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UNIS Says Goodbye With Milky Way as Their Final Group Chapter Arrives Amid a Major Rise in Attention

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The eight members of K-pop girl group UNIS posing together in pastel outfits during a photo shoot in a lush garden setting.

UNIS had spent two and a half years building memories with EverAfter, but their final days together arrived at a moment none of the members could have expected emotionally. Just as the eight-member group was seeing renewed public interest in its music, the members were preparing to say goodbye.

Even more poignantly, an interview recorded shortly before the announcement became the final interview of all eight UNIS members together. What followed was a farewell shaped by rising attention, emotional recording sessions, memories of their debut journey, and one last song written with their fans in mind.

UNIS’ final interview took place as interest in the group was growing

On September 22, the members of UNIS sat down with TenAsia at F&F Entertainment’s headquarters in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul.

The timing became significant because F&F Entertainment announced that same day that UNIS’ exclusive management contract would end on September 26, 2026. The announcement confirmed that the group’s scheduled full-group activities would conclude according to the original plan.

At that moment, however, UNIS was also experiencing a fresh wave of attention.

Their remake of โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttang,โ€ originally released in 1997 by female duo BiBi, had continued gaining momentum even after the group’s music-show promotions ended. Older UNIS performances were also receiving renewed attention, creating an unusual situation in which the members were seeing more recognition just as their project-group period was approaching its conclusion.

Jin Hyeon Ju recalled how surreal that response felt.

โ€œWhen the first response started coming in, we were monitoring so much that we couldn’t tell whether UNIS was really trending or if it was just because our phones were showing us UNIS-related content. Every day feels like a dream.โ€

Bang Yun Ha said the response represented something the members had imagined for a long time.

โ€œThis is the first time we’ve experienced something like this. We’re grateful that the huge response we’ve always imagined is actually happening. It feels rewarding to see songs from our debut album and other releases gradually receiving more love. I feel like all the work we’ve put in has finally paid off.โ€

The contrast was difficult to ignore: UNIS was receiving the kind of attention the members had hoped for, while the clock on their scheduled group activities was already running out.

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Why โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttangโ€ meant so much to UNIS

The renewed attention surrounding UNIS was closely connected to their remake of โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttang.โ€

Because the original song was released in 1997, it existed long before any of the UNIS members were active as idols. Yet that distance from their own generation became part of what made the remake meaningful.

For Bang Yun Ha, the song had a particularly personal connection through her mother.

โ€œMy mom really loves this song because she used to sing it at karaoke with her friends when she was in school.โ€

Yun Ha even taught her mother the choreography, turning the remake into a personal bridge between generations.

That same connection appeared among fans. Yun Ha said she had seen fans explain that the song allowed them to connect with their parents, something she found meaningful because UNIS itself could become part of that shared experience.

The song’s chart movement also showed how its audience was expanding. F&F Entertainment said โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttangโ€ climbed from No. 951 to No. 465 on Melon’s daily chart after initially entering at the lower position.

Its momentum continued after music-show promotions ended, adding another layer to the timing of the group’s contract announcement.

UNIS wanted to keep the original song’s charm while making it their own

Remaking a song already associated with another generation came with its own pressure.

Jin Hyeon Ju explained that the members approached the recording with the feeling that they had to respect the original while showing UNIS’ identity.

โ€œIt was an honor just to be able to sing a song by such a senior artist. We practiced and recorded it with the mindset that we couldn’t let them down. We practiced so much that after dancing once, we’d literally collapse on the floor because we wanted to convey UNIS’ bright energy.โ€

Their performances also became notable because the members were singing live while handling demanding choreography.

For Nana, the public response to their vocals was especially meaningful.

โ€œOf course I’m happy that the song is being loved, but I’m especially happy that the public has taken notice of the members’ live singing abilities.โ€

Jin Hyeon Ju admitted that she had been nervous about performing the song live.

โ€œEven two days before the music show, I was still worried and thinking, ‘How are we going to sing this live?’โ€

The members ultimately delivered the performances they had prepared for, and their live singing became another part of the positive attention surrounding the song.

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Lim Seowon’s worries about her voice became a source of confidence

Lim Seowon entered the recording with a different concern.

Before becoming an idol, she had performed trot songs and other previously released music, so she initially believed โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttangโ€ would suit her naturally.

โ€œBefore becoming an idol, I sang a lot of previously released songs, including trot songs. So when I first heard ‘Haneulttang Byeolttang,’ I thought it was a song I could do well.โ€

But once recording began, Seowon started questioning whether her vocal tone would blend with the other members.

โ€œBut while recording, I started worrying that my tone or singing style might not match the other members.โ€

The response from fans eventually helped change that.

