Jang Gyu-ri to depart from girl group fromis_9

Jang Gyu-ri [NEWS1]

Jang Gyu-ri of fromis_9 will leave the girl group, according to Pledis Entertainment Thursday.

Through global fan community platform Weverse, the group’s agency announced that Jang’s contract with the group will end on Sunday.

“Jang is wrapping up her contract with fromis_9 and is heading toward a new challenge [by herself] as of July 31,” Pledis Entertainment said.

“We have arrived to this decision after deliberating and discussing long and hard about what would be the best for each other,” the agency said. “Please continue to show love and support for the eight members of fromis_9 and for Jang Gyu-ri, who has done her best as a member of the group.”

Fromis_9 will be active as a eight-member group from next month.

With the exception of Jang, the eight other members have been represented by Pledis Entertainment from August 2021. Jang is signed with Off The Record Entertainment, however, because she was part of fromis_9, she had a contract with Pledis Entertainment for her time as a member of the group.

Jang debuted through fromis_9 which was formed through cable channel Mnet's audition program "Idol School" (2017). The group’s recent EP “from our Memento Box” recently set a new high for the girl group after selling 160,000 preorders.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]