The members of K-pop act GOT7 have announced their departure from JYP Entertainment. What do fans say, and what’s in store for the future?

Saying goodbye to your favorite acts is never easy, but fans of K-pop act GOT7 had to do just that earlier this week. As the contract tenure of the seven members neared its end ahead of their seventh anniversary, speculations about whether they would renew ran rampant.

Alleged news of members already looking out for greener pastures followed, and after repeated denials, JYP Entertainment confirmed that the seven members of GOT7 had all chosen not to renew their contracts. 

While there has been conjecture about what the members will do after, the group has put up a united front for their fans, stressing that this is not the end for the beloved act. 

“The past 7 years have been the best years of my life. Nothing is coming to an end, just the beginning. The seven of us are going to continue to bring you guys the best version of us till the end. #GOT7FOREVER.” wrote member Mark Tuan, shortly after reports that 35th the group’s performance at the 35th Golden Disc Awards might be their last appearance under JYP. 

Surprisingly, however, fans had been anticipating news of the members’ departure for some time. Much of the conversation around their announcement was directed at their management at JYP Entertainment, which fans say had been mismanaging the group for some time. Particularly around the time of the group’s last release, fans took issue with the fact that the promotional period for their albums was relatively shorter. 

That’s not to say we weren’t tuned into the drama that preceded the eventual news of their departure: cue Mark’s father, Raymond Tuan, tweeting about welcoming his son back as JYP Entertainment still says they’re “in discussions” with the members; or that JYP founder Park Jinyoung unfollowed several of the members on social media. Or BamBam’s hilarious replies to fans who are *stressed*. 

https://twitter.com/BamBam1A/status/1349031371763712001

At a time when fans were hitting refresh every 30 seconds, these moments of hilarity provided much-needed relief, easing us into the uncomfortable truth that GOT7 might not continue at JYP. 

Yes, it sucks.

We all wish that we could have Jackson’s meme-worthy faces at award shows, Jinyoung’s death glares complementing JB’s tired-mom-of-6 face, Youngjae’s angelic voice, Mark’s quiet resolve, BamBam’s random Among Us battles and Yugyeom’s evil schemes forever, so it’s natural if things don’t make sense right now. 

What makes this marginally bearable is the knowledge that even in their farewell, GOT7 have reiterated their commitment to the unit as they always do. With GOT7, what we often got was a brand of honesty uncharacteristic in a group of their standing.

Whether it was clarifying that no, K-pop groups are not scheming against each other behind the scenes, acknowledging the pressures of the idol lifestyle, talking about the desire for creative freedom, or admitting that their international popularity often contrasted with the situation back home, they believed in laying it all out. 

“I’ve never once thought that we were lacking in talent or performance, but I think there’s something to learn from Twice (their labelmates) in how popular they are domestically,” leader JB said in an interview with Korea JoongAng Daily in 2019. 

“I think we are in a vague position where we are well known but not very well known at the same time. We have to work harder to show more to the audience.”

While they didn’t top the big charts in South Korea throughout their career, GOT7’s commitment to the unit is what made them enjoyable as an act. “7 or nothing,” as they stressed multiple times in the past. Even with some of the members pursuing solo activities — with Jackson and BamBam shuttling between countries and carving out completely different musical niches from the group’s own musical style — GOT7 persisted because of their uncanny awareness of what worked for the unit. 

Even during their goodbyes to fans, the members put the unit first and assured fans that they would work together again. Combine this dedication with their cheeky, self-deprecating humor, and we got an act who could traverse the nuances of being in the public eye without taking it too seriously or losing themselves in the haze. 

While the group may not have broken top tiers in terms of charting, their interpersonal bond leaves an indelible mark on the K-pop landscape, true to what the industry often emphasizes time and again. Whether it’s through Instagram lives or collaborations, we’re waiting to see what they have in store for their fans.

Check out ‘You Calling My Name’ by GOT7:

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