Kyungsoo is officially leaving SM

LWTS GOOOOO

he deserves better management so I'm happy for him. hope things work out for him

Quote from sveznalica

Apparently his new agency will be called SooSoo entertainment, this man can't be serious lmao

The director's name is Nam Kyungsoo and apparently he is the one that helped D.O. pick his acting roles. He also always thanks him during award speeches. The fact that the company is gonna be called Soosoo company is so funny lol.

So, SM would never let any Exo members left unless they establish their own company or going through tough lawsuit battle like C-line? What an evil company. SM know it will easier to still controlling the members or even soft block them from the industry because they didn't have anyone behind their back or big power to protect them.

Damn can’t believe that Sm finally let go Exo out of their chains

Happy for him and I hope he will do more acting too!

I thought this was a bad thing but thinking about it, it might be better. Hope he keeps releasing good songs

Finally

Baekhyun also showed intentions of creating his on company. Fingers crossed he can sort things out to release a new album ASAP unrelated to SM

he's the first right?

was this expected amongst exo-ls? I mean reading the comments above it seems this news is welcoming to fans...

I hope the best for Exos

Kfans (and some ifans) did CBX so dirty with all the "traitors and greedy" insults and feeling bad for the other innocent members who knew nothing about it at all.

Turns out kyungsoo, chanyeol and sehun knew all about it and were in the process of establishing their own companies this whole time.

Quote from Flovell

So, SM would never let any Exo members left unless they establish their own company or going through tough lawsuit battle like C-line? What an evil company. SM know it will easier to still controlling the members or even soft block them from the industry because they didn't have anyone behind their back or big power to protect them.

One of the most bizarre things in Kpop to me is how EXO has been treated by SM.

They were huge, and I mean HUGE. How can you not promote them properly, while having such a long established company? Why act as if they don't exist?

That's like trying to promote Spain and pretending the beaches don't exist.

How long until the " do kyungsoo has decide to leave exo"

This type of deals just won't work with sm

Quote from sveznalica

All exo members were aware of everything, this is what they negotiated with SM.

Yes, i know. It was obvious. But kfans still went with their "uwu poor other members got betrayed". Turns out their favs are no different.

Quote from Flovell

So, SM would never let any Exo members left unless they establish their own company or going through tough lawsuit battle like C-line? What an evil company. SM know it will easier to still controlling the members or even soft block them from the industry because they didn't have anyone behind their back or big power to protect them.

D.O.'s contract ended, the Chinese members tried (and succeeded in their way) to break their 10 year contracts like 3 years in. Of course SM opposed that. D.O. isn't actually creating the company himself, he's signing to a new agency created by a longtime SM Executive Director (it's not a manager like being reported earlier), it's more like Kyuhyun signing to Antenna than Baek's plan of starting his own agency by himself (D.O. won't be CEO of SooSoo).

It would be impossible for SM to block Ksoo in Korean entertainment at this point, especially because everyone knows his contract is up in early November. CBX were painted as such villains because SM spun it as them trying to break the deal they had just signed months ago.

You can compare it to Lay's situation the best. SM let Lay leave without a fight because he did all 10 years; but the difference between Lay and D.O. is that Lay didn't sign a contract to stay under SM as an EXO member like D.O. is doing.

Quote from selfmate

he's the first right?

was this expected amongst exo-ls? I mean reading the comments above it seems this news is welcoming to fans...

EXO has been talking about staying together, even if not all the members stay under SM, for years now. It's just that it has been happening in a rather dramatic way.

Quote from redcurtain

D.O.'s contract ended, the Chinese members tried (and succeeded in their way) to break their 10 year contracts like 3 years in. Of course SM opposed that. D.O. isn't actually creating the company himself, he's signing to a new agency created by a longtime SM Executive Director (it's not a manager like being reported earlier), it's more like Kyuhyun signing to Antenna than Baek's plan of starting his own agency by himself (D.O. won't be CEO of SooSoo).

It would be impossible for SM to block Ksoo in Korean entertainment at this point, especially because everyone knows his contract is up in early November. CBX were painted as such villains because SM spun it as them trying to break the deal they had just signed months ago.

You can compare it to Lay's situation the best. SM let Lay leave without a fight because he did all 10 years; but the difference between Lay and D.O. is that Lay didn't sign a contract to stay under SM as an EXO member like D.O. is doing.

So basically the same thing with what I said but with more word? The purpose of SooSoo for now is still solely for Kyungsoo. Lay's also going through the same situation with Kyungsoo, he have established his own company before the contract end. There's rumours about Baekhyun too will doing the same thing even if he still under sm.

