No contract extension for Wanna One
K-pop boy band Wanna One will officially disband on Dec. 31. Swing Entertainment announced on Dec. 18 that Wanna One’s contracts will not be extended and will expire by year-end but they will still attend award shows and hold a concert in January.
“Wanna One’s contract will expire on Dec. 31 as planned. Its official activities, however, will continue through January. It will participate in year-end annual awards events and meet fans for the last time through concerts next month,” the agency said, according to Yonhap News.
The farewell concert will be held from Jan. 24 to 27 at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, according to Korean media.
The 11-member boy band is composed of winners of the survival audition TV show “Produce 101” Season 2 which ran from April to June 2017. They are Kang Daniel, Park Jihoon, Lee Daehwi, Kim Jaehwan, Ong Seongwoo, Park Woojin, Lai Guanlin, Yoon Jisung, Hwang Minhyun, Bae Jinyoung, and Ha Sungwoon.
They debuted on Aug. 7 last year with the album “1X1=1 (To Be One).”
Fans have been clamoring for the extension of Wanna One’s contracts but representatives of the different agencies failed to agree on the matter.
“We really appreciate their amazing performances for the past one and half years. We also support their new beginnings and careers. We also offer sincere gratitude to local and overseas fans who love Wanna One. We hope for your continued support and blessing for the members,” Swing Entertainment added.
The members belong to different agencies. Hwang Minhyun, under Pledis Entertainment, is set to go back to his group NU’EST. Kang Daniel and Yoon Jisung belong to MMO Entertainment while Ong Seungwoo is under contract with Fantagio.
Park Ji-hoon’s agency is Maroo Entertainment, and Lee Daehwi and Park Woojin belong to Brand New Music. Lai Guanlin is under Cube Entertainment while Bae Jinyoung is with C9 Entertainment and Ha Sungwoon belongs to Star Crew Entertainment and is a member of boy band Hotshot. Kim Jaehwan signed up with CJ E&M. Jonathan Hicap)
(Report by