KUALA LUMPUR: K-pop fans are in shock over news that three more members of South Korea's top girl group Girls' Generation have left their record label, hot on the heels of the departure of Jessica Jung in 2014.
According to Yonhap News, allkpop and koreaboo, SM Entertainment has confirmed that members Tiffany, Sooyoung, and Seohyun have officially left, choosing not to renew their contracts.
“The members thought a lot about their contract renewals. They decided to start a new beginning, to experience new challenges. The members who didn’t renew will continue to be active through acting,” according to an insider report.
Several media outlets claim that the girls departed in order to focus on acting – Tiffany is said to be trying to break into the US scene; Seohyun already has a presence in musical theatre, TV and dramas, most recently appearing in Bad Thief, Good Thief; while Sooyoung has also been busy building her acting career after appearing in Man Who Sets The Table, Someone You Might Know and Polyclinic Doctor.
The remaining five members of Girls’ Generation – Taeyeon, Hyoyeon, Sunny, Yoona and Yuri, have reportedly re-signed with SM Entertainment, and there has been no talk of disbanding the group.
“The members have no thoughts of disbandment at all. Girls’ Generation is meaningful for both the company and their fans.
“However, since there are members who have ended their contracts, we will discuss with the remaining members the future direction of Girls’ Generation, and proceed with caution,” SM Entertainment said in a statement.
The news of the three members’ exits comes shortly after the act released their sixth album, Holiday Night, to commemorate their decade-long reign over the K-pop industry.