BAE173 member Han-gyeol is ending his exclusive contract with agency PocketDol Studio.
PocketDol Studio announced, "The exclusive contract with Han-gyeol will end on the 28th."
It added, "It was a precious companionship in which we spent a long time of about 10 years together and watched each other's growth," and "We sincerely thank Han-gyeol for quietly showing passion and doing his best. Although the exclusive contract with our company is ending, we sincerely support Han-gyeol's new activities and challenges that he will unfold in the future."
CEO Kim Kwang-su said, "Han-gyeol has been a friend who stood firmly by our side whether the company did well or not, whether good things happened or sad things occurred," and "To me he was at times a companion, a friend, and a younger brother. I am truly grateful and thankful that he stayed with us for a long time."
He also said, "In my 41 years of watching many artists, it is rare to find a friend who quietly kept his place and showed sincerity like Han-gyeol," and "As a very special friend who I could not help but cherish, we will sincerely congratulate, bless and support him as he goes down a new path."
Han-gyeol grew with the agency for about 10 years since his trainee days. He first debuted in 2017 with the group IM, gained recognition by ranking 13th on KBS2's "The Unit," and was selected as a final member through Mnet's "PRODUCE X 101," promoting in the project group X1 and building public awareness. Afterwards he conducted pre-debut activities as the unit H&D, composed of Lee Han-gyeol and Nam Do-hyun, and on Nov. 19, 2020, he officially debuted as a member of the group BAE173 and continued active promotions.
Recently, he was selected as a final member on the survival program "Starlight Boys" and took on a new challenge by concurrently promoting with the group POLARIX.
With the period of companionship that lasted 10 years coming to an end, attention is focused on what new steps Han-gyeol will take going forward.
[Photo] PocketDol Studio
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