fromis_9 Members Express Concern Over Group Name After Leaving HYBE: “Don’t Exploit Our Feelings”
Members of K-pop girl group fromis_9, who recently left HYBE’s subsidiary label Pledis Entertainment, have shared their concerns about potentially losing their group name. This situation highlights the complex issues surrounding intellectual property rights in the K-pop industry.
Background of fromis_9’s Transition
After their exclusive contract with Pledis Entertainment ended, only five members of fromis_9 – Song Ha-young, Park Ji-won, Lee Na-kyung, Lee Chae-young, and Baek Ji-heon – decided to continue group activities together. These five members signed with a new agency, Ascend.
In January, Ascend stated, “It must have taken a lot of consideration and courage for the artists to choose to continue their team activities. We sincerely thank the artists for their courage in deciding to join us, and we promise to provide unwavering support and encouragement for them to pursue their dreams.”
At the time, the agency mentioned that discussions about the fromis_9 team name were ongoing with the former agency. However, recent statements from the members suggest there may be disagreements with Pledis Entertainment on this matter.
fromis_9 Members’ Statements on Fan Communication Platforms
Baek Ji-heon recently expressed her frustration on a fan communication platform:
“It’s a troubling morning, but let’s try to overcome it. I’m upset that our desire to keep our name might be exploited. I wanted to stay quiet, but I lost some sleep because I’m so upset.”
She clarified, “Don’t misunderstand. Please know that financial considerations were never an option for us in trying to keep the group together. We just want to negotiate like normal people would. Anyway, we’ll try to resolve this well. I hope our FLOVER (official fandom name) will protect us too.”
Lee Chae-young added:
“FLOVER, I promise I’ll come back as fromis_9. That’s what I want. I want to call FLOVER by their name. Even if we end up with a different name, please love us. It’s not up to us. We’ll do our best together as members. Please let us love you. I’ll protect fromis_9, I promise.”
Implications for fromis_9 and the K-pop Industry
This situation raises questions about:
- Ownership of group names and intellectual property in K-pop
- The challenges faced by groups when leaving major entertainment companies
- The importance of fan support during transitions between agencies
As fromis_9 prepares to continue activities as a 5-member group, there is growing interest in whether they will be able to keep their team name. Their story serves as a reminder of the complex relationships between K-pop groups, their agencies, and their fans in the ever-evolving landscape of the K-pop industry.
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