She had legal representation ready.
(G)I-DLE member Shuhua has opened up about her close call with leaving the group. In a recent candid conversation, she revealed that she was on the brink of not renewing her contract after it was set to expire.
The uncertainty surrounding the group’s future began circulating in 2024 as the members of i-dle approached the expiration of their contracts with Cube Entertainment. Speculation was rife about whether they would choose to renew, adding to the anxiety among fans. However, in a heartwarming acceptance speech at the 2024 Melon Music Awards, leader Soyeon eased concerns by confirming that all members had decided to re-sign their contracts.
(G)I-DLE’s Soyeon Confirms All Members Have Renewed Their Contracts With Cube Entertainment
Following the renewal, the group rebranded as i-dle and has recently kicked off a fresh wave of promotions for their latest comeback. The members have been refreshingly honest about how challenging the decision to stay was, with Shuhua noting she nearly opted out of the group entirely.
i-dle’s Shuhua Shockingly Admits Why She Nearly Didn’t Renew Her Contract
During a recent appearance on the popular JTBC variety show Knowing Bros, the i-dle maknae (the youngest member of the group) shared her feelings on the difficult transition from contract expiration to renewal on May 24, KST.
As the members reminisced on this tumultuous period, host Heechul from Super Junior jokingly commented, “Surprisingly, even the usually quiet Shuhua hired a lawyer.” Lee Soo Geun then chimed in, saying, “She must have been preparing to leave.” Shuhua confirmed this, saying, “Yes. It’s true.” Despite her initial consideration of other paths, she ultimately decided to stay with her fellow members.
When I thought of the members, I felt that staying with the team would be the better choice.
— Shuhua
Shuhua revealed that not only was she contemplating leaving Cube, but she had also thought about stepping away from i-dle altogether. Thankfully, her teammates managed to sway her decision. Soyeon highlighted that they had several heart-to-heart discussions, and Shuhua took the time to have one-on-one conversations with each member before making her final choice.
Soyeon also played a significant role in the negotiations, taking the lead in adjusting details to ensure everyone felt comfortable with the terms. She stated,
I made a lot of edits to the contract, even down to the word choices.
— Soyeon
In the end, the hurdles brought them closer together, allowing i-dle to continue as a strong and unified quintet—much to the delight of their fans around the world.
