Zaleha Jalil
Just weeks before their 10th debut anniversary, NU’EST (NEW ESTABLIST STYLE TEMPO) announced via a statement shared by the group’s management company, Pledis Entertainment on February 28 that they will be going on their separate ways.
The boyband’s exclusive artist contract with the company will expire on March 14, where only main vocalist Baekho (Kang Dongho) and lead vocalist Minhyun (Hwang Minhyun) will renew their contract with the company, while JR (Kim Jonghyun), Aron (Aaron Kwak) and Ren (Choi Mingi) will be leaving the company to “start afresh”.
Also included in the English and Korean statement on HYBE Weverse account, it was announced that the band will “cap off their official activities as NU’EST of Pledis Entertainment” with a new album in March.
NU’EST was Pledis first boyband group, debuted in March 15, 2012 with the single FACE, emphasising on the social concept of anti-bullying, and had garnered much steady stream of love over the years, leading them to reach a monumental 100 million views, making them first still active boyband at that time to achieve the new record.
Also known as the reversal idols after their momentous decision to participate in Produce 101 season 2, where Hwang Minhyun went on to participate in the temporary group project, Wanna One and the others continued to promote in a sub-unit, NU’EST W.
NU’EST have had multiple hits in South Korea including BET BET, LOVE ME and I’m in Trouble and most recently released their second full album Romanticize in April 2021, and hosted the first offline concert in South Korea in November 2021 with great success.
In their handwritten letters posted on the social app Weverse, the five members shared their decision to each go their separate ways, thanking the fans for their unconditional love and support throughout the years and continue to ‘your love and support for the other NU’EST members, who will continue to shine in the future’ as mentioned in the letter written by Aron.
