)	11	KOR: 7,703[24]
The Park in the Night Part Three	Released: July 23, 2019 Label: Kiwi Pop, Kiwi Media Group Formats: CD, digital download Track listing Red-Sun (021) All Mine (Coast of Azure) The Interpretation of Dreams (밤의 비행) Total Eclipse (Black Out) Birthday Girl ~ 19 candles Kind of Cool Black Hole Recipe ~ for Simon	13	KOR: 6,373[25]
The Keys	Released: April 28, 2020 Label: Miles Entertainment Formats: CD, digital download	6	KOR: 6,879[26]
The Other Side of the Moon	Released: May 26, 2021 Label: The Wave Music Formats: CD, digital download	18	KOR: 8,626[27]

Singles

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Sales (DL)	Album
		KOR [28]
"Puzzle Moon" (퍼즐문)	2018	—	—	The Park in the Night Part One
"Pinky Star (Run)"	2019	—		The Park in the Night Part Two
"Red-Sun (021)"		—		The Park in the Night Part Three
"Bazooka!"	2020	—		The Keys
"Like It Hot"	2021	—[a]		The Other Side of the Moon
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Soundtrack appearances

Song	Year	Member(s)	Album
"Oh Lady Go Lady"	2018	All	Clean with Passion for Now OST Part 2
"Be Your Star"	2019	Seoryoung, Lena (GWSN)	Touch Your Heart OST Part 4
"I'm in Love"		All	Mother of Mine OST Part 4

Videography

Music videos

Year	Title	Director(s)	Ref.
2018	"Puzzle Moon" (퍼즐문)	Jiyong Kim (FantazyLab)	—
	"Color Me" (물들여줘) (feat. Son Dong-woon)
2019	"We Need a Change" (feat. Jack Walton)
	"Pinky Star" (Run)	Jiyong Kim (FantazyLab)	[30]
	"Growing" (for Groo)
	"Pinky Star" (Run) (choreography ver.)
	"Red-Sun" (021)	Korlio (August Frogs Visual)	—
	"Red-Sun" (021) (performance ver.)
	"Total Eclipse" (Black Out)
2020	"Bazooka!"	Hong Won-Ki
	"Bazooka! (performance ver.)	Hong Won-Ki
	"Bazooka!" (stay safe with GWSN ver.)
2021	"Like It Hot"	TBA

Television shows

Year	Title	Network
2018	Got Ya! GWSN	Mnet

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, award category, nominee(s) of the award and the result of the nomination

Award ceremony	Year	Award category	Work(s)/nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
Genie Music Awards	2019	New Artist Award	GWSN	Nominated	[31]
		The Female New Artist		Nominated
		Genie Music Popularity Award		Nominated
		Global Popularity Award		Nominated
Korea Culture Entertainment Awards		K-Pop Singer Award		Won	[32]
Mnet Asian Music Awards	2018	Best New Female Artist		Nominated	[33]
		Artist of the Year		Nominated
Seoul Success Awards		New Artist Award		Won	[34]
Soribada Best K-Music Awards	2020	Rising Star Award		Won	[35]

Notes

1. "Like It Hot" did not enter Gaon Digital Chart, but debuted and peaked at number 113 on Gaon Download Chart.^[29]

