B1A4

History

Leader Jinyoung was similarly discovered from a Cyworld photo and received training in composition, singing, and acting. Gongchan was discovered on Cyworld after winning an "Ulzzang Challenge" in middle school. Main vocalist Sandeul was approached by a company agent after performing a Kim Yeon-woo song in a talent show.

The group trained for two years before debut. On April 11, the members were introduced through a webtoon; a female character named Anna led some to believe B1A4 would be a mixed-gender group. WM Entertainment revealed leader Jinyoung's photo that day, and the remaining members Baro, Gongchan, Sandeul, and CNU were revealed daily from April 12 to 15.

A music video teaser for "O.K" appeared on April 19; the full video and debut EP Let's Fly were released on April 21. The group's debut performance was on MBC's Show! Music Core on April 23, with subsequent stages on Mnet's M Countdown, KBS' Music Bank, and SBS' Inkigayo. They began promoting "Only Learned the Bad Things" on June 18, 2011.

B1A4 and Block B starred on SBS MTV's reality show Match Up, which started airing June 22; the music video for "Only Learned the Bad Things" aired on the first episode. Their second EP It B1A4 and lead single "Beautiful Target" were released on September 15, 2011, and they promoted it on several music shows. They began promoting "My Love" on November 18.

Public image

Korean media have called B1A4 "countryside-dols" because all members come from outside the Seoul metropolitan area: Jinyoung from Chungju, CNU from Cheongju, Sandeul from Busan, Baro from Gwangju, and Gongchan from Suncheon. They have also been referred to as "blood-dols" (referencing the group name's origin in members' blood types) and "paper-dols" (from the paper classification A4). The group promoted the nickname "saessakdol" and created a "saessakchum" dance showcased on shows including Quiz to Change the World. In January 2015, B1A4 members hugged Muslim female fans at a meet and greet in Malaysia, leading internet commenters to call for the organizers to be charged.

Philanthropy

B1A4 have a history of giving back. In May 2012, the group went to a fan's house, cooked a meal, and helped look after the fan's sick mother. Later that August, they donated 140 kilograms of rice garlands, which had been gifts from fans, to the Seoul SOS Youth Camp. The following month, they performed a mini concert at Wonju Market to promote local traditional markets.

For their first solo concert, BABA B1A4, international fans sent gifts and donations that the group passed on to charity. In July 2013, while getting ready for their second solo concert, B1A4 requested school supplies instead of flower wreaths, teaming up with CJ Group's Donor's Camp foundation to help educate underprivileged children. A portion of the earnings from their third solo concert went to Seoul Arts College's matriculation ceremony in February 2014; the college used the money to buy rice for the Gangnam Start Center and Gangnam Vision Center. That December, they joined a charity event raising funds to provide coal briquettes for heating to those in need.