Girls' Generation Sunny Leaves SM Entertainment After 16 Years
The 2nd generation K-pop pioneer joined the entertainment company as a trainee in 1998 and debut as part of Girls' Generation in 2007
It's a bittersweet day for SONEs as Girls' Generation's Sunny took to Instagram to personally relay the message to fans and the public that she will be leaving SM Entertainment after 16 years with the company.
The 34-year-old musician joined the well-known talent management company as a trainee back in 1998 and was already much talked about then being CEO Lee Soo-Man's niece. She made her debut as part of the iconic girl group, Girls' Generation who were on the forefront of the globalization of K-pop in the 2000s and named by Billboard as the number one K-pop girl group in the past decade in 2017. The group also recently celebrated their 16th anniversary on August 5.
Prior to the confirmation made by Sunny herself, rumours have been swirling online that she would not be renewing her contract with SM Entertainment after the singer was noticably absent during the Girls' Generation 16th anniversary annoucements. Today, Sunny took to Instagram to pen a letter to confirm the news as well as thank fans who supported her and the people she's worked with for years in the industry.
Read her full letter below:
"Hello, this is Girls' Generation's Sunny.
I am writing today because there is something that I would like to say, while also delivering a message of gratitude for Girls' Generation's 16th debut anniversary.
Looking back on the past 16-years, there are so many people for whom I wish to express my gratitude.
My precious members, who are like different versions of me, my beloved family, all of the staff who have worked alongside us supportively, the fans, whose existence alone gave me strength..
Today, I would like to deliver special thanks to SM Entertainment, a company that helped a 19-year old girl named Lee Soon Kyu debut as Sunny of Girls' Generation.
I sincerely thank the managers, who shared in all of our joys and sorrows during the past 16-years of promotions, and all of the staff and employees who worked hard so that we could deliver positive energy to many people through good music, good performances, and various content.
I could not be happier each day, having debuted as a part of Girls' Generation with my members and having met Sones.
From now on, I intend to muster up the courage to look at myself through a new lens in a new environment. It is all thanks to the unchanging support, love, and affection that fans and many grateful people have shown me even after all this time. No matter what days lie ahead, I will move forward as the energizer Sunny.
I hope to bring you good news more frequently as Sunny. Thank you."
