After the exodus of its talents, Korean agency YG Entertainment announced the launch of its new girl group, seven years after the debut of BLACKPINK.
On Dec. 30 after it was announced that iKON and Korean actor Gang Dong-won have left the agency, YG Entertainment released a teaser photo of its new girl group.
“YG NEXT MOVEMENT #YG_NEW_GROUP #YG_NEXT_MOVEMENT #20230101_0AM #COMING_SOON #YG,” YG Entertainment posted on Twitter that indicated the date Jan. 1, 2023.
The new girl group will have seven members. This will be the agency’s new girl group in seven years after BLACKPINK debuted in 2016.
"We've been putting our heart and soul into it for a long time before launching. Please look forward to the birth of YG's next-generation girl group following BLACKPINK," said the agency, according to Korean media.
On Dec. 30, YG Entertainment announced that iKON and Gang Dong-won have left the agency.
“We would like to announce that after a long and careful discussion with iKON (JAY, BOBBY, SONG, JU-NE, DK, CHAN), we all have mutually agreed to end the exclusive management contract in respect of each other’s opinions,” YG Entertainment announced on Dec. 30.
It added, “Apart from the end of the contract, all six members will act as a group: iKON. In addition, iKON will continuously interact with fans through their official channels including Weverse, the fan community service, as usual.”
Korean actor Gang Dong-won also left the agency.
“YG Entertainment and actor Gang Dong-won decided to end their management work after discussion,” YG Entertainment announced on Dec. 30.
Big Bang’s Daesung and Taeyang earlier left YG Entertainment through announcements released on Dec. 26 and 27. T.O.P left in February while Seungri retired in 2019. The agency is negotiating with G-Dragon about his contract.
There is also a report that BLACKPINK will leave YG Entertainment and trasfer to its associate company, The Black Label.
Its former artists also include 2NE1 and Epik High.
YG Entertainment currently has BLACKPINK, Treasure, AKMU and Winner.