'Ask Us Anything' Jung Eun-ji and Oh Ha-young Contemplate Renewal "10 Years Since Debut... Could We Do This Longer?"

On the 3rd, the KBS Joy entertainment program 'Ask Anything' featured Apink members Jung Eun-ji and Oh Ha-young, who shared their concerns ahead of their contract renewals. Photo by KBS Joy 'Ask Anything' broadcast capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] Girl group Apink members Jung Eun-ji and Oh Ha-young shared their concerns ahead of their contract renewal.

On the 3rd, Jung Eun-ji and Oh Ha-young appeared on KBS Joy's variety show 'Ask Anything'.

During the broadcast, Jung Eun-ji said, "This year marks the 10th anniversary of Apink's debut. The future is more important. The so-called '7-year curse' period has passed, and I think we can continue even longer."

When Seo Jang-hoon asked, "Did you get a lot of money when renewing your contract?" Jung Eun-ji replied, "More than the conditions, the reason I renewed was because I wanted to keep the name 'Apink.' If we go to another company, we can't use the name Apink."

Seo Jang-hoon then said, "I'm good at contracts. There are 10 professional basketball teams, and I played for 6 of them. I signed contracts with those 6 teams," adding, "You all have stuck together tightly for 10 years to maintain this team, right? Then you should be compensated for that. From now on, prepare your contract renewal smartly."

He continued, "The most important thing is the members' willingness to continue together, the conditions each wants, and satisfaction with the agency. You need to set guidelines in advance," adding, "The most important thing is for the team to speak with one voice. If you don't agree with each other, the team's strength weakens."

Hearing this, Jung Eun-ji asked Seo Jang-hoon, "How about starting your own entertainment company?"

To this, Lee Soo-geun said, "Do you know how picky Seo Jang-hoon is? Don't say nonsense. He's the kind of person who switches teams over a single won. No loyalty," causing laughter.

He added, "Seo Jang-hoon is smart, cold, and realistic," and "If your song isn't good, he's the type to tell you straight away."

Then Jung Eun-ji shared the secret to Apink maintaining the team for 10 years, saying, "In the past, I tried to get close on purpose," but "the members didn't like it much. It seems better to watch over them and take care of them from an appropriate distance rather than giving too much attention."

Seo Jang-hoon responded, "When you're active, you're a team, but in the end, you're individuals," and "It's important to keep some distance and step back."