PremiumSHINee's Taemin and Onew set to depart from SM Entertainment; other Idols who left this agency recently
Here are all the idols who have departed from SM Entertainment in the last nine months.
Last Updated: 01.51 PM, Mar 06, 2024
Recently, SM Entertainment released a statement regarding SHINee's contracts. The agency stated, "SHINee’s activities will continue at SM Entertainment without change, and contracts for individual activities will be decided according to each member's wishes. We are currently engaged in positive discussions with Minho and Key regarding not only group activities but also individual pursuits, while Onew is exploring various options. Our exclusive contract with Taemin expires in March. Taemin’s next course of action following the contract expiration has not been confirmed yet, and we have heard that he is considering various options".
With this news circulating, many have noticed a trend of long-term idols leaving their debut agencies to pursue individual activities under different labels. Here are all the idols who have departed from SM Entertainment in the last nine months.
Super Junior's Donghae and Eunhyuk:
After their contracts with SM expired in July 2023, Donghae and Eunhyuk, members of 'Super Junior', departed from the company. They then founded their agency, 'ODE Entertainment', and brought on board their former manager, Won Yong Sun, who had previously worked with their group.
Super Junior's Kyuhyun:
Along with Donghae and Eunhyuk, even Kyuhyun left SM Entertainment, however, he chose not to establish his own label. Instead, he joined 'Antenna', which represents various artists, including Lee Hyori. Despite signing with a different label, Kyuhyun continues to be a member of 'Super Junior', alongside Donghae and Eunhyuk.
Girls' Generation's Sunny:
Amid speculation, Sunny of 'Girls' Generation' confirmed her departure from the company in a letter to fans. Although she hasn't disclosed her new agency publicly, she recently joined fellow member Hyoyeon in the JTBC camping talk show "No Way Home."
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EXO's D.O:
Following the release of his second mini-album, D.O. from EXO parted ways with SM Entertainment. Soon after his departure, came the news that he would join a new agency called, 'Company SooSoo', established by his manager, Nam Kyung Soo.
EXO CBX (Chen, Baekhyun and Xiumin):
In May 2023, EXO's 'CBX', consisting of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, filed a lawsuit to terminate their contracts with SM, alleging that the company had them sign unfair contracts and lacked transparency. The trio reached an agreement in June 2023.
Subsequently, Baekhyun went on to establish his own company, 'I&B100', in the same month, and the other two members also shifted their activities to Baekhyun's agency. However, the members are still under exclusive contracts with SM Entertainment for their group activities, but adjustments have been made to allow them to pursue individual activities elsewhere.