fromis_9 members Song Ha Young, Park Ji Won, Lee Na Gyung, Lee Chae Young, and Baek Ji Heon have officially parted ways with Pledis Entertainment, a subsidiary of HYBE, to start fresh under a new agency.
However, fans are now wondering—did the group lose the rights to their name?
On March 15, Baek Ji Heon shared her candid thoughts with fans on a paid fan communication platform, expressing her worries about the situation.
“It’s a restless morning, but let’s try to overcome it. I just hope that no one takes advantage of our desire to keep our name.”
Her words hinted at behind-the-scenes struggles regarding the group’s name, leading to concern among fans. She then revealed that the issue had been weighing heavily on her.
“I wanted to stay quiet, but I was too upset to sleep well. I have so much to say, but I’ll stop here. If I say more, I think (fans) will be too shocked.”
Amid speculation, Baek Ji Heon made it clear that money was never a concern in their decision.
“But don’t misunderstand. Money or anything like that was never a factor in our decision to protect the group. Please just know that.”
She further reassured fans, explaining that all they wanted was a fair process.
“We just wanted to have a fair and normal negotiation like anyone else. Anyway, we’ll do our best to resolve everything, but I hope Flover (our fandom) will continue to support us.”
fromis_9 originally debuted as a nine-member group in January 2018 after forming through Mnet’s Idol School in 2017.
Over the years, they experienced lineup changes, with Jang Gyu Ri leaving in July 2022, making them an eight-member group.
On December 31, 2023, their exclusive contracts with Pledis Entertainment ended, and five members—Song Ha Young, Park Ji Won, Lee Na Gyung, Lee Chae Young, and Baek Ji Heon—moved to a newly established agency, Ascend.
Now, as the members continue their journey under a new label, fans are eagerly waiting for updates on whether they will be able to keep the name fromis_9. Stay tuned for more developments.
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