Contract Completed, EXO DO Leaves SM Entertainment And Establishes New Agency

JAKARTA - EXO DO will terminate its exclusive contract with SM Entertainment. The agency confirmed the news after these rumors began circulating on Wednesday, October 18.

"Our exclusive D.O. contract will end in early November," SM Entertainment said on the same day.

The agency explained that although the singer whose real name is Doh Kyungsoo came out, she is still active with SM for EXO activities in the future.

"After discussing with DO, it was decided that he would continue EXO's activities with SM, but it was decided that he would continue his individual activities and acting through a new agency he founded with former SM manager," they said again.

On the same day, DO launched Company SooSoo, the agency he founded with former SM manager and worked with him since his debut. SooSoo's name is a combination of the last name DO and the manager.

The day before, SM Entertainment released a statement regarding the news of other EXO members, Chanyeol and Sehun who founded a new agency. Reportedly they signed a contract with a producer.

The agency denied the report and said members had signed the latest contract at the end of 2022. This contract was the problem so Baekhyun, Chen, and Xiumin sued for contract transparency last March.

Then, SM Entertainment mentioned that they have different requirements for EXO members. As a result, all EXO members are allowed to carry out individual activities as long as they set up their own companies so that they can still do activities with EXO.

"Regarding indivdial activity, we conditionally allow them through the companies they founded themselves, while in an exclusive contract with SM," the agency said.

Previously, Lay EXO had already completed an exclusive contract with SM Entertainment in 2022. He returned to China and founded his own agency that became a company for his artists and solo activities.

On the other hand, DO greeted fans with The Moon and their second mini album, Expectation this year. He also starred in the variety GBRB: What You Sow with Kim Ki Bang, Lee Kwang Soo, and Kim Woo Bin.