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After leaving SM Entertainment with her fellow Red Velvet member Wendy, YeRi pursued an acting career under a new agency. She had already proven herself as an amazing singer as part of Red Velvet, so debuting as a solo artist would be the natural next step. But she had something else in mind.
Her choice to become an actress instead of launching a solo music career, which she was unable to do under SM, is an interesting move. It says a lot about what she wants for herself. While some idols follow a familiar path after leaving their company, YeRi’s decision hints at a more personal reason.
So why acting? To understand that, we have to take a closer look at what’s been happening behind the scenes—and what YeRi herself has quietly been building toward.
Red Velvet YeRi Changes Team Atmosphere: Joy Reveals Behind-the-Scenes StoryDaily NewsJul 1, 2024
Red Velvet Member YeRi Leaves SM Entertainment + Signs With New Agency to Pursue an Acting Career
After over a decade, Red Velvet members Wendy and YeRi departed from SM Entertainment on April 4. The company announced in an official statement that the two artists’ exclusive contracts had ended. However, although Wendy and YeRi will no longer be part of SM, they will still be members of Red Velvet.
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Wendy was part of Red Velvet from the very beginning in August 2014, and a few months later, in March 2015, YeRi joined the group and became the newest member.
A month after parting ways with SM, YeRi signed with a new management agency, Blitzway Entertainment. Kim will promote as an actor under her real name, Kim YeRim.
Previously known as Blitzway Studios, the agency recently changed its name to Blitzway Entertainment as part of its plans to focus more on content. It’s now home to stars like Ju Ji Hoon, Jung RyeoWon, Kwak DongYeon, Moon ChaeWon, Chun WooHee, Woo DoHwan, Yoon Bak, and others.
To celebrate the moment, the agency shared beautiful new profile photos of Kim Yerim.
The Rise of K-Pop Idols as Actors
A lot of K-Pop idols have transitioned into actors either after leaving their group or just their original agency. Some are like Red Velvet’s YeRi, who remains a member of her original idol group but pursues acting under a different agency.
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One of them is Girl’s Day HyeRi. She left Dream T Entertainment and signed with Creative Group ING in April 2019 to focus on acting. Girl’s Day has not yet officially disbanded, even if all members chose not to renew their contracts with Dream T. She has since been a free agent after leaving Creative Group last year.
EXID’s Hani had the same situation. She parted ways with Banana Culture and joined Sublime Artist Agency in October 2019. She has since been working as an actress under her real name, Ahn HeeYeon.
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EXO’s D.O. left SM in October 2023 and joined a newly established company by his and SM Entertainment’s former manager. While remaining a member of EXO, he continued carrying out activities as a solo singer and actor.
After departing from CUBE Entertainment, BTOB’s Yook SungJae signed an exclusive contract with production company iWill Media in December 2023. He has since been active in participating in BTOB activities and acting.
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Similarly, BLACKPINK’s JiSoo left YG Entertainment but not BLACKPINK in December 2023. She founded a new agency, BLISSOO, in February 2024 for her solo music career and acting projects.
Why Acting Is an Appealing Option for K-Pop Idols?
Why do some K-pop idols turn to acting? It’s actually a smart move for a lot of them. Okay, so first off, acting gives idols a chance to branch out and do more than just sing. Being in a K-Pop group is a lot of work, and not every idol wants to go solo in the music world. But acting is a whole new world for them. It's another excellent way to remain in the public eye and keep their supporters interested.
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Another big reason is flexibility. Acting schedules can usually be planned around group activities, while releasing solo music often takes just as much time and energy as promoting with the group. That means idols can act without stepping away from their teams completely.
And lastly, acting helps idols show a different side of themselves. Fans get to see them take on new roles, emotions, and stories—something they might not be able to do on stage. This can make them even more relatable and loved by people who might not have been into K-pop before.
Why Acting Makes More Sense for Red Velvet Member YeRi After Leaving SM
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