On April 28, 2023, Bomi, Chorong, Hayoung, and Namjoo opted to depart IST Entertainment after 12 years following the expiration of their exclusive contracts. Eunji, however, re-signed with the agency.
The group still plans to be active despite the departures.
IST Entertainment released a statement confirming the departures of Bomi, Chorong, Hayoung, and Namjoo while reiterating APINK will still be a group.
Hello. This is IST Entertainment.
We sincerely thank all the fans who care for and support APINK.
We are making an official announcement regarding APINK’s future activities.
Ahead of the end of APINK’s exclusive contracts with our agency, we and the members put our heads together and carefully discussed the matter. It was ultimately determined that for the sake of each member’s new growth in the future, Park Chorong, Yoon Bomi, Kim Namjoo, and Oh Hayoung will end their beautiful 12-year journey with us, which began with their debut, at the end of April.
We recently renewed our contract with Jung Eun Ji, and we will be continuing our relationship. In addition to her activities as a singer, Jung Eun Ji also plans to greet you soon with a new acting project, and we plan to consistently support her so that she can stand out in a wide array of fields.
Regardless of their contracts, all of the APINK members are firm in their love of the group and their determination to continue their group activities, so they have promised to carry on with their group activities without disbandment. Our agency will cooperate with APINK after discussions regarding their future activities, and we plan to work together with them so that they can stay together as a group.
We sincerely thank all of the APINK members, who spent a long 12 years racing together with us and making their mark as one of the representative girl groups of K-pop. We ask that the fans continue to give their unchanging love and warm support to APINK, who is preparing for a new journey.
Thank you.
안녕하세요. IST엔터테인먼트입니다.
그룹 에이핑크의 향후 활동과 관련해 공식 입장을 전달드립니다. pic.twitter.com/QyHtUgjNzH
— IST ent (@ist_ent) April 28, 2023
After Bomi, Chorong, Hayoung, and Namjoo departed with IST, they signed with Choi Creative Lab, making them the label’s first K-Pop act.
Hello. This is Choi Creative Lab.
We would like to announce the signing of exclusive contracts with APINK’s Park Chorong, Yoon Bomi, Kim Namjoo, and Oh Hayoung.
These four members will continue their activities under their new agency Choi Creative Lab.
We plan to spare no support for both the individual and team activities of Park Chorong, Yoon Bomi, Kim Namjoo, and Oh Hayoung. Through warm and embracing leadership, we plan to help the members grow further and create many happy memories.
As all members have a strong will and affection for APINK group activities, we promised to continue their team activities without disbanding the group. We will continue to cooperate with IST Entertainment in relation to APINK’s future activities.
As the members told their fans, “APINK will continue to be APINK.” We would like to ask fans for their unchanging warm support and love for Park Chorong, Yoon Bomi, Kim Namjoo, and Oh Hayoung who will embark on new journeys at a new agency.
Thank you.
After the departure and signing news, Eunji was the first to assure fans saying, “Nothing has changed!! You don’t have to take it too seriously. We’ll still be APINK in the future.”
On Weverse, she further added, “Although change is full of fear and thoughts because we are not sure of the time ahead of us. Let’s spend today well while believing in the time we have spent. People who talk provocatively have their reasons, but me and my people do not have to listen to them.🙂I cherish you a lot. Sincerely!”
Bomi, Chorong, Hayoung, and Namjoo released handwritten letters reassuring fans that APINK will be fine.
Bomi wrote:
My love PANDA ♡
I’m aware that you’re always worrying about us, so you’re probably surprised and finally, it’s my turn to be worried…
Just as you’ve seen us come this far for a long time, APINK is still right here, and I think that PANDAs know better that even in the future, our wish to stay together for an even longer period, becoming bigger and stronger! Although it’s a little scary and feels surreal to bid farewell to the staff who have been with us for the past 12 years, I hope you’ll still support the new side of us when we go to a new place and adjust slowly!
