Rocket Punch (Korean: 로켓펀치; RR: Roketpeonchi; Japanese: ロケットパンチ, romanized: Rokettopanchi or as RCPC) was a South Korean girl group formed and managed by Woollim Entertainment in 2019. The group consisted of six members: Yeonhee, Suyun, Yunkyoung, Sohee, and Dahyun. Former member Juri departed from the group on May 24, 2024, after her contract with Woollim expired.[1] They debuted on August 7, 2019, with the extended play (EP) Pink Punch.[2][3] Yeonhee, Yunkyoung, Sohee, and Dahyun left on December 31, 2024, due to their contracts also expiring.[4]
History
Pre-debut
Juri was cast as an AKB48 12th-generation trainee through an audition in 2011. She was introduced to the public through AKB48 Team 4 in March 2012. Her first television appearance in Korea was in the 2018 reality competition show, Produce 48. Suyun and Sohee were introduced to the public as representative trainees of Woollim Entertainment through Produce 48 as well. In March 2019, Juri was confirmed to have signed with Woollim Entertainment to pursue her career in Korea by debuting as a member of the company's new girl group.[5] Two months later, Juri officially graduated from AKB48.[6][7]
2019–2020: Introduction, debut with Pink Punch, continues with Red Punch and Blue Punch
On July 22, Woollim Entertainment revealed a motion clip with Rocket Punch's logo and speculated as the next girl group after Lovelyz.[8] It was later confirmed with a concept film featuring all six members (Yeonhee, Juri, Suyun, Yunkyung, Sohee, and Dahyun) was released on July 23.[9][10]
Rocket Punch's debut EP Pink Punch was released on August 7, 2019, with "Bim Bam Bum" serving as its lead single. A debut showcase was held in Yes24 Live Hall in Seoul, South Korea, following the release of their EP.[11][12] The group held their first performance in Japan at the 2019 Girls Award Autumn/Winter Show.[13]
On February 10, 2020, The group made their comeback with their second EP Red Punch and its lead single "Bouncy".[14][15] On August 4, the group released their third EP Blue Punch, and its lead single "Juicy".[16][17]
2021–2022: Ring Ring, Japanese debut, Yellow Punch and Flash
On May 17, 2021, Rocket Punch released their first single album Ring Ring, and its lead single of the same name.[18][19] The acoustic version of their lead single was released on July 15.[20] On May 24, Woollim Entertainment announced that Rocket Punch would be making their Japanese debut under Yoshimoto Kogyo.[21] They released their first Japanese EP Bubble Up! on August 4, with its lead title track of the same name being released on July 13.[22]
On February 28, 2022, the group released their fourth EP Yellow Punch, with the lead single "Chiquita".[23] On March 11, Woollim Entertainment confirmed that Rocket Punch will hold both online and offline fan meetings which will be held on April 2 and 3, 2022.[24] On June 29, the group released the Japanese single "Fiore".[25] The group released their second single album Flash on August 29, 2022.[26]
2023–2024: Queendom Puzzle and departure from Woolim Entertainment
On May 26, 2023, members Juri, Yeonhee and Suyun were revealed as contestants on Mnet's new survival show 'Queendom Puzzle'.[27] On August 15, during the show's finale, member Yeonhee finished in 6th place, placing her in the line-up of the supergroup El7z Up.[28] The remaining members, Juri and Suyun, finished in 12th and 8th place respectively.[29] On September 6, the group released their third single album Boom along with the title track of the same name.[30]
On May 24, 2024, Woollim announced Juri's departure from the group following the expiration of her exclusive contract with the company.[31] On December 27, Woolim announced that the exclusive contract of members Yeonhee, Yunkyung, Sohee, and Dahyun would end on December 31 and the group would disband.[32]
^Han, Hye-sun (May 24, 2024). 로켓펀치, 쥬리 전속계약 종료.."5인 체제로 활동 이어갈 것"[공식] [Rocket Punch, Juri's exclusive contracted ended.. "to continue with activities as 5 members" [Official]]. Star News via Naver (in Korean). Retrieved May 24, 2024.
