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Ji Won Chung

Plenty of K-pop idols leave their groups every year, whether due to contracts ending or busy schedules with other jobs like acting.
However, in some cases – usually after being caught up in a big controversy – idols are forced to leave their groups, with some companies even explicitly stating that they chose to terminate their contracts.
So, which K-pop idols were – rightfully or not – kicked out of their groups?
1. Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam

The most recent case of a member allegedly being thrown out was Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam, who faced countless school bullying accusations. She went on hiatus in May, then in July, Hybe and Source Music announced that her contract had been terminated and she would officially leave the group – despite rumours swirling that she’d come back.
Though Hybe denied the initial accusations, per multiple sources, more evidence gradually surfaced, pushing the agency and Garam into a corner. Even fans of the group demanded she leave, getting hashtags like #KimGaram_Withdrawal trending and flooding official social media accounts’ comments sections, per K-pop Starz. That’s why Garam’s contract termination has been seen by fans as her simply being kicked out, despite no official statement announcing as much.
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Interestingly, the ex-member seemingly took matters into her own hands after leaving, uploading a statement to her friend’s Instagram, per Soompi. She firmly denied any claims of bullying others and accusations, including smoking and drinking. Hybe then released a short statement claiming “further comments are inappropriate” from its side, which has led to Garam’s current whereabouts being unknown.
2. (G)I-dle’s Soojin

In virtually the exact same way as Garam, Soojin appeared to be kicked out of (G)I-dle after accusations from an alleged schoolmate whose sibling was supposedly bullied, per Soompi. Though Soojin denied the accusations, actress Seo Shin-ae also came out as an alleged victim, leading to the singer taking a hiatus.

A few months later, the company announced Soojin’s official departure from the group – though her contract with the company would remain, per Soompi. Meanwhile, the flood of accusations had also led to a police investigation, which concluded that the original accusers were not guilty of spreading false information, and thus, Soojin’s contract was officially terminated by Cube.
3. 2PM’s Jay Park

Though a prominent soloist now, Jay Park actually started off as a member of boy group 2PM in 2008. A year after its debut, his old MySpace account from 2005 was dug up, where he had made rather insensitive comments about Korea, insulting the country and claiming he wanted to go back to Seattle where he was born, per Soompi.
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Unsurprisingly, the comments quickly spread and while he did issue an apology, people still demanded that he leave the group. Despite this, JYP Entertainment stated that he would remain a member, though a day later, Park himself announced through his fancafe that he would leave the group and return home to alleviate the situation, per Soompi.

However, it seemed that the remaining members missed him, as they named their first album 1:59PM to symbolise his absence, per multiple sources. Since then, well into his solo career, he expressed on the show Paik’s Spirit that his comments, though they came from homesickness, were definitely immature and inappropriate, showing that he’s grown since then.
4. Pentagon’s Dawn

Dawn’s departure from Pentagon in 2018 wasn’t due to any inherently offensive actions, though it certainly was seen as outrageous by his fans. When singer Hyuna – now Dawn’s fiancée – revealed the two’s relationship on her social media, wanting to be honest with her fans, the public went into a frenzy, as Cube Entertainment had previously denied any dating rumours.

The pair continued to confirm their relationship to the media, but this was a move that Cube seemed to disapprove of. It didn’t take long for Cube to terminate both of their contracts, claiming that the trust between artist and agency had been broken, which meant Dawn and Hyuna were essentially kicked out of Pentagon, per Korea Times. Luckily, both have maintained strong solo careers – even releasing music as a duo last year – and seem to still be going strong in their relationship.
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5. Momoland’s Daisy

In a puzzling (and probably outraging, for fans) case, ex-Momoland member Daisy was apparently kicked out of her group for reasons even she doesn’t seem to know. She first joined the group in 2017 and promoted until 2019, however, she was missing from promotions starting from the group’s fifth mini album Show Me, which was released in early 2019, per Manila Bulletin. In 2020, MLD Entertainment announced her departure from the group, though no specific reason was revealed, per Soompi.

She then sued her agency for withholding some of her earnings, a lawsuit which she partially won in late 2021, per All K-pop. Earlier this year, she revealed in a live-stream that she was allegedly “fired” from the group for unknown reasons, but that she has come to terms with it now, as reported by NME. Though specific reasons are unclear and it’s obvious there was some conflict, we’re glad she is at least doing okay.
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K-pop scandals

5 K-pop idols who were ‘kicked out’ of their groups: from Momoland’s Daisy and (G)I-dle’s Soojin to 2PM’s Jay Park, Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam and Pentagon’s Dawn

(G)I-dle’s Soojin, 2PM’s Jay Park, Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam, and Momoland’s Daisy. Photos: @gidle_soojin, @jparkitrighthere, @kimgaramkr, @daisiesforyu/Instagram

Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam was put on hiatus in May before her contract was officially terminated in July. Photo: @le_sserafim/Instagram