More than anything, our APINK members will also walk on the warm, flower path in future healthily! just as we are now! enjoyably!
Our PANDAS will also walk together with us, right? Let’s spend even more time together and be even, even happier in future!
In her message, Chorong said:
Hello, this is APINK’s leader Chorong. I’m here to relay my firmness to many PANDAs who are surprised, that you don’t have to worry at all. I think that the affection and responsibility our members, as well as fans, have towards the team we have built is extraordinary. I will not let go of the memories we have worked hard to make this easy! Don’t worry about the useless things because I’m/we’re going to work hard to meet PANDAs more often!
Although it feels surreal and scary to leave the company I was in for the past 20 years, it’s a tough decision that was made after multiple considerations of what was best for every one. I hope you can support me in this new challenge! Let me promise you once more that APINK will always be with PANDAs, to show you good performances and I would like to thank the company staff that have worked hard alongside APINK.
Our PANDAs, don’t fall sick, have your meals on time, and wait just a while more! In future, we’ll still be APINK! In the future, I’ll still be APINK’s leader Chorongie!
In the future, we’ll still be APINK!
Eunji added:
PANDAs! This is Eunji 🙂
You’re shocked after seeing the news, right? Although there may also be fans who may have guessed it to a certain extent, every change is followed with fear, which is why I’m writing this in a worried manner.
In a generation where a decision has to be made in every aspect, our thoughts become even more firm as we look at our members and as we meet PANDAs. It’s confirmed that if our thoughts and hearts are together, nothing will change. As we promised on stage, APINK will still be APINK in the future. This is what I really want to convey to the people who were my everything in my 20s. Although the thought of members leaving and leaving only me in the company sounds empty already, I’ll talk about this calmly 🙂
You know that we’re good at keeping promises, right? That’s why. Don’t worry and you be a PANDA in the future. There won’t be any upsetting matters. The members will go live shortly! We’ll talk more then🖤
See you soon, my people!! ❤️
Hayoung wrote:
Hello, this is APINK’s maknae Hayoung 🙂
We’re writing these as we’re thinking about how shocked our fans are after seeing the news^^
While figuring out on how to retain our precious members, team, and fans for a very, very long time, we met a place that is necessary and a place we’re grateful for. Together with that, I would like to extend my gratitude to the many people who have been with us and worked hard with us so far.
We will show you and promote with even more APINK- like songs so I hope you can trust us, keep a lookout on and look forward to the APINK now, and in future!
We will show you more sides of us instead of using words, so let’s make even more memories! Together!!
Thank you, and I love you ♡
-Hayoung 🙂
Finally, Namjoo wrote:
Hello, this is ‘APINK’s’ Namjoo!
Our PANDAs must have been shocked, right? Sorry for causing you to worry! But I really, honestly wanted to quickly tell you that the fact that we as ‘APINK’ will not change because it’s the most important! Just like what we have been shouting with all of you, me, together with Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, and Hayoung will still be ‘APINK’ in the future and, our promotions will stay this way too ^_^ The only thing that’s changed is just the company names! It wasn’t an easy decision to leave the company that I put my entire self in for 13 years since I was a high school student, but I will work even harder so that we can show and approach everyone with more exciting and enjoyable performances as we promote as APINK in a new challenge and new environment! I love you and thank you.
APINK debuted as a seven-member group in 2011 with Seven Springs of APINK and the song “I Don’t Know.” Their most popular tracks include “Hush” (2012), “NoNoNo” (2013), “Mr. Chu” (2014), “Luv” (2014), “Remember” (2015), “I’m So Sick” (2018), and “Dumhdurum” (2020). On April 14, 2023, they released their tenth mini album SELF along with the single “D N D.”
Original members Hong Yoo-kyung left in 2013 and Son Na-eun left in 2022.
We wish APINK the best as they embark on their new adventures together and separately!
—-Olivia Murray
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