Only 5 Groups In K-Pop History Have Renewed Their Contracts Without Losing Any Members And Still Have Their Original Lineup

  • In the K-Pop industry, it’s fairly standard for a group to create a contract with their company that has the members commit to a 7-year-long career with their label. While the length of time does vary and there have been plenty of cases of members leaving before their contract is up, this is one of the most common situations when a group debuts. s7Ht8RQkTJfaCItQRwuyMQfWY3RVoHrlmyUTiT6LvVRGHo1YeHxq7qWV2snzxwxVCA5wHdHxj7U9lDIHkYKVb1klIbgZJJCNxTngKu7xUXCcG1w=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365SEVENTEEN around debut

    When it gets close to a group’s contract ending, fans of the artist can get understandably concerned about whether or not all of the members will renew their contract. And when you look at the statistics into how many K-Pop groups that debuted between 1996 and now — about 350 in total — have renewed their contracts without losing any members, it’s understandable why this is a nerve-wracking time for fans.

    Out of these hundreds of groups (with 3 or more members), only 5 of them have renewed their contracts at some point without losing a single member during the renewal process, and have still retained their original line-up. p1FQGXxrJXgwvKkVjNJ4oSZQOHxQr-AMIOM2dfuYUjmCyQ5dLH6A2H_U6fWwCcTel_mqnuwSGBLKhKFxs73tL1XwWUejEeyQXehA0i1OiTjR91h3=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365GOT7

    This doesn’t include groups, such as GOT7, that are still together despite leaving their company, or groups that say they are still together despite one or more members leaving the company, such as MAMAMOO. Also not included are groups that lost members prior to or after their first contract renewal, such as Jay Park leaving 2PM beforehand, or Seungri leaving BIGBANG and Jessica leaving Girls’ Generation afterwards. ZD-wImLS4Rs_oH3KnNFScCt8T2CYPMAaiRr-nJ_laHnS7zBp4HaUDiZ-bP_YKWm6ptHs1AoAH20hgwetF218oEq0eWrt4qRowdqA58ZbtRD1rw=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365SEVENTEEN

    Perhaps most well-known currently is SEVENTEEN‘s recent renewal with Pledis Entertainment this month, which is particularly impressive considering they have 13 members! Interestingly, one of the other groups to renew their contract with all of their members is their labelmate NU’EST, whose 5 members decided to stay with the company back in January 2019. 3KpIZxonjCnOONZNj4BKGXRIsksBFY_R5OBbom4D4U2j9oaQkb5Hrz_NfM9iuCzDeq6UXOcl4T3eLd4fBuJPIqTWU_ONnHwTrdbOnJIcYNard-g=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365NU’EST

    Also in recent history was SF9‘s contract renewal with FNC Entertainment, with all 9 members of the group deciding to stay with the company in March earlier this year. tngRIsUsZ0MmdeZiroVk7LkE7ykenXGG9B0vXczPCaTktilF6YIHptVv0lmD8t549yfVNnH20vuTPQUySi3XxUX5geynM5r5HAUCEp9hQ3jPjAY=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365SF9

    Of course, all 7 of BTS‘s members made the decision to continue with BigHit Labels back when they renewed their contract in 2018, which was actually prior to their original contract ending date, which would have been last year. 2VtkljyKhAM8LumblCiZkK_QsmgaIDjqYMit39ifUeDD2TdvriyXe2gAMjuUC4Mqm_7krb3r7RjUUP7lOi645XlQmD4g0cZhXKEBP3q9PoIofre-=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365BTS

    Finally, SHINee also deserves to be mentioned in this list. While Jonghyun tragically passed back in late 2017, they are the only group in K-Pop history to renew with their label twice (once in 2014 and again in 2018) and still have all of their members, and with how close the members are and how much their music means to them, there’s little doubt that Jonghyun would have continued on with them at SM Entertainment as well, and he will always be an eternal member. aiP6-YCkkHR3KYQebdEQiUgExcQFj6NLR8fAMILH3nNDI8PDB8a1wFlb73Y0bWKy7j2sa_9tTPxzXmmsNH-6HQedXFaN-wWim2ofQJNeYxrLOSI=w32-fSoften=1,100,0-rp-e365SHINee

    There are many third-generation K-Pop group contracts that will be expiring within the next year or two: Red Velvet and Lovelyz will make their decision later this year, and TWICE will do so in 2022. Fans can only hope that they will be added to this too-short list!

  • :whatb: SHINee debuted in 2008. Does this mean they didn't have a 10 year contract or even a 7 year contract with SM?



    Because (some) people are saying the only reason that so many SM artists stick around even after 7 years, is because SM has 10 year and 10+ year contracts - which I consider farfetched.


    But SM was the example that got mentioned the most regarding longterm 'slave contracts' that lasted far beyond the now required 7 years.

    However, if SHINee really did extend their contract in their 6th year after debut, this'd mean that that narrative already wasn't true for most of SM's 2nd gen groups.

    'No more shall man have wings to bear him to paradise. Henceforth, he shall walk.'


    SWJ1P.gif

  • Afaik, it's possible for some groups or members to sign the contract way before their debut, so even if Shinee debuted in 2008, some/all members might've been considered as a Shinee's member and were already bound by contract before 2008. Thats why it might be possible for the contract expiration date to come before a group reach their 7th anniversary mark since debut.


  • This is what the SHINee members said themselves on an interview in 2018, 10 years after their debut in 2008, about their renewal:


    “I want us to really look back on when our most immature times because if we had had to choose when we were about six or seven years into our career, I’m not sure if we would have been sitting here together right now,” Key shared. “As we endured and spent time together, 10 years passed by. In my opinion, now it finally feels it’s like worth doing.” (bold emphasis mine)

    Sources: 1, 2


    What Key implies is that they DIDN'T have a choice to decide to continue in their 6th or 7th year. The choice was only given in their 10th year.

  • seventeen must be really pleased with the contract conditions at pledis, cuz yes it's surprising in the sense that they're 13 members, but that's not all, they renewed months before it even needed to be a topic of discussion

  • GOt7 split up from their agency, Shinee lost a member.



    Brown eyed girls as someone mentioned, have changed agencies and at least one member is signed with a different agency right now.

  • Afaik, it's possible for some groups or members to sign the contract way before their debut, so even if Shinee debuted in 2008, some/all members might've been considered as a Shinee's member and were already bound by contract before 2008. Thats why it might be possible for the contract expiration date to come before a group reach their 7th anniversary mark since debut.

    So I guess the 2014 contract renewal of SHINee never happened, it turned out to be just an unfounded rumor? :whatb:

    'No more shall man have wings to bear him to paradise. Henceforth, he shall walk.'


    SWJ1P.gif

  • So I guess the 2014 contract renewal of SHINee never happened, it turned out to be just an unfounded rumor? :whatb:

    Well idk abt that. Regarding my answer, Maybe I misunderstood your previous post? I thought you're confused why Shinee renew their contract in 2014 eventho they debuted in 2008, so basically 6 years after debut not 7 years.

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