Former (G)I-dle member Soojin was accused of bullying during her school days. Photo: Cube Entertainment

Girl group (G)I-dle perform on stage during the 9th Gaon Chart K-pop Awards in January 2020, in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

Jay Park is now known as a famous soloist though he initially debuted with 2PM. Photo: @moresojuplease/Instagram

2PM Jay Park’s personal social media comments in 2005. Photo: Jay Park

Pentagon’s Dawn Kim Hyo-jong exited Pentagon in 2018. Photo: @hyojong_1994/Instagram

K-pop group Pentagon debuted in 2016. Photo: Cube Entertainment

Momoland’s Daisy left the group in 2020. Photo: @daisy.mmld/Instagram

Momoland is a Korean girl group that debuted in 2016. Photo: Momoland

Who is Blackpink’s richest member? Net worths, ranked – Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo work with Celine, Prada, Bulgari, Dior and Mac, raking in millions from Instagram and their music too

Blackpink’s Jennie, Lisa, Rosé and Jisoo. Photo: YG Entertainment

Blackpink fans, or Blinks, have been eagerly waiting for a comeback. Photo: @blackpinkofficial/Instagram

Jennie was recently the target of an inappropriate billboard ad by a fan. Photo: @jennierubyjane/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jennie at Paris Fashion Week in 2021. Photo: @jennierubyjane/Instagram

Blackpink member Lisa in her music video for Lalisa. Photo: YouTube

Lisa of Blackpink is an ambassador of Bulgari. Photo: Bulgari

Rosé from Blackpink in a Tiffany & Co campaign. Photo: Tiffany

Rosé from Blackpink has enjoyed many lucrative endorsements. Photo: Handout

Jisoo and Jung Hae-in Snowdrop. Photo: @jtbcdrama/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jisoo dressed in Dior. Photo: @sooyaaa__/Instagram

7 K-pop idols who quit their groups soon after debuting: besides Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam, Hyuna, Somin, Jiin, Jisun, Seunghee and Junhyeok all departed early too

Cho Seung-hee, Junhyeok, Hyuna, Somin and Jang Hyeri all moved on from their K-pop groups very quickly. Photos: @seunghee91_63, @hyunah_aa, @somin_jeon0822, @s2._.hyerii/Instagram; Wikipedia

K-pop group Le Sserafim. Photo: Hybe

Somin is a member of K-pop group Kard. Photo: @somin_jeon0822/Instagram

Somin left girl group April within three months of her debut. Photo: @dspapril/Instagram

Somin with her Kard bandmates J. Seph, BM and Jiwoo. Photo: @official_kard/Instagram

Girl’s Day debuted in 2010 with Jihae, Jisun, Jiin, Sojin, and Minah. Photo: Dream T Entertainment

Jiin uses the name Jang Hyeri now. Photo: @s2._.hyerii/Instagram

Girl’s Day’s Jisun went under the stage name JN after leaving the group. Photo: Namuwiki

Junhyeok didn’t last very long with Day6. Photo: @____junhyeok/Instagram

It was speculated that Junhyeok may have left Day6 for having a relationship with a fan. Photo: @____junhyeok/Instagram

Day6 promoting its debut album “The Day”. Photo: Day6 Wiki

Hyuna made her debut way back in 2007. Photo: @hyunah_aa/Instagram

Hyuna, formerly part of Wonder Girls, is now known for her solo music. Photo: JYP Entertainment

Hyuna joined 4Minute in 2009 with Nam Ji-hyun, Heo Ga-yoon, Jeon Ji-yoon and Kwon So-hyun. Photo: @4minute_official/Instagram

Seunghee debuted in 2010 with F-ve Dolls. Photo: @seunghee91_63/Instagram

Dia debuted in 2015. Photo: PocketDolStudio

Seunghee is now a famous actress who now goes by Cho Seung-hee. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

6 reasons to love former Wanna One member Ong Seong-wu: the K-pop idol stars in Netflix’s Seoul Vibe – but did you know he loves photography and music too?

Not just a pretty face: Ong Seong-wu continues to bag major acting roles after already making a name for himself in the music industry. Photo: Fantagio

Ong Seong-wu on the set of Netflix’s new film Seoul Vibe. Photo: @osw_onge/Instagram

Ong Seong-wu’s boyish good looks helped him get early work as a model. Photo: @osw_onge/Instagram

Ong Seong-wu cleverly realised that modelling would mean free photos and free haircuts which he could later put to use when going on auditions. Photo: @osw_onge/Instagram

Ong Seong-wu won critical acclaim for his lead role in At Eighteen, pictured here at the 2019 Korea Drama Awards. Photo: Fantagio

Ong Seong-wu played a troubled teen in At Eighteen in 2019. Photo: @ong.sw___/Instagram

