One Of The Major Pillars In SM Entertainment, BoA, Departs The Agency After 25 Years Together
BoA (39), who was hailed as the “Star of Asia” 25 years ago and served as a major pillar in SM Entertainment’s early growth, is leaving the company.
SM Entertainment announced in an official statement on January 12th, “After long and in-depth discussions with BoA, we mutually agreed to conclude our 25-year partnership as of December 31.” The company added, “We sincerely thank the fans who have loved BoA.”
SM described BoA as “an icon of overseas expansion” and “the Star of Asia” who debuted in 2000 at the age of 13 and pioneered the Korean Wave across Asia. The company praised her as a role model for countless junior artists who went on to lead the global K-pop boom, stating, “As a trailblazer and pioneer, BoA’s journey has left unparalleled records built on relentless effort and passion. It was a great honor to share all those moments with her.”
Although her exclusive contract has ended, SM also expressed support for her future endeavors. “We hope BoA continues to shine as she fully showcases her capabilities through new activities and challenges,” the statement read. “We sincerely support not only the artist BoA, but also the future of Kwon BoA as an individual.”
After the announcement, BoA shared a heartfelt message along with two photos on her Instagram. In the released photos, BoA is seen sitting atop a large structure engraved with the letters “B,” “O,” and “A,” smiling calmly.
Through her post, BoA wrote, “As much as we gave and received without holding back, I leave without regrets. I am grateful for the time we shared, and I will continue to support the shining future of SM Entertainment. Thank you.”
BoA is widely regarded as the figure who opened the door for first-and-a-half-generation K-pop artists to expand overseas, achieving unprecedented success in both Korea and Japan in the early 2000s.
Even after her peak years, she has consistently maintained her musical identity, continuing to work steadily as both a singer and producer, and has remained a symbolic presence within SM. She was one of the few artists personally selected by former executive producer Lee Soo Man, and in 2014, she was appointed as a non-executive director of SM alongside Kangta.
Industry observers see this decision as part of a broader shift within SM following Lee Soo Man’s departure from management, viewing BoA—often described as “SM’s history itself”—as making a new choice amid the company’s evolving structure.
Source: (A)
