Diva (South Korean group)
| Company type | Girl group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | South Korea |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
DIVA () was a South Korean female hip-hop group that launched their career in 1997, originally consisting of members Chae Ri-na, Vicky, and Ji Ni. After releasing their initial two albums, Funky Diva (1997) and Snappy Diva (1998), Ji Ni exited the group and was succeeded by Lee Min Kyoung. Post their third album, Millennium (1999), Chae Ri-na left the lineup while Ji Ni made a return. The group went on to produce Naughty Diva (2000), Perfect (2001), Luxury Diva (2002), Renaissance (2004), and Only Diva (2005) before officially disbanding in 2005.
1997–1999: Launch with Funky Diva, Snappy Diva, Millennium, Dream, and member transitions
DIVA made their debut in 1997 with the album Funky Diva, which featured the singles "Yeah" and "Drama of December." The track "Yeah (그래)" climbed to number 5 on South Korean music charts, while the album achieved sales nearing 270,000 units.
Their sophomore album, Snappy Diva (1998), contained notable songs such as "Why (왜 불러)" and "Joy (기쁨)." The single "Why" reached the top position on charts and was subsequently covered by girl group C.I.V.A in 2016. This album recorded sales exceeding 240,000 copies.
In early 1999, DIVA released an English-language album titled Dream in Taiwan; its lead single "I'll Get Your Love" sold over 30,000 copies. Following this promotion period, Ji Ni departed from the group and Lee Min Kyoung joined as her replacement. On July 8, 1999, they unveiled their third studio album, Millennium, featuring singles like "Yo Yo (고리)" and "Feel It." The song "Yo Yo" peaked at number 3 on the charts, while the album surpassed 100,000 copies sold.
2000–2002: Releases of Naughty Diva, Perfect!, and Luxury Diva
The group's fourth studio effort, Naughty Diva, was issued in 2000 with singles including "Up & Down" and "In This Winter (이 겨울에)." Despite the exit of leader Chae Ri-na, DIVA sustained their popularity, selling approximately 112,788 copies. They actively promoted the track "Crazy" through various music programs.
In 2001, the fifth album titled Perfect! arrived featuring singles such as "Perfect! (딱이야)" and "DVD". This release reached a peak chart position of number 6 and sold over 69,069 units.
DIVA’s sixth album, Luxury Diva, came out in 2002 and showcased a transition toward more opulent and darker musical themes. Singles from this album included "Lust in the Wind" and "Action." However, this record saw diminished commercial success; "Action" peaked at number 14 on charts with total sales around 46,840 copies.
2003–2005: Compilation with Best, subsequent albums Renaissance, Only Diva, and disbandment
In 2003, DIVA released their inaugural compilation album titled Best, which compiled popular tracks from the years 1997 to 2002. This collection sold roughly 20,000 copies.
Their seventh studio project, Renaissance, featured singles like "Hey Boy" and "Amoremio." The single "Hey Boy" reached number 11 on music charts with overall sales near 17,797 copies.
The eighth and final album before disbanding was Only Diva, containing singles such as "Smile" and "My Style." Notably, the music video for "Smile" was filmed in China. Domestic sales for this album were approximately 20,000 copies. After completing promotional activities for this release, DIVA disbanded to pursue individual careers.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOR | |||
| Funky Diva |
|
No data | No data |
| Snappy Diva |
|
No data |
|
| Millennium |
|
3 |
|
| Naughty Diva |
|
7 |
|
| Perfect! (딱이야!) |
|
12 |
|
| Luxury Diva |
|
46* |
|
| Renaissance |
|
31 |
|
| Only Diva |
|
27 |
|
| * September 2002 data is unavailable; peak chart position for Luxury Diva is from October 2002. | |||
English albums
- Dream (1999)
Compilation albums
- Best World (2003)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work nominated | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Golden Disc Awards | Popularity Award | "Yeah" (그래) | Template:Won |
| 2001 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Group | "Perfect!" | Template:Nom |
| 2004 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Group Video | "Hey Boy" | Template:Nom |
| 2005 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Female Group | "Smile" (웃어요) | Template:Nom |