It’s official: Gaeun has decided to leave MADEIN. The decision comes only months after the group’s debut in September.
Gaeun Officially Departs MADEIN Amid Controversy
On November 29 at midnight KST, 143 Entertainment officially announced Gaeun’s departure from MADEIN, marking the end of her activities with the rookie girl group.
“MADEIN’s member Gaeun has officially departed from the team as of today,” the statement read. “Since her debut last September, Gaeun has put in considerable effort for MADEIN’s activities, but due to personal circumstances, she has found it increasingly difficult to continue with the team’s activities, and it has been decided that she will leave the group.”
“From now on, MADEIN will continue with six members: Mashiro, MiU, Suhye, Yeseo, Serina, and Nagomi. All temporarly halted schedules will be carried out as planned,” it continued.
The agency’s statement also directly addressed recent allegations of sexual harassment involving its CEO, denying the claims and labeling them untrue.
“Additionally, we would like to address that the recent allegations regarding sexual harassment are not true and that we have several pieces of clear evidence proving these claims are false. Therefore, should any legal issues arise, we will address them with utmost sincerity and ensure that no doubts remain,” it said.
The Shocking Controversy
The controversy began on November 22, when JTBC’s investigative program “Crime Chief” aired a report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct by an agency CEO against a rookie girl group member. Although the program did not explicitly name the group or agency involved, blurred footage of a music show performance strongly resembled MADEIN, and the description of the group matched them as well. MADEIN debuted in September 2024 under 143 Entertainment, adding weight to the speculation.
The situation escalated when the agency previously announced that Gaeun would be taking a temporary hiatus due to health concerns. This announcement, paired with the timing of the allegations, led many fans and netizens to suspect Gaeun as the individual mentioned in the report. Speculation quickly spread online, casting a shadow over the group’s budding career.
Gaeun’s departure and the agency’s insistence on the falsity of the allegations leave questions unanswered, as fans express both concern for her well-being and frustration over the ongoing controversy. 143 Entertainment has yet to disclose further details about MADEIN’s future activities without Gaeun.