Lightsum: The Hopeful Six
Lightsum, commonly stylized as LIGHTSUM, is a South Korean girl group formed by Cube Entertainment. The group debuted on June 10, 2021, with the release of their debut single album, Vanilla. The group was originally an eight-piece ensemble, but members Huiyeon and Jian departed the group in October 2022. The six-member group consists of Sangah, Chowon, Nayoung, Hina, Juhyeon, and Yujeong.
Origins of the Name
The group's name, Lightsum, is a combination of the words "light" and "sum." It symbolizes the idea that "things that shine small gather together to light up the world, delivering greater positive energy through a message of hope".[1]
Pre-debut Activities
Before debuting, some members of Lightsum participated in popular Korean reality shows. Juhyeon was a contestant on The Unit: Idol Rebooting Project in 2017โ2018, where she finished in 25th place. Chowon, Nayoung, and Yujeong participated in Produce 48 in 2018, where they finished in 13th, 21st, and 51st place, respectively. However, it was later revealed that Chowon was rigged out of the lineup of Iz*One, and that her real final ranking was 6th place. Juhyeon also participated in Dancing High in 2018, but did not pass the evaluation round. Chowon was later cast in Bully Bad Guys and The Dominator 3: Junior Bullies in 2020.
Debut and Discography
On April 15, 2021, Cube Entertainment announced the debut of Lightsum, the first girl group debut from the agency since (G)I-dle in 2018. The members were revealed in pairs from April 19 to 22, with a video trailer featuring all eight members released on April 23. On May 27, the group announced the release of their debut single album, Vanilla, which was released on June 10, 2021. Lightsum's debut performance was on Mnet's M Countdown on the same day.
On October 13, 2021, Lightsum released their second single album, Light a Wish, with "Vivace" as the lead single. Their first extended play, Into the Light, was released on May 24, 2022, with "Alive" serving as the lead single. The EP was praised for its diverse range of music styles and strong vocal performances.
Member Changes
In October 2022, Cube Entertainment announced that members Huiyeon and Jian would be leaving the group, and that Lightsum would be reorganized as a group of six. Despite the changes, the group remains strong and continues to show their talent and passion for music.
Members
The current members of Lightsum are Sangah, Chowon, Nayoung, Hina, Juhyeon, and Yujeong. Despite the departure of Huiyeon and Jian, the six members continue to impress fans and the music industry with their talent, energy, and hopefulness for the future.