According to TenAsia on September 22nd, rumors that Jeon Soyeon would sign an exclusive contract with KOZ Entertainment, a label under HYBE led by Zico, are unlikely to come true.
An industry insider told TenAsia, “While there have been widespread rumors that Jeon Soyeon and Zico would join forces, no progress has been made. It’s possible they discussed the idea due to their friendship, but no serious talks about a contract have taken place.”
KOZ Entertainment also confirmed, “Jeon Soyeon has no connection to KOZ.”
Though there are still two months remaining until her contract expires, and nothing can be confirmed yet, the likelihood of Jeon Soyeon joining KOZ seems low. Given that pre-contract talks are prohibited under the tampering rules until three months before the contract expires, the lack of current discussions suggests Jeon Soyeon and KOZ do not prioritize each other.
Previously, during her solo performance at (G)I-DLE’s concert “iDOL” at KSPO DOME in Seoul on August 3rd, Jeon Soyeon shocked fans by modifying her song’s lyrics to include, “Contract ends in November. Who’s going to stop me?”—officially announcing the end of her contract.
Cube Entertainment (Cube), her current agency, stated, “While we were informed about a surprise performance, we weren’t aware of the specific content.” Jeon Soyeon responded by saying, “I didn’t hide anything from the company, and rehearsed the performance multiple times in front of them, working together on the stage.” This led to public speculation about friction between her and Cube.
Cube also confirmed that Jeon Soyeon’s contract expires in November and that they are currently discussing renewal.
However, her modified lyrics “Contract ends in November. Who’s going to stop me?” have been interpreted as her having no intention to renew with Cube, leading to the widespread rumors of her joining KOZ. One source said, “It’s not just a performance; it reflects Jeon Soyeon’s future intentions. After such a performance, it would be difficult for her to stay with Cube.”
Another insider noted, “Jeon Soyeon is a highly sought-after artist due to her exceptional producing skills, but there’s concern about the risks posed by her unexpected behavior during the concert.”
Jeon Soyeon is currently on (G)I-DLE’s world tour, with her future likely to become clearer after the tour ends on November 2nd. Whether she will stay with Cube, sign with another company or establish her own independent label is a subject of much anticipation.