K-Pop Idols Who Were Forced To Leave Their Groups Due To Their Companies
K-Pop companies can be quite harsh on their idols, as it’s well known that companies tend to overwork their idols. There have also been some heartbreaking moments when companies practically forced idols to leave their groups. Here’s a list of some idols who were forced to leave their groups due to their companies.
1. Jessica Jung (Former member of Girls’ Generation)
When it was announced that Jessica would no longer be a member of Girls’ Generation, it came as a shock to everyone. However, what was seemingly more shocking was when Jessica made a Weibo post on how she was forced out of the group by SM Entertainment.
I was excited about our upcoming fan events only to shockingly be informed by my company and 8 others that as of today, I’m no longer a member. I’m devastated – my priority and love is to serve as a member of GG, but for no justifiable reason, I am being forced out..
— Jessica
2. The members of gugudan
Earlier this year, gugudan member Sally shared that their company, Jellyfish Entertainment, had told all the members to leave their dorm and to never return.
At the beginning of 2019, my agency told me to go back home. When I asked them when I should come back, they told me there was no need to come back.
— Sally
Even though the members tried to resist this, they ultimately weren’t able to change the company’s mind.
Even when everybody went back, I had no way of going back home, so I persisted. I was scared to go back home because then, my parents would know about my situation. My parents still don’t know what happened back then.
— Sally
3. Alexander (Former member of U-KISS)
Alexander recently spoke with YouTube channel JAYKEEOUT x VWVB and shared the heartbreaking reason why he “left” U-KISS. He shared that the company one day decided that they wanted to make member changes to the group.
Alexander ended up being one of the members the company wanted to kick out.
We were doing a lot of overseas events, and I was helping with that. I even taught them how to use Twitter and with promoting our stuff. But then they came to me and said, ‘We’re thinking of swapping out some members. How about you join the overseas team instead?’ I knew they were just trying to kick me out.
— Alexander
Not only that, but an employee at the company even tried to persuade him to leave the group.
An employee told me, ‘Think about it, Alexander. Where do you think you rank in terms of popularity in Korea? You’re not popular.’ I was young at the time, so I just agreed.
— Alexander
While Alexander did leave the group and agency on good terms, he was shocked when the agency lied about the reason why he left the group.
The agency stated that I left the group because I wanted to go back to school.
— Alexander
Here’s the full video below!
4. Yeonwoo & Daisy (Former members of MOMOLAND)
In 2019, MLD Entertainment shocked many when they announced that members Taeha and Yeonwoo were going to be leaving MOMOLAND. The company stated that Taeha was leaving to make a new start in her career, and Yeonwoo was leaving to focus on her acting career. However, some statements by Yeonwoo have hinted that she may have gotten kicked out of the group by the company.
Daisy is someone who has had a bit of conflict with MLD Entertainment, and many fans have specualted that she’s been kicked out of the group by the company.
5. Yeseul (Former member of 4L)
When 4L debuted in 2014, they were met with a bit of scrutiny from netizens due to their song “Move”, as netizens criticized the group and company for their “19+ marketing”.
Yeseul ended up leaving the group and company a few months after 4L’s debut due to the marketing tactics the company was trying to do.
I thought to myself multiple times, ‘do I really have to resort to such matters?’ I did not want to resort to such things any longer and decided that staying in the company held no future for me. That’s why after thinking long and hard, I left the team.
— Yeseul
