Sunny from Girls’ Generation to leave SM Entertainment

Sunny from the K-pop group Girls’ Generation has announced that she will be departing from her agency SM Entertainment after 16 years. The company announced the end of their exclusive contract on August 8.

"Our exclusive contract with Sunny has come to an end. We express our gratitude to Sunny who showcased amazing activities while together with us for a long time, and we ask for lots of support for the new path that Sunny will walk."

Sunny then took to her Instagram to share a letter with her fans:

"Hello. This is Girls’ Generation’s Sunny.

In addition to expressing my gratitude for Girls’ Generation’s 16th debut anniversary, there is something else that I additionally wanted to relay, so I’m writing this post.

Looking back, there are so many people I have been grateful to for the past 16 years.

My precious members who are like another me, my loving family, staff members who were always by our sides, and fans who gave us strength through their existences alone…

Today especially I want to express my gratitude to SM Entertainment who gave great help so that 19-year-old Lee Soon Kyu (Sunny’s real name) could debut as Girls’ Generation’s Sunny.

I want to express my gratitude to the managers who worked hard and shared our joys and sorrows while promoting in the entertainment industry for 16 years and to all the employees who helped us to be able to spread positive energy through good music and good sides of us as well as various performances and content.

Every single day, I was as happy as I could be to be able to debut as Girls’ Generation with the members and to meet SONE (Girls’ Generation’s official fan club).

I am now trying to take the courage to see myself in a new environment from a different perspective. This is thanks to fans who sent support without change for a long period of time and the interest and affection of people I’m grateful to. No matter what kind of day comes in the future, I will continue to move forward as the revitalizing Sunny.

I will continue to be Sunny who shares good news going forward. Thank you."