Why did 2NE1 went on hiatus in 2014?

2NE1 went on hiatus in 2014 after Park Bom’s drug-smuggling controversy resurfaced and brought intense public scrutiny to the group.

The controversy concerned a 2010 shipment of Adderall, a prescription medication in the United States, that was sent to South Korea. South Korean media reported the case in June 2014, prompting criticism and widespread debate. Prosecutors did not formally charge Bom, but the backlash led her to stop public activities, including her appearance on the television show Roommate.

Because Bom was one of 2NE1’s four members and main vocalists, the group largely halted Korean promotions while she remained inactive. This was a hiatus in group activities, not an immediate disbandment: 2NE1 still made some scheduled appearances and later performed as a group at the 2015 Mnet Asian Music Awards.

A common mix-up is calling the incident a confirmed criminal conviction. Bom was investigated over the imported medication but was not officially charged. The prolonged inactivity eventually contributed to the group’s wider decline; Minzy left in 2016, and YG Entertainment announced 2NE1’s disbandment later that year.