References

1. Park, Bo-ram. "girl group-debut". Naver News. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
2. Ji, Yeon-ju (October 14, 2018). ‘컬투쇼’ 공원소녀 “원래 이름 키워걸스, 소속사 이름 땄다”. Newsen. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023.
3. [종합] "성장형 걸그룹 될 것"..'컬투쇼' 공원소녀, 상큼발랄 힐링돌의 깜찍 입담 [[Comprehensive] "We will become a growing girl group"..'Culture Show' GWSN, refreshing and lively healing idols' cute talk] (in Korean) – via Naver.
4. Yoon, Sang-geun (June 14, 2018). '프듀 김서경 걸그룹' 공원소녀, 9월 정식 데뷔(공식) ['Produce 101 Kim Seo-kyung girl group' GWSN officially debuts in September (official)]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved September 18, 2018 – via Naver.
5. Hong, Seung-han (June 14, 2018). 걸그룹 공원소녀, 7인 7색 멤버 티저 공개 [Girl group GWSN, 7 member 7 color teaser released]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved September 23, 2018 – via Naver.
6. @MnetKR (July 8, 2018). "국내 최초 데뷔 관찰 게임 <GOT YA! 공원소녀> 데뷔를 앞두고 있는 걸그룹 #공원소녀 Mnet 단독 프로그램 출연 확정!" [Korea's first debut observation game <GOT YA! GWSN> Girl group about to debut #GWSN confirmed to appear on Mnet's exclusive program!] (Tweet) (in Korean) – via Twitter.
7. 신예 걸그룹 공원소녀, 정식 데뷔 앞서 Mnet 'GOT YA! 공원소녀'로 눈도장 [Rookie girl group GWSN, ahead of their official debut, Mnet 'GOT YA! Snow stamp with ‘GWSN’]. Wow TV (in Korean). August 3, 2018 – via Naver.
8. 데뷔 공원소녀(GWSN), 첫 앨범 '밤의 공원 part one'..차별화된 걸그룹 [Debut Girls in the Park (GWSN), first album 'The Park at Night part one'.. A differentiated girl group]. Break News (in Korean). September 5, 2018. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
9. 공원소녀(GWSN), 6일 '엠카운트다운'서 첫 데뷔 무대 [GWSN, first debut stage at 'M Countdown' on the 6th]. Wow TV (in Korean). September 6, 2018 – via Naver.
10. 공원소녀(GWSN), 13일 2nd 미니앨범 '밤의 공원 part two' 발매 [GWSN, 2nd mini album 'Park at Night part two' released on the 13th]. Wow TV (in Korean). March 13, 2019 – via Naver.
11. '컴백' 공원소녀, 타이틀곡 '레드썬'…베일벗은 트랙리스트 ['Comeback' GWSN, title song 'Red Sun'... veiled track list]. Isplus Joins (in Korean). July 14, 2019 – via Naver.
12. "GWSN Comeback Celebration Project". makestar.co. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
13. ジェシカ（Jessica） 2年ぶりのファンミーティング開催決定！ローソンチケットにて、本日8月10日（土）10:00より最速先行受付開始！ [Jessica (Jessica) fan meeting will be held for the first time in two years! For the Lawson ticket, the fastest advance reception starts today from 10:00 on Saturday, August 10!!]. PR TIMES. August 10, 2019. Archived from the original on August 11, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
14. "GWSN's Soso to take hiatus due to health issues". Allkpop. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
15. 공원소녀(GWSN), 새 음악 레이블 마일즈(MILES)서 이달 말 컴백 [GWSN, comeback at the end of this month with new music label MILES]. Media Republic (in Korean). April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
16. 공원소녀, 활동중단 소소 빼고 6인 체제로 컴백 [GWSN, excluding Soso on hiatus, comeback with 6 members]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved April 13, 2020.
17. [단독] 공원소녀, 5월 20일 컴백..소소 건강 회복 후 7人 완전체 출격 [[Exclusive] GWSN, comeback on May 20th... Soso after recovering health, all 7 members sortie]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved April 29, 2021.
18. [단독] 공원소녀, 20일→26일 컴백일 변경..7人 완전체 출격 [[Exclusive] GWSN, change the comeback date from the 20th to the 26th.. 7-member sortie]. Naver (in Korean). Retrieved May 7, 2021.
19. Jeong, Hee-yeon (June 10, 2022). 공원소녀 이서영, 스크린 데뷔 성공적 (더 킬러: 죽어도 되는 아이) [GWSN Lee Seo-young, successful screen debut (The Killer: A Child Who Can Die)] (in Korean). Sports Donga. Archived from the original on June 10, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2023 – via Naver.
20. "아이돌 만들기만 하면 성공? 소속사 방치로 외국인 멤버 벌금까지" [Success just by making an idol? Foreign members fined being neglected by their agency]. Naver News (in Korean). Retrieved January 22, 2023.
21. ""それでも韓国で輝きたい" 元アイドルが見たK-POPの世界" [“I still want to shine in Korea”, the world of K-Pop as seen by a former idol]. NHK (in Japanese). June 28, 2023. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
22. "Gaon Album Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 13, 2018.
    • "The Park in the Night Part One". September 8, 2018.
    • "The Park in the Night Part Two". March 16, 2019.
    • "The Park in the Night Part Three". July 27, 2019.
    • "The Keys". May 7, 2020.
    • "The Other Side of the Moon". June 10, 2021.
23. Cumulative sales for The Park in the Night Part One:
    • "2018년 10월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
24. Cumulative sales for The Park in the Night Part Two:
    • "2019년 3월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
25. Cumulative sales for The Park in the Night Part Three:
    • "2019년 8월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
26. Cumulative sales for The Keys:
    • "2020년 5월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
27. Cumulative sales for The Other Side of the Moon:
    • "2021년 6월 Album Chart". Gaon (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
28. "Gaon Digital Chart". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved September 8, 2018.
29. "Like It Hot". May 23–29, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
30. @gdwdop (March 19, 2019). "#GWSN #PinkyStar #MusicVideo". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 25, 2021.
31. "[뮤직토픽] '2019 MGMA', 여자 신인상 후보에 아이즈원이 없는 것에 대한 의구심". Top Star News (in Korean). June 21, 2019.
32. @official_GWSN (November 29, 2019). "제27회 대한민국 문화연예대상에서 K-POP 가수상을 받았습니다. 뜻깊은 상 주신 만큼 앞으로 더 열심히 하는 모습 보여드리겠습니다! 항상 응원해주신 우리 그루들 감사하고, 사랑합니다" (in Korean and English). Twitter.
33. "2018 MAMA Announces Nominees + Voting Begins". Soompi. November 1, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
34. "공원소녀, 데뷔 첫 신인상… 2018 괴물루키 입증". Sports Worldi (in Korean). November 27, 2018.
35. "Winners Of 2020 Soribada Best K-Music Awards". Soompi. August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020.

External links

• Fancafe
• GWSN Official Instagram