Weki Meki (
Korean: 위키미키; abbreviated as WEME or WKMK) is a South Korean
girl group formed by
Fantagio in 2017. The group consists of eight members: Suyeon, Elly,
Yoojung,
Doyeon, Sei, Lua, Rina, and Lucy.[1]
History
Pre-debut
The members started out as trainees under Fantagio i-Teen, a rookie talent development program under Fantagio Entertainment, and were known as i-Teen Girls.
In 2015, i-Teen Girls members
Kim Do-yeon,
Choi Yoo-jung, Lua, Lucy and Elly (as well as former trainees
Chu Ye-jin and Lee Soo-min) had numerous cameos in label mates
Astro's predebut online web drama To Be Continued.[citation needed]
Elly (as Jung Hae-rim), Choi Yoo-jung, Kim Do-yeon, and Sei (as Lee Seo-jeong, then under LOUDers Entertainment) competed in the
Mnet survival television program Produce 101, which aired from January 22 to April 1, 2016. Choi Yoo-jung and Kim Do-yeon were ranked in the final top 11 contestants and debuted in the project girl group
I.O.I.[2]
On July 6, 2017
Fantagio revealed that their new girl group would be called Weki Meki.[3]
2017–2018: Debut with Weme, Lucky, and Kiss, Kicks
Weki Meki released their debut
extended play, Weme on August 8, 2017. The EP contains six tracks with the lead single titled "I Don't Like Your Girlfriend". The album also features lyrics written by Choi Yoo-jung.[4][5] A month later, a limited "B Version" of their debut EP was physically released. In November, according to
Gaon Music Chart, the EP sold over 47,000 physical copies since its release and marking the highest selling album by a girl group that debuted in 2017.[6]
On February 1, 2018, a reality show called "Weki Meki, mohae?"[7] premiered on
YouTube. The show had a total of 60 episodes, and lasted until April 1, 2018. The show followed the girls on their 60-day campaign to become an all-around idol. On February 21, Weki Meki released their second extended play titled Lucky.[8] The album features a total of six songs including lead single "La La La" and "Butterfly", the latter being a remake of an original soundtrack from the 2009 sports film Take Off which the group released in support of the
2018 Winter Olympics.[9] Weki Meki released their first single album Kiss, Kicks on October 11.[10] The album features a total of three tracks including lead single "Crush" with rap portions on the album written by member Yoo-jung.[11]
2019–2023: Hide and Seek, New Rules and I Am Me.
The group released their second single album Lock End LOL on May 14, including the lead single "Picky Picky".[12]
A repackage version of the single album titled Week End LOL with lead single "Tiki-Taka (99%)" release on August 8.[13][14]
On February 6, 2020, Fantagio Music confirmed that the group will have a comeback with digital single album Dazzle Dazzle on February 20, and confirmed that member Yoojung will join after her hiatus from October 2019.[15][16] On May 29, Fantagio released a teaser image for the group's third EP, Hide and Seek, which was released on June 18, 2020.[17] It consists of five songs, including the title track "Oopsy" and the previously released single "Dazzle Dazzle". On October 8, Weki Meki released their fourth EP, New Rules, featuring five songs, including the title track "Cool" and its English version "100 Facts", which is their first song in English.[18]
On November 18, 2021, Weki Meki released their fifth EP, I Am Me., featuring six songs, including the title track "Siesta".[19]
On June 13th 2023, Elly participated as a contestant in Mnet's reality competition show
Queendom Puzzle. Elly was eliminated in the final episode placing 11th with 292,486 votes.
^"김도연X최유정 걸그룹 위키미키, 8월 8일 데뷔 확정(공식)" [Kim Do-yeon and Choi Yoo-jung girl group Weki Meki debut confirmed for August 8 (official)]. Naver (in Korean). 2017-07-10.
Archived from the original on 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
^[단독] 위키미키 리더, 김도연·최유정 아닌 메보 지수연 [[Exclusive] The leader of Weki Meki is not Kim Do-yeon or Choi Yu-jeong, but the main vocal Ji Su-yeon]. Naver News (in Korean).
Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
^"지수연 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"엘리 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"최유정 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"김도연 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2016-08-27. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"세이 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"루아 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"리나 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^"루시 :: 네이버 인물검색". people.search.naver.com.
Archived from the original on 2020-02-23. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
^Peak chart positions for extended plays on Circle Album Chart (previously named Gaon Album Chart):
"Weme". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
"Lucky". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
"Hide and Seek". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
"New Rules". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
"I Am Me". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
^Peak chart positions for extended plays on Oricon Albums Chart:
"Lucky". Oricon (in Japanese). May 16, 2018.
Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
^"2017년 Album Chart" [2017 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
"2018년 02월 Album Chart" [February 2018 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
"2018년 Album Chart" [2018 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 9, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
^Accumlative sales for Lucky on Oricon Albums Chart:
"週間 アルバムランキング (2018年05月21日付)" [Weekly Album Ranking (Published May 21, 2018)]. Oricon (in Japanese). May 16, 2018. Archived from
the original on May 16, 2018.
^"2020년 07월 Album Chart" [July 2020 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
^"2020년 11월 Album Chart" [November 2020 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
^"2021년 12월 Album Chart" [December 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
^Peak chart positions for single albums on Circle Album Chart (previously named Gaon Album Chart):
"Kiss, Kicks". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
"Lock End LOL". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
^Peak chart positions for single albums on Oricon Albums Chart:
"Lock End LOL". Oricon (in Japanese). Archived from
the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
^"2018년 11월 Album Chart" [November 2018 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
"2019년 06월 Album Chart" [June 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
"2019년 07월 Album Chart" [July 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on May 31, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
^Peak chart positions for reissues on Circle Album Chart (previously named Gaon Album Chart):
"Week End LOL". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on April 20, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
^"2019년 08월 Album Chart" [August 2019 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
^Peak chart positions for singles on Circle Digital Chart (previously Gaon Digital Chart):
^"2017년 32주차 Download Chart" [Week 32 of 2017 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
^"2018년 08주차 Download Chart" [Week 8 of 2018 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Archived from
the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
^"2019년 20주차 Download Chart" [Week 20 of 2019 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from
the original on May 26, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
^"2019년 32주차 Download Chart" [Week 32 of 2019 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from
the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
^"2020년 8주차 Download Chart" [Week 8 of 2020 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from
the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
^"2020년 25주차 Download Chart" [Week 25 of 2020 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from
the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
^"2020년 41주차 Download Chart" [Week 41 of 2020 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from
the original on June 1, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
^"2021년 47주차 Download Chart" [Week 47 of 2021 Download Chart]. Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association. Archived from
the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2021.