Ex-NU’EST member Baekho officially parts ways with PLEDIS Entertainment after 13 years

K-pop boy group NU’EST's former member Baekho has officially parted ways with PLEDIS Entertainment after 13 years under the agency.

The news was confirmed by PLEDIS Entertainment on March 6, 2025. The agency announced that his exclusive contract would expire on March 14, 2025, and would not be renewed. This is the end of a long-standing collaboration between Baekho and the company that managed his career from his idol group days to his solo projects.

PLEDIS Entertainment took to its official Weverse page to announce the termination, stating,

"Termination of the Exclusive Contract with BAEKHO. Hello. This is PLEDIS Entertainment. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the fans who have shown unwavering love and support for BAEKHO. The exclusive contract with BAEKHO will officially end on March 14. After thorough and honest discussions about the future direction of his career, both BAEKHO and PLEDIS Entertainment have mutually agreed to end the contract."

It continued:

"Since his debut as a member of NU’EST in 2012, BAEKHO has built a distinguished career as a singer-songwriter while expanding his presence into musicals, variety shows, and various other fields. With his remarkable passion and talent, BAEKHO has made a lasting impact across multiple entertainment domains. To express his gratitude to the fans who have supported him throughout the years, BAEKHO will release a digital single on March 14, marking the conclusion of his official activities as an artist under PLEDIS Entertainment."

Sharing gratitude to the artist and fans, the agency stated,

"We are truly grateful to BAEKHO for working with us all these years. We sincerely hope that BAEKHO’s new ventures lead to an even more brilliant future, and we wholeheartedly wish him all the best as he embarks on a new journey. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to all dOnO who have always stood by BAEKHO’s side.We ask that you continue to love and support BAEKHO’s new journey with a warm heart. Thank you."

To bid farewell to his time at the agency, Baekho will release a final digital single on March 14, 2025, as a 'gift' to his fans.

Baekho’s departure from PLEDIS Entertainment follows a relatively significant period of growth in his career. Since debuting with NU’EST in 2012, he has made a name for himself as a singer-songwriter. Moreover, he has expanded into other areas of entertainment, including musicals and variety shows.

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Baekho's real name is Kang Dong-ho

Baekho first caught the attention of the fans as the main vocalist of NU’EST. It was PLEDIS Entertainment’s first boy group. The group debuted in 2012 with the song Face, which was notably quick to become a hit among K-pop fans.

In 2017, Baekho’s appearance on Produce 101 Season 2 gave him a career boost. When NU’EST eventually disbanded in 2022, Baekho remained with PLEDIS Entertainment. He debuted as a solo artist in October 2022 with the mini-album Absolute Zero.

For now, Fans of Baekho, known as 'dOnO,' are awaiting his final release under PLEDIS Entertainment.