Why Minzy Was Always 2NE1's Secret Weapon

Earlier this week, the international K-pop community was shook when one of the members of its most beloved groups announced an unexpected departure. Upon her contract expiration, Minzy would exit 2NE1 and move on to focus on new (likely solo) endeavors; meanwhile, the girl group would move forward as a trio.

Fan reaction was mixed, as some blended their obvious sadness with confusion over the group's strong bond being broken, while others felt empathetic to the 22-year-old, who had essentially been off the grid for the past two years. Whatever Minzy's departure made fans feel, what's become abundantly clear in the wake of the news is how much the singer/dancer had been the group's secret weapon all this time, and was proving her importance more than ever recently.