2008

2008: Breakthrough

In February 2008, the Wonder Girls joined their producer Park Jin-young for his month-long concert tour through Korea and the United States as special guests, where they filmed the music video for "Wishing on a Star" while in New York.^[18] Following the release of teasers for the song, a new single, "So Hot" was released on May 22, 2008. The song topped online charts soon after.^[19][20] In mid-2008, they performed on MBC's Show! Music Core, performing "So Hot" and "This Time". Due to a vocal cord injury, Yubin temporarily lip-synced her parts under doctor's orders.^[20]

Wonder Girls performing "Nobody" at the 2008 BICHE opening ceremony in October 2008. From left to right: Sunmi, Sohee, Sunye, Yeeun and Yubin

After a very short break, the Wonder Girls made a comeback in early fall 2008. The full music video for "Nobody" was revealed, and the single was digitally released simultaneously. They performed the following weekend on Show! Music Core, Music Bank and Inkigayo. The song went to No. 1 on KBS' Music Bank, staying there for four consecutive weeks,^[21] and also won Cyworld's "Song of the Month" award in September and October 2008.^[22] Like "Tell Me", "Nobody" also sparked a dance craze.^[23]
At the 2008 Mnet KM Music Festival Awards, the Wonder Girls received three awards: the "Song of the Year" award, "Best Music Video" for "Nobody" and "Best Female Group".^[24] The group also won an award at the 2008 Golden Disk Awards for high digital sales.^[25] At the 18th Seoul Music Awards, the Wonder Girls won the Daesang ("Artist of the Year" award), the highest award offered, for "Nobody", in addition to two other awards.^[26]
In October 2008, the Wonder Girls were signed by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA). By the end of 2008, they had earned ₩12 billion ($9 million US) as a group.^[27]