On May 3, 2019, Banana Republic provided an update on the contract talks with EXID. In a statement, the company announced the LE, Solji, and Hyerin have renewed their contracts, while Hani and Junghwa have decided to look for new agencies.
Upon the announcement, Banana Republic released the following statement:
Hello, this is Banana Culture Entertainment. This is our official statement about EXID’s contracts.
Solji, LE, and Hyelin expressed their wishes to remain with the agency and re-signed with us. Hani and Junghwa have, after a long discussion with the agency, reached an agreement with us and decided to go their separate ways after their contracts expire at the end of May 2019.
The three EXID members who have renewed their contracts with us will be focusing on their individual promotions for the time being. Solji and LE are preparing to promote as solo artists, highlighting their singing, rapping, and producing talents, and Hyerin is planning on tackling a variety of broadcast and music activities with her various talents and appealing image.
EXID is an important group to Banana Culture as well as the fans, and as such, we are not thinking of this as the group disbanding. The members are also thinking of it more as a turning point from which they can take on new challenges. We are deliberating on ways in which EXID can promote together in the future.
We will do our best so that Solji, LE, and Hyerin can carry out stable and active solo promotions.
We also express our deep gratitude to Hani and Junghwa. Though their contracts are officially expiring, we sincerely wish them the best in their future endeavors.
We ask for your encouragement and support for the five members of EXID, who have new roads ahead. Thank you.
On May 3, Banana Culture also stated the group will make their final full-group comeback on May 15, 2019. In a statement, Banana Culture said the girls will carry out promotions overseas and domestically.
“EXID will be making a group comeback with a new mini album on May 15,” Banana Culture said. “After this mini album release, EXID will carry out various broadcast promotions both in Korea and overseas throughout May, before taking a temporary hiatus as a group. We have come to an agreement with Hani and Junghwa, who will not be renewing their contracts with us, that they will still carry out all of EXID’s comeback promotions to the fullest before they seek out new agencies.”
Banana Culture added, “As the members are preparing for a new chapter of their careers, they also said, ‘Let’s do our very best this time for our fans,’ and are currently practicing diligently. We ask for your anticipation and support toward the new album.”
The company and group are not using the word “disbanded,” so there is some hope they may work together in the future. We wish EXID the best with their future endeavors.
—-Olivia Murray