SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – October 28: Boy band SEVENTEEN during a red carpet event of 2020 Korean Popular Culture and Art Awards at Kyunghee University Peace Hall on October 28, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)
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CARATs around the world can let out any sighs they’ve been holding — K-pop group SEVENTEEN is not disbanding. In fact, their label has confirmed that all 13 members have renewed their contracts for the second time.
The formal announcement, shared via the group’s official Weverse page, follows a surprise on-stage announcement by leader S.Coups at the group’s world tour finale in April, but today’s statement makes it official.
In a year marked by sudden and surprising idol departures, this is welcome news for fans of the popular boy group.
What Pledis Entertainment Said About SEVENTEEN
The agency’s full statement confirmed the renewal across all thirteen members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, The8, Mingyu, DK, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino. “The contract renewal process has been completed for all members with the exception of those currently carrying out their military service,” the statement read, “and the remaining members will be completing the process in alignment with their respective military service conditions.”
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – JANUARY 23: Boy band SEVENTEENperforms on stage during the 8th Gaon Chart K-Pop Awards on January 23, 2019 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
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Jeonghan, Wonwoo, Hoshi and Woozi are currently enlisted in the army, and Mingyu and DK are expected to follow, complying with South Korea’s military conscription rules, which play a huge part in the career trajectory of male idols.
Unit and solo projects continue in the interim; SEVENTEEN has six subunits, and the V8 unit comprising Vernon and The8 released their debut album in June.
Pledis also said it plans to keep backing the group’s activities across its full lineup, its subunits, and members’ solo work, and committed to growing SEVENTEEN’s presence internationally.
The group’s own statement, said, “With the belief that there is nothing we cannot achieve together and a shared desire to go further as a team, all 13 of us have come to an agreement to continue to work together.”
Pledis added: “SEVENTEEN does not promise ‘eternity’ lightly. Rather, the artists show their dedication to it every day through their passion and hard work. It is an honour to be able to start another new chapter together.”
Why SEVENTEEN’s Contract Renewal Is Significant For K-Pop
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – April 29: SEVENTEEN attends SEVENTEEN Best Album ’17 Is Right Here’ Press Conference at Conrad Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu on April 29, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images)
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K-pop is an increasingly competitive and cutthroat industry, with full-group renewals being the exception and not the standard.
The Fair Trade Commission’s standard entertainer contract structure in South Korea is built around an initial term of up to seven years, at which point members frequently depart, groups reconfigure, or agencies lose significant talent. SEVENTEEN first renewed in 2021, ahead of schedule, with about a year still left on their original seven-year deal — an early move that was unusual at the time too. “Today’s second renewal as a complete thirteen-member unit has no recent precedent in the industry.
The group debuted in 2015 under Pledis Entertainment (now a HYBE subsidiary) with a self-producing model, which means that unusually for K-pop, members are actively involved in writing, producing, and choreographing their own music.
It might be a while before fans get to see all of SEVENTEEN together on stage again, but at least now they know it’s definitely going to happen.