Chungha leaves her agency, new music release put on halt

Singer Chungha [NEWS1]

Chungha will leave her agency, announced MNH Entertainment on Wednesday.

“Chungha’s exclusive contract that lasted for seven years with the company since her debut in 2016 will end on April 29, 2023,” the statement posted on Chungha’s official fancafe reads.

“With this, ‘Bare&Rare Pt.2’ will not be released under this agency due to internal circumstances,” statement added.

“Bare&Rare Pt.2” was the planned second release of Chungha’s second full-length album, “Bare&Rare Pt.1,” first released in July 2022.

“We will support Chungha, who will be active as a wonderful artist,” the statement said, while also thanking her fans, Byulharang.

Chungha debuted in 2016 as a member of girl group I.O.I, which was formed through the first season of Mnet’s popular audition program “Produce 101.” After the group disbanded in early 2017, she debuted as a solo act with the EP “Hands on Me” (2017). She went on to release hits “Roller Coaster” (2018), “Love U” (2018), “Gotta Go” (2019), and “Play” (2020) and “Bicycle” (2021). Chungha was involved in writing the lyrics and producing all eight of the tracks on her most recent album, “Bare&Rare Pt.1.”

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]