Red Velvet’s Wendy and Yeri leave SM Entertainment

Red Velvet singers Wendy and Yeri have left longtime label SM Entertainment, but will remain members of the K-pop group.

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SM Entertainment announced today (April 4) that Red Velvet members Wendy and Yeri have left the label after their exclusive contracts with the agencies expired. At the same time, SM Entertainment also confirmed that the duo will continue to be part of the K-pop girl group.

“The time we spent together with Wendy and Yeri […] was a great joy for us,” SM Entertainment said in their statement, as translated by Soompi. “We will cherish all the moments we have spent together with them until now, and we will sincerely root for Wendy and Yeri as they make a new start.”

The label added that “as members of Red Velvet”, the two K-pop idols will still be “working with us for their group activities, and we ask that you look forward to Red Velvet’s shining journey that will continue to unfold”.

The other three members of Red Velvet – Seulgi, Irene and Joy – renewed their contracts with SM Entertainment in August 2023, February 2024 and January 2025, respectively.

Red Velvet debuted as a quartet in 2014, with Wendy, Seulgi, Irene and Joy as the group’s founding members. Yeri was added to the line-up in 2015 with the release of their first mini-album, ‘Ice Cream Cake’.

Earlier this year, Seulgi made her solo return with her sophomore mini-album ‘Accidentally On Purpose’. The record featured title track ‘Baby, Not Baby’, produced by Grammy winner Erick Serna, known for his work on Olivia Rodrigo‘s hit album ‘Guts’ in 2024.

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