^Lee, Jeong-beom (July 30, 2019). '쥬리부터 소희까지'...로켓펀치, 8월 7일 전격 데뷔 ["From Juri to Sohee." Rocket Punch, to make a surprise debut on August 7th.]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^Lee, So-dam (August 7, 2019). '울림 신인걸그룹' 로켓펀치, 오늘 정식 데뷔..타이틀곡은 '빔밤붐' ['Woollim rookie girl group' Rocket Punch, official debut today. The title track is "Bim Bam Bum."]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 29, 2019.
^Jang, Jin-ri (March 4, 2019). '프로듀스48' 타카하시 쥬리, 韓 걸그룹 데뷔...울림과 전속계약 ["Produce 48" Takahashi Juri would make her debut in Korean girl group...Exclusive contract with Woollim.]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved July 28, 2019.
^Han, Jeong-won (May 7, 2019). 한국行 타카하시 쥬리 日 AKB48 활동 끝‥인피니트 한솥밥 [Takahashi Juri from Korea, Japan's AKB48 activities are over.]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^Lee, Jeong-beom (May 7, 2019). 타카하시 쥬리, '케이팝 아이돌' 쥬리의 빛나는 미모 '안녕 AKB, 안녕 Woollim' [Takahashi Juri, "K-pop Idol" Juri's shining beauty, "Bye AKB, Hi Woollim."]. Top Star News (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^Kim, Su-jeong (July 23, 2019). 울림 새 걸그룹 '로켓펀치', 데뷔 초읽기 [Woollim's new girl group 'Rocket Punch', the countdown to their debut.]. No Cut News (in Korean). Retrieved July 30, 2019.
^Lee, Hyeon-ji (August 7, 2019). [포토;뷰] 로켓펀치 러블리즈 여동생 그룹 데뷔 [(Photo;View) Rocket Punch Lovelyz's sister group debut.]. Herald Economy (in Korean). Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^Kim, Min-ji (August 7, 2019). 로켓펀치 "울림 새 걸그룹 부담? 러블리즈 응원 덕 자신감" [Rocket Punch's "Woollim's new girl group, burden? Lovelyz's support and confidence."]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^Yeo, Dong-eun (January 27, 2020). 로켓펀치, 2월10일 컴백 확정...'레드 펀치(RED PUNCH)' 컴백 이미지 기습 공개 [Rocket Punch will be back on February 10th. Red Punch comeback image released by surprise.]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 27, 2020.
^Hwang, Ji-young (May 4, 2020). 로켓펀치, 8월 4일 컴백...여름 시즌송 예고 [Rocket Punch will make a comeback on August 4th. Summer season song preview.]. Ilgan Sports (in Korean). Retrieved July 24, 2020.
^Ji, Min-kyoung (August 4, 2020). 로켓펀치, 오늘(4일) 타이틀곡 'JUICY' 발매..상큼+청량 매력 예고 [Rocket Punch released the title track "Juicy" today.Freshness + refreshing charm.]. OSEN (in Korean). Retrieved May 18, 2021.
^Park, Seo-hyeon (May 4, 2021). 로켓펀치, 17일 컴백 확정..앨범명 'Ring Ring'으로 레트로 무드 기 [Rocket Punch will be back on the 17th. Look forward to the retro mood with the album's name 'Ring Ring'.]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved May 4, 2021.
^Lee, Deok-haeng (May 24, 2021). 로켓펀치, 일본 정식 데뷔 확정..."일정 추후 공개" [공식] [Rocket Punch confirms its official Japanese debut... "Schedule to be released later"]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Retrieved May 24, 2021.
^Kim Na-young (March 11, 2022). "로켓펀치, 4월 2~3일 팬미팅 개최...온·오프라인 동시 진행" [Rocket Punch, April 2–3 fan meeting held... Simultaneous online and offline process] (in Korean). MK Sports. Retrieved March 11, 2022 – via Naver.
^Myung, Hee-sook (September 6, 2023). "로켓펀치, 1년 만에 컴백에 "갈고 닦은 실력 보여줄 것"". Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023 – via Naver.
^Rocket Punch 3rd Single Album 'Boom' Photobook Credits page
^@kcforum (June 23, 2021). "2021년을 빛낸. 올해의 <여자아이돌(라이징스타)> 후보" [Shining in 2021. Nominated for this year's "Female Idol (Rising Star)".] (Tweet) (in Korean). Retrieved January 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
