Is Joy, a member of the girl group Red Velvet, leaving SM Entertainment?
According to an exclusive report from Star News on the 21st, Joy is in discussions with an acting management company as she prepares for contract renewal with SM and considers a new direction for her career.
SM had not officially confirmed the status of Red Velvet’s contract renewal until last year. The members joined the agency in different years, and with Yeri joining later in their career, their contract timelines vary. However, Red Velvet, which debuted in August 2014, is believed to have unofficially renewed their contracts once, especially as they have been actively promoting since 2021—beyond the Fair Trade Commission’s maximum exclusive contract period of seven years for idol groups.
In recent months, news of Seulgi’s contract renewal with SM last August and Irene’s renewal in February has heightened curiosity about the futures of Wendy, Joy, and Yeri, and the potential for continued group promotions.
Joy raised eyebrows last June when she publicly criticized SM, casting doubt on the likelihood of her contract renewal. While engaging with fans on social media, she expressed frustration about the lack of communication from the agency, saying, “They didn’t listen to our opinions at all and just told us to wait. Then we saw the music video without any edits. I think I should just keep quiet.” She also voiced her concerns about the minimal promotional activities leading up to Red Velvet’s new album release, questioning whether the plans were forgotten or if the album was set to be released the following week.
Currently, Red Velvet is connecting with fans worldwide through their Asia Fancon Tour.
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