Updated July 4 KST:

A teaser has been released for Lee Ga Eun’s solo track before leaving Pledis Entertainment.

Check it out below:

Original Article:

After School’s Lee Ga Eun will be parting ways with Pledis Entertainment following the expiration of her contract this week.

On July 4, Pledis Entertainment officially announced that Lee Ga Eun, who debuted as a new member of After School in 2012 and later went on to compete on Mnet’s “Produce 48” last year, would be leaving the agency. Lee Ga Eun also confirmed the news by posting a handwritten letter to her fans on Instagram.

Additionally, Pledis Entertainment revealed that the singer would be releasing one final solo track on July 5, before her departure from the agency, as a gift to her fans.

Pledis Entertainment’s official statement is as follows:

First, we would like to sincerely thank all the fans who care for and support Pledis Entertainment artist Ga Eun. We are informing you that Ga Eun’s exclusive management contract with our agency ends on July 6, 2019. After joining After School as a member in 2012, Ga Eun has spent approximately eight years promoting in a variety of fields as an artist under our agency, and our agency is very grateful to her for always doing her best in her various activities. We discussed the possibility of renewing Ga Eun’s contract following its expiration together with her. We spoke seriously about the matter, and we confirmed our continuing trust and respect for one another in the process. Unfortunately, however, due to differences in our goals for the future, we were unable to renew her contract, and we decided to end things with a beautiful farewell. We would like to take the opportunity to thank Ga Eun once again for trusting us and walking alongside us for a long time. Additionally, Pledis will continue to provide management and other necessities for Ga Eun’s activities up until she decides on a new agency. Also, on July 5, before the end of Ga Eun’s contract, we plan to digitally release a song that expresses gratitude to the fans who have always cheered her on by her side. We apologize to all the fans who have waited for Ga Eun for a long time, and we ask that you continue to show lots of unchanging love and interest in Ga Eun in the future as well. Our agency will also be sincerely rooting for Ga Eun in the future. Thank you.

Shortly after Pledis Entertainment’s announcement, Lee Ga Eun took to Instagram to share a photo of a heartfelt message for her fans:

Hello. This is Ga Eun. I’m greeting you for the first time in a long while. I don’t know what I should say first… I don’t know if I’ll be able to fully convey just how grateful and apologetic I have felt up until now… I think this is the hardest letter I’ve ever had to write. First, I want to apologize to the fans, who will be disappointed to hear that my contract has ended, for not being able to spend more time on stage with you before the end… and I want to thank you for always sending me your warm support. The time I spent with my fans after debuting as After School’s Ga Eun was truly like a dream… it was a happy time. I’m also grateful that the people with whom I spent that time together were the amazing [After School] members. Also, CEO Han Sung Soo and everyone in the Pledis family, who made it possible for me to live as After School’s Ga Eun! Thank you for cherishing me and taking care of me. I will always work hard while feeling grateful! Although I will soon be greeting you as Lee Ga Eun and not After School’s Ga Eun, I will always remember the time I spent [as After School’s Ga Eun] up until now. I will always be grateful for the immense love you’ve given me, and I will work hard to meet you more often in the future!! I will do my best so that I can show you even better things! I will become a better person. Please continue to stay with me in the future… once again, I sincerely thank you, and I love you.

We wish Lee Ga Eun all the best as she prepares to make a new start!

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