โ€œI talked about those concerns in the behind-the-scenes recording video, and I gained confidence after seeing so many warm comments.โ€

She continued:

โ€œI’ve worried about my vocal tone for a long time, so hearing people say that they liked my voice made me feel recognized. It made me really happy.โ€

That confidence became another meaningful part of the group’s final period together.

โ€œMilky Wayโ€ became UNIS’ final song for EverAfter

While โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttangโ€ was bringing renewed attention to the group, UNIS had already prepared another release.

โ€œMilky Wayโ€ was released on September 23 at 6 p.m. KST as a digital single and goodbye fan song for EverAfter.

The release had been announced before the contract-ending news and was described by F&F Entertainment as the next release following โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttang.โ€

The song focuses on the relationship between UNIS and EverAfter. Jin Hyeon Ju, Nana, Elisia and Oh Yoon Ah participated in writing the lyrics.

Its central concept compares the members and their fans to distant stars that remain connected. Rather than treating the farewell as a complete ending, the song presents it as a pause before another meeting. SBS described the message as viewing the farewell as a comma in UNIS’ journey.

The members put significant emotional effort into the recording.

Jin Hyeon Ju said:

โ€œWe worked really hard on the recording because we wanted to convey our sincerity to our fans. It took us longer to record than any song we’ve done before. We went into the studio while it was still bright outside, and by the time we came out, it was already dark.โ€

For Nana, simply hearing the song for the first time was enough to bring the emotions rushing in.

โ€œAs soon as I heard the song for the first time in the practice room, I thought of the fans’ faces and UNIS singing this song, and I couldn’t stop crying. No one else was at the company at the time, so I called Kotoko, who was at the dorm.โ€

Lim Seo Won also became emotional during the recording.

Kotoko recalled:

โ€œSeo Won didn’t cry in the recording booth because she was being professional, but as soon as she came out after finishing the recording, she burst into tears.โ€

โ€œMilky Wayโ€ consequently became more than another digital release. It became UNIS’ final musical message to the fans who had followed the group from its survival-show beginnings through its debut and two-and-a-half-year journey.

UNIS’ project-group ending had been planned from the beginning

The conclusion of UNIS’ full-group activities was not presented as an unexpected collapse of the group.

UNIS was formed through SBS’ survival audition program โ€œUniverse Ticket,โ€ which concluded in January 2024. Its eight-member lineup consists of:

MemberUNIS
Jin Hyeon JuMember
NanaMember
GehleeMember
KotokoMember
Bang Yun HaMember
ElisiaMember
Oh Yoon AhMember
Lim Seo WonMember

The group had a predetermined promotional period of two years and six months.

UNIS officially debuted on March 27, 2024, with its first mini album, We UNIS.

F&F Entertainment’s September 22 announcement confirmed that the management contract will expire on September 26, 2026. The company and the members discussed the contract period and their future activities before deciding to conclude UNIS’ official activities as a complete group according to the original schedule.

The agency also expressed gratitude to the eight members and said it would support them as they move forward individually.

That distinction matters. The announcement concerns the conclusion of activities as UNIS. It does not establish that the members are ending their entertainment careers.

The members are already looking toward their individual futures

Even during their final period as UNIS, the members were thinking about what could come next.

Jin Hyeon Ju said the response to โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttangโ€ had shown her a different side of how the public viewed her.

โ€œThis was actually the first time I’d heard someone describe me as an ‘adult woman.’ People also started calling me ‘The Big Big Jeong unnie’ using my part in ‘Haneul Ttang Byeol Ttang.’ It was fascinating and made me happy because it was the first time I’d had ‘unnie’ attached to my name.โ€

She added:

โ€œGoing forward, I’d like to show a calmer and more mature side of myself as well.โ€

Elisia spoke about another path she would like to explore.

Before joining UNIS, she had worked as a child actress and musical actress in the Philippines. She said she would like to return to acting and explore roles appropriate for her age.

โ€œEven while promoting as an idol, I was happy that I could do a little acting in music videos. Now I’d like to try roles that are appropriate for my age. I usually like the horror genre, so I’d also love to appear in a horror project.โ€

The comments show how the conclusion of UNIS’ group activities could lead the members toward different creative directions.

The farewell was made harder by UNIS’ renewed recognition

For the members, the timing remained one of the most emotional parts of the situation.

Jin Hyeon Ju acknowledged that it was difficult to see the group’s chapter closing just as more people were discovering UNIS.

โ€œIt’s sad that things are coming to an end just as so many people are finally starting to recognize UNIS.โ€

At the same time, Bang Yun Ha found reassurance in the fact that the members had finally become more widely recognized.

โ€œI’m also looking forward to what’s ahead because so many people have come to recognize all eight members. Whether we’re together or pursuing our own paths, there’s a reassuring feeling that people will continue to support us.โ€

That sentiment also aligns with F&F Entertainment’s statement asking fans to continue supporting the members as they take on new challenges after UNIS’ official activities end.

