Apink members exit IST Entertainment, promise to continue group activities

Apink members Chorong, Bomi, Namjoo, and Hayoung parted ways from their former entertainment label, IST Entertainment.

The girls were under the wings of the agency for 12 years, since their debut in 2011.

However, vocalist Eunji will continue with her exclusive contract with the entertainment agency under Kakao Entertainment.

The agency released an official statement earlier today (28 Apr).

“IST Entertainment will bring its 12-year relationship with members Chorong, Bomi, Namjoo, and Hayoung to an end as of April,” the statement read.

The decision “after a thorough and serious discussion with each of the Apink members,” the statement added.

Vocalist Eunji will continue to “greet her fans with solo music as soon as possible”.

But for the other members, it seems like the decision to exit the label is unlikely to rock the boat.

“All of the members promised to continue their activities as a group. IST Entertainment will work to protect this team,” the statement stated in Korean.

Things are also fortunately amicable as IST Entertainment thanked members for “accompanying [them] on this long journey of 12-years. During which the group was able to solidify its position in the world of K-Pop as one of its representative girl groups”.

Apink mostly promoted as a sextet and they were known for their hits like No No No (2013), Mr. Chu (2014) and more recently Dumhdurum (2020).

But member Na-eun did not extend her contract back in April 2021. She later left the group a year later in 2022, as it was hard balancing work as both an actress and idol.

She starred in a number of Korean dramas, like Ghost Doctor (2022) and JTBC’s Agency (2023).

More recently, Apink also released their tenth mini album Self, headed by title track D N D (2023).