Members that out of SM:

C-line: Lawsuit

Kyungsoo and Lay: Both establish their own company to manage them, not just simply changing company like most idols did

Cbx: Stop lawsuit but there's rumours Baekhyun will open his own company

Tell me this is not a pattern?

I found this in Twitter, not that far from what I said because current Exo members obviously still want to promote together as Exo.

And why it's impossible to block him? SM have relationship with Kakao now who has control over a lot of things in Korea. What I mean by soft block is something not that obvious. Like in term of chart, messing up with sales, shipment and a lot more things. They also can subtly make him stop from appearing in any variety shows or acting.

EXO freedom 2024 I finally won

In Baekhyun case I don’t think SM wanted his solo to be outside SM either lol

He is undoubtedly the most profitable solo idol from SM with his music activities (meaning not acting or variety). I think SM tried to hold on to him a lot longer lol.

But anyway happy for SC, happy for Kyungsoo, happy for CBX happy for EXO.

Now my mans Kai I hope they didn’t leave out in the trenches

these things always confuse me. If they want to leave the company that means something is wrong. Why leave but still agree to participate in group activities? It sounds like their lives will all still be attached to the company anyway. It's a bit like what the Mamamoo members did.

BTW I'm not a solo stan or anything, I'm generally just curious why some idols do this. Because if they leave the company it means they're not happy with the way the management is going, but that will still happen due to group activities.

Taking this into account I wonder if this could possibly happen with Blackpink.

Quote from susanamendes

these things always confuse me. If they want to leave the company that means something is wrong. Why leave but still agree to participate in group activities? It sounds like their lives will all still be attached to the company anyway. It's a bit like what the Mamamoo members did.

BTW I'm not a solo stan or anything, I'm generally just curious why some idols do this. Because if they leave the company it means they're not happy with the way the management is going, but that will still happen due to group activities.

Taking this into account I wonder if this could possibly happen with Blackpink.

From artistic point of view maybe it makes sense? I don’t think SM’s treatment of EXO as an idol group was anything bad no matter what anyone tells you. They were SM’s flagship group, they got to work with the best of producers and have the best concert and stages.

But for solos. SC or maybe even Chen and Xiumin want their musical freedom, Baekhyun wants to do a lot of non music things he wants his own company for example for clothing and dancing, Kyungsoo is a great actor whose need an acting focused agency etc

It is extremely logical that SM ENT can’t fulfill all the solo aspirations that EXO members have.

This should imo be the norm in KPOP.

SUHO FREEDOM WHEN

Quote from ISaidISaid

From artistic point of view maybe it makes sense? I don’t think SM’s treatment of EXO as an idol group was anything bad no matter what anyone tells you. They were SM’s flagship group, they got to work with the best of producers and have the best concert and stages.

But for solos. SC or maybe even Chen and Xiumin want their musical freedom, Baekhyun wants to do a lot of non music things he wants his own company for example for clothing and dancing, Kyungsoo is a great actor whose need an acting focused agency etc

It is extremely logical that SM ENT can’t fulfill all the solo aspirations that EXO members have.

This should imo be the norm in KPOP.

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Right, I agree with everything you said. But still, why keep being part of EXO then? This means they'll still have to deal with SM's way of doing things? It might even hinder their solo aspirations.

I think EXO are very aware that their identities are tied to the EXO brand and since the beginning were very clear that their intention was never to break “EXO”

Not CBX, not SC, not Kyungsoo

Anyway I love my CHILDREN (she says of fully grown adult men)

Quote from susanamendes

Right, I agree with everything you said. But still, why keep being part of EXO then? This means they'll still have to deal with SM's way of doing things? It might even hinder their solo aspirations.

I don’t understand what you’re asking? EXO is an SM group meaning SM is a HUGE part of EXO. No other company can do EXO. But many other companies or the company of their choosing can do the members solos. That’s all there is to it. And I think EXO know this.

Like for me I 1000000% don’t want the EXO brand to be outside of SM. Musically, artistically EXO is an SM ENT group.

I don’t see it as hinder. EXO members solo popularity is derived from them being in EXO and they know this. They’ve mentioned it also. That they’re most profitable and that they’re more recognized as exo members. And “EXO” (the brand) can’t exist without SM of this I have no doubt. There are groups that move their whole brand outside of company but imo I don’t think this is right for EXO nor will it work for EXO. Moving solos is easier because they can all individually choose which company. Since anyway they need some company to do manage their group effort why not it be SM. SM is the best company to release EXO music and do EXO content there is no one else who can do it better. Hence this is the most logical set up for everyone. And should be be norm in kpop as well.

I never had any doubt

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Quote from killingtime1934

How long until the " do kyungsoo has decide to leave exo"

This type of deals just won't work with sm

I’m sure you’re projecting because of Blackpink’s non existent group career. But that need not be the case for EXO.