KARA member Heo Young Ji is leaving DSP Media after a decade-long partnership.

On September 5, DSP Media shared the news, saying, “Our exclusive contract with Heo Young Ji, who has been with us for the past 10 years with great trust, has ended.”

They added, “We sincerely thank Heo Young Ji for bringing positive energy both on and off the stage as one of our artists. We will continue to support her in her future endeavors.”

Heo Young Ji joined KARA in 2014 and has not only excelled as an idol singer but also made a name for herself in dramas like Another Miss Oh and Moments of 18.

KARA, with Heo Young Ji, made a group comeback in 2022 with their 15th-anniversary album MOVE AGAIN. They continued their activities with a new single, "I Do I Do," released last July.

The group also held solo concerts, "KARA THE 5th JAPAN TOUR 2024 'KARASIA'," performing in Tokyo on August 17-18 and in Osaka on August 24-25.

Official Statement from DSP Media

"Hello, this is DSP Media. We want to thank all the fans for their continued love and support for Heo Young Ji.

We want to let you know that our exclusive contract with Heo Young Ji, who has been with us for the past 10 years, has ended.

We express our deep gratitude to Heo Young Ji for her positive energy on and off stage, and we will cheer for her future projects.

Please continue to support and follow Heo Young Ji as she begins a new chapter.

Thank you."

Source: [1]

BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

Source: [1]