On May 9, ATTRAKT revealed to Star News that “Keena‘s health deteriorated after a cross-examination with Ahn Sung-il,” which led to her decision to pause group activities.
This follows a legal battle that began in August 2023, when Keena accused Ahn Sung-il of forging her signature to reduce her royalty share for the global hit “Cupid” to a mere 0.5%. Though a confrontation was held last month at her request, Keena reportedly experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) afterward, leading to her current hiatus.
ATRAKT stated on May 7, “Keena will not participate in the group’s new album promotions due to health reasons. After discussions with her and considering her condition, we determined that a full rest and recovery were necessary.”
ABLUME: The Controversial Re-Debut of Former Members
Meanwhile, former FIFTY FIFTY members Sena, Aran, and Sio have re-debuted under the new group ABLUHM, signing with Massive VNC. Their debut single “Echo” dropped on May 9, along with a music video, signaling a fresh chapter but not without controversy.
Criticism erupted when it was revealed that Ahn Sung-il, the same producer embroiled in the “Cupid” copyright dispute, was involved in composing and arranging “Echo.” This sparked fierce backlash, as Ahn Sung-il was previously accused by ATTRAKT of document forgery, copyright manipulation, and destruction of project data during FIFTY FIFTY‘s initial rise.
Though the members defended their choice to work with Ahn Sung-il “The message we wanted to deliver through music was most important to us” public sentiment remains largely skeptical. Their agency also claimed that “much of the public narrative has been misunderstood or misrepresented.”
The Legal Saga Continues
ATRAKT originally sued Ahn Sung-il and The Givers for obstruction of business and embezzlement. While the fraud charge was dropped, other charges have been forwarded to the prosecution. In a recent turn, a court sided with The Givers regarding the “Cupid” copyright case prompting ATTRAKT to file an appeal.
While Keena continues activities with new members Chanelle, Hana, Yewon, and Athena launching their third mini-album “Day & Night” on April 29 questions about justice, ownership, and industry ethics persist. ABLUHM may have returned to the stage, but their ties to Ahn Sung-il are likely to haunt public perception for some time.