UNIS’ final messages to EverAfter

The final interview ended with each member sharing a personal message to EverAfter and to the other members. The farewell became emotional, with the eight members shedding tears as they reflected on their two-and-a-half-year journey.

Jin Hyeon Ju:

โ€œWithout EverAfter, UNIS wouldn’t have been able to exist. I’m so grateful that I can’t even put it into words. To the members, we’ve lived together for two and a half years and gone through so many things. Thank you for enduring everything so well and growing alongside me. I’m sorry, grateful, and I love you.โ€

Nana:

โ€œI’ve been so happy for the past two and a half years. Of course, there were difficult times, but you gave us so much love. There were even moments when I wondered, ‘Why do you love me this much?’ I’m truly grateful and I love you. Please continue to support us.โ€

Gehlee:

โ€œI’m sincerely grateful for all the love and support you’ve given us over the past two years. EverAfter was the driving force that allowed us to stand in front of you as better versions of ourselves, no matter what situation we were in. I would be happy if we were also able to give EverAfter strength and comfort. I love you so much, and I hope you’ll all take good care of your health.โ€

Kotoko:

โ€œI’m grateful to everyone who watched us from ‘Universe Ticket’ through our debut, as well as everyone who became our fan more recently. There were many times when I lacked confidence, but EverAfter gave me so much strength whenever I felt that way. I was able to grow this much thanks to our fans.โ€

Bang Yun Ha:

โ€œThe fact that all eight members came together and were able to debut was all thanks to EverAfter. Thank you so much for always being by our side. It’s sad that there are things we weren’t able to show you during our time together, but I’m even more grateful than I am disappointed. I hope you’ll continue to stay by the members’ sides.โ€

Elisia:

โ€œThere are fans who have supported us since our survival show days, and there are also fans who became interested in UNIS more recently. I’m grateful to every single one of you. I’ve laughed and cried while reading each of your letters. Thank you so much, and I love you.โ€

Oh Yoon Ah:

โ€œThank you for being with UNIS and loving us from the very beginning until now. I wanted to show you many new sides of myself, so I’m sorry that I don’t think I was able to do that. Please look forward to the Yoon Ah who will continue to grow from here, and I hope you won’t forget the memories you made with UNIS. I was able to keep going thanks to the members who stayed by my side whenever I was struggling or upset. Thank you.โ€

Lim Seo Won:

โ€œWe were a group whose ending was decided from the beginning. I’m grateful to EverAfter for coming to UNIS and loving us even though you knew that. I’m sad that we weren’t able to show you everything we wanted to, but to our EverAfter, who stayed by our side and supported us until the very end, I cherish you so much. I cherish the members so much, too. I love you.โ€

UNIS’ final chapter arrives during one of its biggest recent moments

UNIS’ scheduled full-group activities will conclude on September 26, 2026, following the expiration of the group’s management contract.

The timing gives the farewell an especially bittersweet quality. โ€œHaneul Ttang Byeol Ttangโ€ had brought the group renewed attention, their live performances were being noticed, older songs and stages were finding new audiences, and โ€œMilky Wayโ€ gave EverAfter one final song created specifically around the bond between the group and its fans.

Yet the story is not one of the members simply disappearing from entertainment. F&F Entertainment has described the conclusion as the end of UNIS’ official full-group activities while expressing support for the members’ future paths.

For EverAfter, โ€œMilky Wayโ€ therefore carries the weight of a goodbye without presenting the connection between the members and fans as something that simply disappears. Its image of distant stars remaining connected reflects the message the members themselves have left behind: UNIS’ scheduled chapter is ending, but the eight members are looking toward whatever comes next.

Conclusion

UNIS’ final days bring together nearly everything that defined the group’s two-and-a-half-year journey: a survival-show beginning, a predetermined project-group period, performances built through intense practice, renewed public recognition, and a deep relationship with EverAfter.

The eight members will conclude their official activities as UNIS on September 26, 2026, but their individual paths remain ahead of them. And with โ€œMilky Wayโ€ serving as their final fan song, the group’s farewell has been framed not simply as an ending, but as a comma in a story that the members hope can continue in different forms.

Disclaimer

This article has been prepared based on thorough research of the sources provided in the original verified material, including F&F Entertainment, TenAsia, Soompi, SBS Entertainment News, and StarNews. The article reflects the information available as of September 24, 2026, and is based on the statements, reports, dates, figures, and other details contained in those sources. It should not be understood as independent verification beyond what the provided source material supports.

More K-Pop Comebacks: A fourth mini album rides in on the momentum of two rising title tracks. For more, read our post on RESCENE’s ‘PULSE’ Comeback

Sources

Featured Image Credit: F&F Entertainment

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