do you think CUBE make the right decision by kicking Soojin out from Idle ?

Unfortunately I think they were left with no other choice. Given how the whole thing did unfold, they was no real way to bring her back as though nothing happened. Had they done so, it would have definitely hampered the group's chances to keep growing and becoming more popular. They might have been able to go on as a mid tier group but it would have been bad business overall.

She set herself up with how she handled the scandal

Gidle are smashing without her so I guess it’s time to move on (I feel bad for her but still)

I personally think (G)i-dle would have been successful with or without her. If she stayed quiet like some of the other bullying controversies, people would have moved on like they did with Hyunjin and Irene. And (G)i-dle would grow slow and steady. Since she said the wrong thing though, it kinda halted the group's growth and she trapped herself in a corner. However, the hiatus actually built lots of anticipation for the comeback; more anticipation than if they just continued to promote regularly.

Quote from Hopkinz

However, the hiatus actually built lots of anticipation for the comeback; more anticipation than if they just continued to promote regularly.

True, I think it's the silver lining of the situation. The hiatus built a lot of anticipation for the comeback and possibly even more sympathy towards the remaining members. I think a lot of people were sad for what the group went through and therefore welcomed their return very warmly.

Soojin was really important to Gidle imo, so in this way it was a bad decision; but Cube had to kick her after her stupid statements on the bullying case.

they didn't really have a choice in the end tbh. they handled it so poorly during, and soojin saying she'd leave the group if proven guilty just made it worse. if she had just apologized and been quiet and maybe tried her best to deny what was false, she could have done the whole reflection thing and then come back later. i have no idea why they encouraged her to make a statement. the issue blew up the way it did because of the way they decided to deal with it.

i feel bad for her because i don't think she was actually guilty for a lot of reasons but cube couldn't bring her back after everything that happened. i am glad that idle is doing so well though. the hiatus and anticipation of what they were going to do next probably generated a lot of interest. i wish it didn't have to be this way though

yes, gidle is having this chance bc she is out of the group

their problem was never the group but her, soojn being out of the group was the initial part of them being interested of how the group would look without her

it's all time proof method that when a problematic member(s) leave the group the gp direct their attention to how the rest of the group will do and look without them

so it was the right choice

Quote from Hopkinz

I personally think (G)i-dle would have been successful with or without her. If she stayed quiet like some of the other bullying controversies, people would have moved on like they did with Hyunjin and Irene. And (G)i-dle would grow slow and steady. Since she said the wrong thing though, it kinda halted the group's growth and she trapped herself in a corner. However, the hiatus actually built lots of anticipation for the comeback; more anticipation than if they just continued to promote regularly.

I think the other companies handle scandals alot better than Cube.

Cube tactic is to throw their artist under the bus. She could have Korea passed this, if Cube took care of it instead of telling her to release an statement.

I don't understand the people here saying she should've just apologized or just kept quiet.

I'm very sure in her mind that she truly believed she didn't bully anyone. That is HER truth.

If you were at school and someone accused you of stealing, and you got suspended - do you think you should just falsely admit to it and apologize just so you can be allowed to enter the school again? If I was Soojin's parents and the same thing happened to my kid, I'd be immensely proud of her for standing up for her truth and keeping her integrity intact - even if that meant she's going to get expelled.

I'm still immensely proud of Soojin today that she maintained her innocence and stuck with it since Day 1 (unlike her accusers who keeps flipflopping on their stories repeatedly). I'm very sad that Soojin left the group, but I'm much happier knowing she left like this than to know that she made some BS apology just to rejoin the group.

Quote from Lulu_Key

I think the other companies handle scandals alot better than Cube.

Cube tactic is to throw their artist under the bus. She could have Korea passed this, if Cube took care of it instead of telling her to release an statement.

Did they make her release a statement? It appears she released her initial statement of her own volition to the group's fansite. It probably even caught Cube off guard.

Quote from hokiedood

Did they make her release a statement? It appears she released her initial statement of her own volition to the group's fansite. It probably even caught Cube off guard.

That's a lot of speculation.

bein honest

bad idea

but that scandal was an albatross.

I think a lot of international fans don't realize how bad Soojin's scandal was in Korea. She wasn't just accused by a random civilian but an actress, Seo Shin-ae, who's significantly more famous than Soojin herself and had spoken up about being a bullying victim even before Soojin and Gidle debuted.

I get the believe the victim part, so Cube did right on pulling her from the group.

Unfortunately Korean public does not seem to believe in second chances even after the charges were dropped.

I think it would've damaged the group in the long run

If Soojin were still with them I don't think the korean public would've supported their music anymore

So from a marketing view I guess it was the best decision

And they were able to bounce back fortunately