Ong Seong-wu started out as a trainee with Fantagio, joined Wanna One, then later released his solo album “Layers” via the entertainment company too. Photo: Fantagio/Facebook

Ong Seong-wu co-wrote and composed all of the songs for his album “Layers”. Photo: @osw_one/Instagram

Ong Seong-wu’s first solo album after leaving Wanna One aimed to be honest and was written with his fans in mind. Photo: @osw_one/Instagram

Multitalented Ong Seong-wu has appeared in TV shows, films, been a K-pop idol and even plays various musical instruments. Photo: @osw_onge/Instagram

Rather than take on easy roles, Ong Seong-wu says he prefers to play characters far away from his real persona. Photo: @osw_onge/Instagram

Ong Seong-wu’s mum encouraged him and his sister to play instruments and understand music from a young age. Photo: Ong Seong Wu/YouTube

Ong Seong-wu is also a keen photographer – is there anything this man isn’t skilled at? Photo: @osw_onge/Instagram

6 K-pop idols who got cancelled for bullying scandals: from Lesserafim’s Kim Garam and Stray Kids’ Woojin, to G(I-dle)’s Soojin and AOA’s rift between Jimin and Mina

K-pop idols Stray Kids’ Woojin, AOA’s Jimin, T-ara’s Jiyeon, April’s Naeun, and (G) I-dle’s Soojin have all been embroiled in bullying allegations in the past. Photos: Instagram

Often accusations are never proven, but the damage has already been done, as with the case of (G)I-dle’s Soojin. Photo: Cube Entertainment

(G)I-dle’s Soojin eventually left the group after her managers put her on hiatus. Photo: Cube Entertainment

People piled onto (G)I-dle’s Soojin from all sides after a former schoolmate alleged that she was a bully before her idol days, but Soojin and her management denied the claims. Photo: Handout

April pose together for photos on stage during better times. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

April’s Hyunjoo said on Instagram that she’d been bullied by her bandmates, and someone claiming to be her brother online backed up her claims. Photo: @hyun.joo_lee/Instagram

There were rumours that Naeun from April, pictured, would make negative comments about her bandmate Hyunjoo. Photo: DSP Media

Members of now-defunct group T-ara performing at a K-pop festival in Vietnam back 2012 before things fell apart. Photo: Reuters

Hwayoung from T-ara putting on a brave face at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards. Photo: @ryu.hwayoung/Instagram

Jiyeon from T-ara, pictured, had been bullying Hwayoung during her time in T-ara, admitted the group’s manager, and the members never renewed their contracts. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Former AOA member Jimin, pictured, reportedly apologised to Mina, but fell silent soon after. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Former AOA member Mina has been low-key ever since leaving the group. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

AOA served up plenty of drama to fans when Mina said she’d had suicidal thoughts due to her treatment by bandmate Jimin. Photo: Handout

Woojin from Stray Kids left the group just a year after its debut. Photo: Handout

There were rumours that Woojin left boy band Stray Kids (pictured here after he’d already departed the group) because he was bullying other members, but these were never proven. Photo: AFP

Blackpink’s Jennie and BTS’ V’s ‘romance’ heats up: new leaked photos are adding fuel to the dating rumours, from a kiss at Jeju Island to a hug at a Born Pink party - but some fans aren’t convinced

Are BTS’ V and Blackpink’s Jennie dating? Here’s everything you need to know. Photos: @1TD6K9DEMuJ5iAq, @jennierubyjane/Twitter

V followed, then unfollowed, Jennie on Instagram in December 2021. Photo: @JinsMullet_/Instagram

The picture that seems to show Blackpink’s Jennie and BTS’ V on holiday together. Photo: @dailyfashion_news/Instagram

Jennie’s hair was dyed orange around the time of the rumoured Jeju trip. Photo: @jennierubyjane/Instagram

Jennie in V’s flat. Photo: @gurumiharibo/Twitter

The widely speculated Jeju date of V and Jennie? Photo: @gurumiharibo/Twitter 

Fans suspect V is in Jennie’s bed, snuggling up to her mum’s cat in this photo. Photo: @jh0pe_h0se0k/Twitter

A photo of Jennie with V as his stylist helps him get ready. Photo: @guruminews/Twitter

Dating rumours of V and Jennie two are beginning to look very real as their more photos leak. Photo: @gurumiharibo/Twitter

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Hybe ended its contract with Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam in July due to an alleged bullying scandal; same with (G)I-dle’s Soojin, who was part of Cube Entertainment
2PM’s Jay Park left the group after his old MySpace profile resurfaced with controversial comments, while Cube terminated Pentagon’s Dawn and Hyuna’s contracts after their dating news



From Momoland’s and (G)I-dle’s Soojin to 2PM’s Jay Park, Le Sserafim’s Kim Garam and Pentagon’s Dawn, why did these K-pop idols have their contracts cut short by their agencies?
