AKMU member Lee Chanhyuk has opened up about his decision to leave YG Entertainment after 12 years, revealing that he wanted greater creative freedom and the opportunity to take full responsibility for his own career.

On the October 31 episode of MBC's variety show The Manager, Lee Chanhyuk appeared alongside his younger sister and fellow AKMU member Lee Suhyun.

During the episode, Lee Chanhyuk was asked why he decided to establish his own company, Fountain of Inspiration, after spending more than a decade with YG Entertainment.

The singer-songwriter made it clear that his departure was not because of a lack of support from his former agency.

"First of all, YG supported me really well," he said.

However, he explained that working under an entertainment company sometimes made him set limits on his own creative ideas.

"When you're working with a company, there are always things you think, 'I should only go this far,'" he shared.

Lee Chanhyuk said he eventually reached a point where he wanted to move beyond those limitations and make decisions independently.

"I just wanted to completely let go of the reins. I wanted to take responsibility for everything myself, gather my own people, and take the lead," he explained.

His decision led him to establish Fountain of Inspiration, an independent agency he founded with his manager after leaving YG Entertainment.

When asked how he felt about running his own company, Lee Chanhyuk expressed satisfaction with his new direction.

"I'm really happy with it right now," he said.

AKMU first gained public attention after winning SBS's audition program K-Pop Star Season 2 in 2012. The sibling duo officially debuted under YG Entertainment in 2014 and went on to build a successful music career.

After approximately 12 years together, AKMU ended its partnership with YG Entertainment in December 2025 before beginning a new chapter independently.

While Lee Chanhyuk expressed appreciation for the support he received throughout his time at YG, he explained that establishing his own company allowed him to pursue his ideas with greater freedom.

His comments highlighted that the decision was driven by his desire for creative independence rather than dissatisfaction with his former agency.