Members of K-pop group GFRIEND left messages for fans shortly before their exclusive contracts expired at midnight of May 22.
Source Music, their agency, announced on May 18 that “the exclusive artist contract with GFRIEND and Source Music will be concluded on May 22. After careful consideration and extensive discussion, GFRIEND and Source Music have come to an agreement to follow separate paths to continued growth.”
Members of GFRIEND, which debuted on Jan. 15, 2015, personally confirmed that they were disbanding after six years in the entertainment business through handwritten letters they posted on May 19.
“GFRIEND will officially end but it is not the end for us so please don’t be too hard on it,” said leader Sowon on May 19.
Fans criticized Source Music for making the announcement just four days before the expiration of GFRIEND’s exclusive contracts and demanded an explanation.
“Both the artists and the company worked until the very final moments of our discussions to give you the news you waited for, and we are deeply regretful that we were not able to bring you the results you hoped for,” explained Source Music in a notice posted on May 21.
On May 22, GFRIEND members posted on Instagram and Weverse and said their goodbyes to Buddy, their fans.
“GFRIEND loves Buddy. Love u always,” wrote Sowon, SinB, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju and Umji on their personal Instagram accounts.
On GFRIEND’s official Instagram account, photos of the group were posted on May 22 along with the message, “Thank you for being a Buddy that GFRIEND will remember forever. The songs we sang together will always shine.”
On Weverse, Eunha wrote, “Countless times, I thought of Buddys as I played GFRIEND’s songs and videos. Please remember Buddys that you are an amazing people who made me who I am today, and are the most precious people to me. I want to remain as your GFRIEND in your hearts forever. I hope this is not the last goodbye but a new hello! I love and cherish you, our Buddy.”
In an investment document it filed with Korea’s financial regulator in April this year, HYBE Co., which acquired Source Music in July 2019, disclosed that GFRIEND’s contract will expire this year but did not specify the month.
Based on the document, Seventeen and NU’EST’s contracts will expire in 2022, BTS in 2024, TXT in 2026 and Zico in 2017. Another HYBE corporate document filed on May 14 also stated the same.
Last March 22, GFRIEND Official Japan Site posted a notice that the Japan Official Mobile Fanclub “Buddy JPN Mobile” will be closed on May 31 “due to various reasons.”
"You will no longer be able to view the contents of the Mobile FANCLUB site after May 22,” the notice read, which refers to the date of the last day of GFRIEND’s contract as announced by Source Music on May 18.
This was followed by a notice posted on May 18 that said, “Due to the end of GFRIEND's activities, the operation of ‘BUDDY JPN’ will be terminated on May 31, 2021.
Source Music said on May 21 that GFRIEND’s social media accounts, fan cafe and Weverse page will remain after May 22.