Friday, July 31, 2026

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Girls' Generation's Yuri is officially leaving SM Entertainment after 19 years together.

On July 31, SM Entertainment released an official statement confirming the news, saying, "After long discussions with Kwon Yuri, we have mutually agreed to conclude our 19-year partnership as of August 31."

Looking back on her time with the company, SM Entertainment continued, "Since Kwon Yuri debuted as a member of Girls' Generation in 2007, she has helped lead the global K-pop wave. She grew into a member of one of the defining groups of an era, and shone as an actress. It has been a privilege for SM Entertainment to be part of every step of that journey. We sincerely thank Kwon Yuri for her remarkable achievements as an all-around artist."

To reassure fans about group activities, SM Entertainment clearly stated, "Although her exclusive contract with the company is coming to an end, she will continue promoting as a member of Girls' Generation. We fully support Kwon Yuri as she starts this new chapter in her career."

Yuri debuted with Girls' Generation back in 2007, quickly rising to the top of the K-pop industry with legendary hit songs like 'Into the New World' and 'Genie.'

On top of her music career, she has built a successful acting career, appearing in dramas including 'Fashion King,' 'Innocent Defendant,' 'Bossam: Steal the Fate,' 'Good Job,' 'Parole Examiner Lee,' as well as films such as 'No Breathing,' 'Dolphin,' and 'Somebody.' She even proved her talent live on stage in the play 'The Student and Mister Henri.'

Girls' Generation's Yuri to Leave SM Entertainment After 19 Years

Actress Kim Sein has finally opened up about the truth behind her sudden departure from the entertainment industry years ago.

On the episode of MBN's documentary show 'Exclusive World' that aired on July 30, Kim Sein appeared as a guest and looked back on her past career. 

She first became famous in 2011 after starring in the SBS sitcom 'Oh My God.' At the time, she was known as one of the most promising young actresses, landing big roles in movies and commercials. However, just as her career was taking off, she suddenly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving fans and people in the industry shocked. 

Looking back on those days, Kim Sein revealed, "The CEO of my agency kept taking me to places like hostess bars and made my life miserable. On top of that, my mother collapsed. Every single day felt like hell. I hated living."

Kim Sein opened up about the family struggles that led her into acting in the first place. Eventhough she grew up rich because of her businessman father, her family lost everything in the 1997 Asian financial crisis. They were forced to live in a cramped storage room with no bathroom. She entered the entertainment industry as soon as she turned 20 to support them financially.

She admitted she took on revealing roles to help her family survive, saying, "We urgently needed tens of millions of KRW back then. Things were so bad for my family that I felt I had to step up." 

She also shared that her father felt terrible about the sacrifices she made, saying, "My father was deeply upset. He kept saying, 'How could I spend the money my daughter worked so hard to earn?'" She recalled, "He blamed himself for his failed business. I felt so sorry for him. Still, no matter where he went, he proudly introduced me by saying, 'My daughter is an actress.'"

Sadly, her father passed away from a heart attack two years ago. On top of that, her mother has been in a coma for 15 years after suffering a severe brain hemorrhage, a condition that Kim Sein heartbreakingly described as "her soul being trapped inside her body."

After stepping away from entertainment, Kim Sein moved to Malaysia for a fresh start as a tour guide. However, when COVID-19 broke out, she was forced to return home to South Korea. 

Kim Sein revealed that she is preparing to make her comeback as an actress. She said, "I want to continue taking good care of my big family and remain responsible for them until the very end. With a stronger mindset and a healthier body, I hope to take on a variety of roles and meet viewers again."

Similarly, trot singer Jang Hyeri, who originally debuted with Girls' Day, also opened up about being pressured by agency executives. In a Youtube video that was released in March 2025, she recalled, "When I was a rookie, I reluctantly attended a drinking gathering where I met the CEO of a well-known entertainment agency." She continued, "He told me, 'I'll make you a star if you become my girlfriend.' When I refused, he later told me, 'The reason you never became famous is because you rejected my offer.'"

Kim Sein Breaks Silence on the Exploitation That Forced Her to Quit the Entertainment Industry


Former actor Jang Dongjoo, who retired from the entertainment industry after falling into tens of billions of KRW in debt from a hacking scheme, has started a new career as a live content creator.

According to a report from Xports News on the 31st, Jang Dongjoo recently signed an exclusive contract with Universe Label, a live-streaming company run by CEO Ryu Jaeyoung. The agency reportedly signed him after seeing his strong potential as a streamer.

Jang Dongjoo made his live-streaming debut on Sparta Label's broadcast and instantly drew a massive crowd, proving he is still popular. It was reported that he received approximately 20 million KRW (about $13,916) in viewer donations from that single stream alone.

His growth on Tiktok was just as fast. Only three weeks after starting, he reached the platform's highest rank, the A1 League. He even won back-to-back live-stream battles against famous stars, such as actor Park Sihoo and singer MC Mong. According to reports, he now earns an average of about 1 million KRW (about $695) a day, making around 30 to 40 million KRW (about $20,870 to $27,827) each month from his Tiktok lives.

Jang Dongjoo made his acting debut in the 2017 drama 'School 2017' and was set for a bright future with projects like 'No Tail to Tell' and several films on the way. However, earlier this year, his career came to a sudden stop after he became the victim of a severe hacking and extortion scheme. 

The hackers threatened to leak his private photos, personal messages, and friends' contact details if he didn't give them money. Despite changing his phone number three times, things only got worse. His family even went as far as selling their house to raise the money. In his desperate attempt to pay them off, Jang Dongjoo took on a massive debt that eventually grew into tens of billions of KRW, leaving him financially ruined.

In January, he apologized publicly, saying, "After becoming the victim of hacking and extortion, I tried everything I could to borrow money. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was affected because of me. I promise to get my life back on track and repay every single won without exception."

Then in May, he announced his retirement, saying, "As of today, I am laying down my life as actor Jang Dongjoo. Although I'm leaving the stage, I'll never forget the love and support you've given to me."

Meanwhile, an industry insider commented on his new path, noting, "Jang Dongjoo was originally an actor who could portray a wide variety of characters regardless of genre. That talent has carried over into live streaming. No matter what kind of content he does, he has an amazing ability to make it his own."

Despite doing well as a streamer, Jang Dongjoo made it clear that he hasn't given up on acting. In a direct phone interview with Xports News on the 31st, he shared, "Right now, my biggest goal is to do whatever I can and pay off all my remaining debt." He added:

"Once I've fulfilled all my responsibilities, if I'm given the opportunity, I'd like to return as actor Jang Dongjoo."

In the meantime, Jang Dongjoo is scheduled to go live again with Universe Label's Sparta Label at 6 PM (KST) on the 31st to connect with his audience.

Former Actor Jang Dongjoo Returns as Streamer After Falling Into Massive Debt