After more than a decade, Red Velvet’s Wendy and Yeri have just announced their departure from their label, SM Entertainment.

The powerhouse K-pop label confirmed the surprise news today (April 4, 2025) with an official statement on Red Velvet’s official social media pages. Their statement noted that both Wendy and Yeri’s exclusive contracts for their solo careers with the agency had expired, though both members will remain a part of Red Velvet as they will continue working with the agency for their group activities.

Read the full statement posted by SM Entertainment below:

“Hello. This is SM Entertainment.

We are informing you that our exclusive contracts with Wendy and Yeri have come to an end.

The time we spent together with Wendy and Yeri, who—after debuting as Red Velvet—were not only active in group promotions but also as solo artists in various fields, was a great joy for us as well.

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.

Additionally, as members of Red Velvet, Wendy and Yeri will 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.

We sincerely thank you for the unsparing love you have given Wendy and Yeri up until now, and we hope you will give your warm interest to the two members as they embark on new challenges in their respective paths.

Thank you.”

Wendy first made her official debut as part of Red Velvet back in August 2014, while Yeri was added as a new member of the group a year later on March 2015. Both artists had established successful solo careers under SM Entertainment, with Wendy releasing two mini-albums (Like Water (2021) and Wish You Hell (2024)) while Yeri had released a series of singles, including solo tracks and collaborations with NCT, aespa’s NINGNING, and more.

Prior to the official announcement of the duo’s departure from SM Entertainment, Yeri shared a message to her followers via Weverse direct messaging –– stating, “Tomorrow morning, a piece of news concerning me and my agency will be released… I just wanted to tell you guys first rather than have you see it in an article and be surprised, so I came to you first! So, what I mean to say is, my love for you will not change!”

Red Velvet’s three other members have recently renewed their contract with SM Entertainment, with Joy renewing her contract earlier this January, following the likes of Seulgi, who renewed hers in August 2023, and Irene, who signed her contract last February 2024

Also last year, Red Velvet released their 7th mini-album Cosmic. In 2023, they dropped their third studio album Chill Kill, which was met with positive reviews and commercial success, with Billboard listing it at the No. 22 position for their list of The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2023.

The group was last in the Philippines last September 2024 for their My Dear, ReVe1uv Fan Concert, which took place at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, Manila.

As we anticipate what lies ahead for Wendy, Yeri, and the rest of Red Velvet, listen to their latest group effort Cosmic below: