El7z Up (Korean: 엘즈업; RR: Eljeueob; stylized in all caps or formally as EL7Z U+P[2]) is a South Korean female supergroup project formed through the Mnet reality competition show Queendom Puzzle. The group is managed by Apple Monster and DG Entertainment, and consists of seven members: Kei from Lovelyz, Yeeun from CLC, Yeoreum from WJSN, Yeonhee from Rocket Punch, Nana from Wooah, Hwiseo from H1-Key, and Yuki from Purple Kiss. They debuted on September 14, 2023, with the extended play (EP) 7+Up.[3]
Name
The group's name, El7z Up, is the word "Puzzle" spelled backwards, with the number "7" representing the number of members in the group and replacing one of the "z".[4] The name represents "the best seven members the audience 'puzzled' out".[5]
History
Pre-debut: Background and formation through Queendom Puzzle
All members of El7z Up have previously made their debuts in other girl groups. Kei debuted as a member of Lovelyz in 2014, Yeeun debuted as a member of CLC in 2015, both of whom also debuted as soloists in 2019 and 2023 respectively. Yeoreum debuted as a member of WJSN in 2016 and as a member of WJSN's first subunit WJSN Chocome in 2020. Yeonhee debuted as a member of Rocket Punch in 2019. Nana and Yuki debuted as a member of Wooah and Purple Kiss respectively in 2020. Hwiseo debuted as a member of H1-Key in 2022.
El7z Up was formed through the reality competition show Queendom Puzzle, which aired from June 13 to August 15, 2023. The show brought together twenty-eight active female idols to form a supergroup consisting of seven members. On July 25, during the seventh episode, the name of the group was revealed.[6] During the finale, the final seven members of the group were announced, along with the aim of a September debut later that year.[7]
Before appearing on the show, Kei participated in the first season of the show's legacy series Queendom as part of her group Lovelyz.[8] Yeoreum also participated in the second season as part of her group WJSN, where they finished in first place.[9]
2023–present: Debut with 7+Up, and 2023 MAMA Awards
On September 14, 2023, El7z Up made their debut with the EP 7+Up, along with its lead single "Cheeky".[3] The group held their first concert in Japan titled "Piece Up", taking place in Saitama at Omiya Sonic City [ja] on October 22, in Osaka at Grand Cube Osaka on October 24, and in Tokyo at Tachikawa Stage Garden on November 26.[10][11] On November 29, El7z Up appeared and performed at the 2023 MAMA Awards.[12]
^The group will be active until after the release of three consecutive EPs.[1]
^Hosted by the Hong Kong Asia Pacific International Group and Sunway Records, the Asian Pop Music Awards bases its winners on the "Asian Pop Music Chart" which opened in September 2019.[19]
^ abJin-ah, Son (September 4, 2023). "'퀸덤퍼즐' 엘즈업, 14일 데뷔 확정(공식)" ['Queendom Puzzle' El7z Up confirms debut on the 14th (officially)]. MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Hyeyeon (September 14, 2023). "'퀸덤퍼즐' 글로벌 걸그룹명은 엘즈업...주이→서연 5人 탈락 [종합]" ['Junghee' El7z Up "Goal? No. 1 on music shows... I want to become a group that can be together for a long time" [Comprehensive]]. Herald Pop (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved September 14, 2023 – via Naver.
^Dew (July 26, 2023). "'퀸덤퍼즐' 글로벌 걸그룹명은 엘즈업...주이→서연 5人 탈락 [종합]" ['Queendom Puzzle' global girl group name El7z Up... JooE → Seoyeon 5 people eliminated [Comprehensive]]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Naver.
^Seung-ah, Goh (July 26, 2023). "위클리 수진·지한·조아 '퀸덤 퍼즐' 세미파이널 진출 확정" [Weeekly's Sujin, Jihan, and Joa confirmed to advance to the semi-finals of 'Queendom Puzzle']. News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023 – via Naver.
^ abJin-ah, Son (August 16, 2023). "'엘즈업 재데뷔' 휘서·나나·유키·케이·여름·연희·예은의 새 출발 [MK★이슈]" [EL7Z UP Re-debut' Hwiseo·Nana·Yuki·Kei·Yeoreum·Yeonhee·Yeeun's New Starts [MK★Issue]]. MK Sports (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 16, 2023. Retrieved August 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^Hye-won, Jeong (April 26, 2023). "'우승 경력자'도 '역주행돌'도 '퀸덤 퍼즐'行...걸그룹 재도전 통할까[이슈S]" ['Winner of the championship', 'Reverse running idol', 'Queendom puzzle'... Will the girl group re-challenge work? [Issue S]]. SpotTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023 – via Naver.
^Jeong, Jin-ri (April 25, 2023). "[단독]우주소녀 여름, '퀸덤 퍼즐' 출격...'퀸덤2' 우승자 등판" [[Exclusive] WJSN Yeoreum, goes to 'Queendom Puzzle'... The winner of "Queendom 2" will appear.]. SpotTV News (in Korean). Archived from the original on May 18, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023 – via Naver.
^Son, Bong-seok (November 29, 2023). "'퀸덤퍼즐' 엘즈업, '2023 MAMA' 첫 출격" [‘Queendom Puzzle’ El7z Up, first appearance at ‘2023 MAMA’]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023 – via Naver.
"7+Up". Circle Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
^ ab週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2023年09月25日付 [Oricon Weekly Digital Album Ranking September 11, 2023 – September 17, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
^EL7Z UP(엘즈업) - 'CHEEKY' MV (Music video). Apple Monster/DG Entertainment. September 14, 2023. Archived from the original on September 14, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2024 – via YouTube.
^Jeong, Ha-eun (January 3, 2024). 역사상 첫 해외 개최, 대상은 엔시티 드림 “2년 연속 수상 영광…시즈니 덕분”[제33회 서울가요대상] [Held overseas for the first time in history, the grand prize was awarded by NCT Dream "Honored to be awarded for the second year in a row...Thanks to Czennies" [The 33rd Seoul Music Awards]] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024 – via Naver.