While many idol group members pursue solo careers and still remain members of their group, some solo singers started out in idol groups and went out on their own. Here are five lovely female solo singers who started out in groups and flourished as solo artists.

Nicole
Starting off the list is former KARA rapper, Nicole Jung, the newest solo artist to debut on this list. She made her solo debut after leaving KARA with her first mini album, "First Romance."

On November 19, Nicole released the music video for "MAMA," a seductive dance song with R&B overtones produced by Sweetune. It is her first song as a solo artist, but reactions to Nicole going solo have been well-received. Comments on the music video say that “MAMA” suits Nicole far better than some of the upbeat KARA songs that made the group famous.

Seo In Young
Seo In Young, also known as Elly, started her solo career when still a member of Jewelry from 2002-2010, but left the group to focus on her solo career.

“Goodbye Romance,” Seo In Young’s first song released after her departure from the group, met with the most success, but she has continuously released music that has done well on music charts. Her powerful vocals that allow her to sing both ballads and more upbeat music, combined with her dance skills, has led Seo In Young to becoming a regular name in the Korean music industry.

She released “My Love” featuring Zion. T in October.

Kahi

The original leader and one of the founders of After School, Kahi became a solo artist with her first solo song “Come Back, You Bad Person,” in 2011, prior to leaving the group. The song gained a fair amount of popularity, and Kahi was rumored to have another solo comeback. However, she ended up leaving After School in 2012 and didn’t release her solo comeback until 2013, with “Who Are You?”

The title song, “It’s Me” had a jazz-influenced sound and showcased Kahi’s skills as a solo singer with a commanding dance style.

HA:TFELT
Technically, Wonder Girls are still on hiatus, but with one member (Sunye) married, one member officially departed (Sohee,) the girl group future is unclear.

Yeeun debuted as HA:TFELT in July 2014 with “Ain’t Nobody.” The song’s style and the modern dance that HA:TFELT performed during her live performances received mixed reactions from Korean audiences, but the artistic style gained much attention from international fans.

Lee Hyori
Once a member of Fin.K.L, Lee Hyori has become one of Korea’s most popular girl group member turned solo singer. Her songs like “U Go Girl,” “Miss Korea,” and “Bad Girl” have gained a lot of attention.

With her sex appeal and talent, Lee Hyori’s won multiple awards and became a popular entertainer on variety shows.