[SBS Star] MINNIE Says (G)I-DLE Members Grew Closer Through Contract Renewal Talks

MINNIE, a member of K-pop girl group (G)I-DLE, spoke about last year's much-discussed contract renewal issue. 

The issue surfaced in August when the group's leader SOYEON delivered a rap lyric during the Seoul stop of their tour concert "iDOL": "My contract ends in November, who can stop me?" 

As their contracts neared expiration, disagreements between SOYEON and their agency, CUBE Entertainment, about her performance and the situation sparked controversy, raising fans' concerns about whether (G)I-DLE might disband.

After extensive discussions, all members ultimately decided to renew their contracts with CUBE Entertainment. They surprised fans by announcing the news during their acceptance speech at the 2024 MMA awards last November.
In an interview on January 20, that was held ahead of her solo album "HER" release the next day, MINNIE reflected, "The members and I had a lot of deep conversations. We're always on the same page—we want to make the music we love and stick together for a long time."

She added, "We realized that by staying united and strengthening our bond, we'd have a better chance of lasting as a group. During the renewal process, we had some really honest conversations, which brought us even closer."

MINNIE shared her personal perspective as well, saying, "The seven years I've spent as (G)I-DLE have been incredibly meaningful. I've grown so much working with the members, and those experiences have helped me figure out who I am. This new album reflects everything I've gone through and thought about over the years. I was able to put a lot of myself into it."
Talking about fans' reactions, MINNIE said, "I couldn't help but look up what fans were saying after we told them about our renewal. I heard that some even cried at the event. I saw so many comments like, 'Yes, (G)I-DLE! Let's go!' 'I knew they'd stay together,' and 'Thank goodness.' I felt so grateful." 

She also expressed her appreciation for the support she received, adding, "I got tons of messages from friends and even from my Korean and English teachers, who I haven't seen in years, congratulating me and saying how happy they were about the renewal."
(Credit= CUBE Entertainment) 

(SBS Star)