FIFTY FIFTY and Keena began their journey in the K-pop industry after Keena trained for seven and a half years. Despite legal battles with ATTRAKT and the controversy surrounding her decision to return, Keena remained a member of FIFTY FIFTY. Public perception of Keena shifted positively after her mother’s heartfelt comment, leading to renewed support for both Keena and the group.
Introduction to FIFTY FIFTY and Keena Early Life
Keena is a member of the multinational girl group FIFTY FIFTY, under ATTRAKT Entertainment. She comes from Daejeon, South Korea, where she began her training as a dancer at the ‘GB Academy’ in her elementary school days. By sixth grade, she moved to Seoul to live as a trainee. She remained in Seoul but her family stayed in Daejeon. From a young age, she was inspired to pursue singing after watching a concert video of the girl group Apink. Her desire to become a singer steadily grew, and in May 2015, she started her trainee career at MMO Entertainment.
Keena Journey as FIFTY FIFTY Main Rapper
Keena’s training period lasted for seven and a half years at MMO Entertainment and ATTRAKT. During her time at ATTRAKT, she faced challenges such as her debut being canceled two to three times. She also underwent evaluations every two months. Despite these hurdles, she debuted on November 18, 2022, as the main rapper of FIFTY FIFTY. Known for her unique voice and clear diction, her rapping style is notable for its precision. Even before her official debut, she had released an OST as a solo artist, showcasing her solid singing skills as well.
FIFTY FIFTY and Keena’s Rising Success with ‘The Beginning: Cupid’
FIFTY FIFTY’s first album, The FIFTY, did not achieve significant success initially. However, their fortunes changed when ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hongjun signed a partnership deal with Warner Music Korea. This led to the release of their single, The Beginning: Cupid, which entered the U.S. Billboard charts. The group started gaining international attention. Unfortunately, Aran, one of the members, had a pre-existing health condition that affected her, leading to a group hiatus. During this time, ATTRAKT and the members prepared for their U.S. comeback and sought additional investments.
Legal Controversy and Keena’s Return to ATTRAKT
During this hiatus, a controversy erupted. ATTRAKT accused The Givers, a management agency, of encouraging the members to terminate their contracts with ATTRAKT. ATTRAKT presented a recording to back these claims, while the members argued that their trust in the company had been damaged. They filed a lawsuit to nullify their exclusive contracts, but the court rejected their request. Only Keena withdrew her appeal and returned to ATTRAKT. Subsequently, ATTRAKT terminated contracts with the other three members, Seana, Sio, and Aran. Keena’s decision to return made her the only member to reconcile with the company.
Keena’s Mother’s Public Comment and Public Perception
During this legal battle, Keena’s mother became involved by leaving a heartfelt comment on YouTube addressed to ATTRAKT CEO Jeon Hongjun. She said, “Stay strong. I’m Keena’s mom. I’m sorry; I think I raised my child wrong.” She added, “I’m working at a restaurant in Daejeon. Please take care of Keena once more.” Initially, public opinion toward Keena was negative because she had left and then returned to ATTRAKT. However, after seeing her mother’s genuine comment, the public began to support Keena again. Since then, after FIFTY FIFTY’s comeback, there has been no more negative talk about her, and many now say that her mother’s wise actions helped save Keena’s reputation.
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Keena’s mom’s heartwarming words really swayed Jeon Hong-jun and the Korean fans. Koreans are such softies, huh? No hate, just an American’s perspective.