I-DLE’s youngest member, Shuhua, has made a rare and heartfelt confession — she seriously considered walking away from both her agency and the group itself. Her revelation on the May 24 episode of Knowing Bros gave fans a deeper look into the emotional turmoil that surrounded the group’s contract renewal in 2024.
All five I-DLE members appeared on the show, openly discussing the uncertainty they faced when their contracts with Cube Entertainment neared expiration. Though speculation had swirled for months about the group’s future, this candid episode confirmed just how close they were to splitting.
The topic came up during a light moment, when Super Junior’s Heechul quipped, “Even the usually quiet Shuhua hired a lawyer.” Comedian Lee Soo Geun chimed in, joking that she must have been ready to leave. But Shuhua didn’t dodge the comment. Instead, she calmly confirmed, “Yes. It’s true.”
She shared that she had seriously contemplated leaving not just the company, but I-DLE as a whole. The decision weighed heavily on her — it wasn’t just a business move, but a potential goodbye to the group she had grown with since debuting.
What changed her mind? According to Shuhua, it came down to the members themselves. “When I thought of the members, I felt that staying with the team would be the better choice,” she said. In a touching revelation, she explained that she held personal one-on-one conversations with each member, and those sincere talks helped her find clarity.
One member who played a pivotal role was leader Soyeon. Beyond emotional support, Soyeon took a hands-on approach to the renewal process. She not only negotiated with the agency but also personally edited sections of the contract. “I even changed the wording in the contract,” Soyeon explained. “I wanted to make sure everything was right for all of us.”
Her proactive leadership became a turning point for the group. It showed the depth of their trust and commitment to each other — something no legal clause could replace.
The uncertainty during 2024 fueled breakup rumors and widespread anxiety among fans. But at the 2024 Melon Music Awards, Soyeon finally addressed the whispers with a powerful announcement: all five members had renewed their contracts.
Following the successful renewal, the group dropped the parentheses from their name — evolving from (G)I-DLE to simply I-DLE. The symbolic change marked a new era, one defined by unity, resilience, and maturity.
What could have been a farewell became a powerful restart. Through open dialogue, loyalty, and shared ambition, I-DLE turned a moment of crisis into the foundation for a stronger future.
