K-Pop Star Son Naeun Is Leaving Apink After 11 Years

Son Naeun is leaving after over a decade.

The 28-year-old South Korean star shared a letter on Friday (April 8) confirming that she would be leaving her girl group Apink after 11 years.

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“I worried a lot about how I should say this, and even now, as I write these words, I’m very nervous. I will be leaving Apink, with whom I have been together for the past 11 years,” she wrote. (English translation via Soompi.)

“Because Apink is a place like family, with whom I have spent a long time together, I made this difficult decision after a lot of debate, and though it wasn’t an easy decision, I plan to become a Panda [Apink fan] and cheer on Apink starting from now on,” she continued.

“The members… Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, Namjoo, Hayoung… the many people who have worked hard for Apink from the start, including the IST staff, and the fans, who are the most precious of all: as I look back on the times we’ve spent together until now and our memories, there is no way to express all of my feelings through words, but…I want to sincerely thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who made my teens and twenties the most radiant, who gifted me this happy time,” Son Naeun continued.

“I will engrave the name ‘Apink’s Son Naeun‘ in my heart, and I think showing you better things in the future, so that I don’t bring shame to that name, is one way I can repay you. Please give lots of love to Apink, and I, too, will be sincerely rooting for them. Up until now, this has been Apink’s Son Naeun.”

Last year, she did not renew her contract with the group’s agency, IST Entertainment. She later signed with YG Entertainment as an actress. The agency has since said in a statement that the group will continue on without her as a five-member group.

“Starting with their upcoming 11th anniversary fan song, which is scheduled to be released on April 19, Apink will be reorganized and continue promotions as a five-member group with Park Chorong, Yoon Bomi, Jung Eun Ji, Kim Namjoo, and Oh Hayoung. Son Naeun has ended her activities with the group, and they will be cheering each other on from their separate paths.”

Several groups have already disbanded in 2022, and many more are set to have their contracts expire.

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