Longtime Idol Leaves Company Right As CEO Gets Fired — Suspicious Timing?

Coincidence or not?

The K-Pop industry is buzzing after Lee Chae Yeon, former IZ*ONE member turned soloist, announced the end of her exclusive contract with WM Entertainment — right as longtime CEO Lee Won Min was dismissed after 17 years.

On September 12, 2025, WM Entertainment released a statement.

“After long discussions, we have agreed to terminate our exclusive contract with Lee Chae Yeon. Scheduled activities will continue without issue, and we will keep providing support during this period. We sincerely thank her for the time spent growing with us as both an IZ*ONE member and solo artist, and we wish her the best in her new beginnings.”

Lee Chae Yeon first debuted through Produce 48 in 2018, later promoting as part of IZ*ONE until the group’s disbandment in 2021. She then debuted as a soloist in 2022, steadily building her career as a performer.

But the news comes at a striking time — just as WM Entertainment’s founder and CEO Lee Won Min was suddenly removed from his position last month by parent company RBW due to worsening management struggles. Insiders even claimed his firing caused internal turmoil, with multiple executives leaving the company. Now, with both a veteran CEO and one of the agency’s most recognized idols parting ways almost simultaneously, fans can’t help but wonder if the timing is more than just coincidence.

Whether suspicious or just a coincidence, this double shake-up has left fans questioning what’s really happening inside WM Entertainment.