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Choi Ha Rin

After tweeting the words, “If I ever retire or disappear make sure to miss me” on December 30, then posting his decision to step down as CEO of AOMG and H1ghr Music on Instagram on the very last day of 2021, Jay Park further fuelled rumours that he plans to retire from the K-pop industry altogether when he deleted his Instagram account on January 1.

If i ever retire or disappear make sure to miss me 🙏❤️
— JAY BUM PARK (@JAYBUMAOM) December 30, 2021

While this came as a huge surprise to fans, they have no need to worry too much as “hustle king” Park has plenty of other businesses that he’s now preparing to spend more time on.




















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Park’s friend, Simon Dominic, posted on Instagram saying he would “support all the way that Jay Park will walk, and looking forward to drinking Won Soju – Jay Park’s soju brand that he’s planning to launch soon – together”.
While we wait for more news from Park, here we look at how other K-pop stars (and Korean celebrities in general) managed after leaving show business.
10 most powerful Korean celebrities of 2021, from BTS to Blackpink
1. Former Dia member Eunjin became a live-streamer

Dia is a popular K-pop girl band including renowned members Chaeyeon and Yebin, who also took part in survival shows Produce 101 and The Unit respectively, becoming members of the resulting bands I.O.I and Uni. T.
In 2018, three years after Dia’s debut, the main dancer and lead rapper Ahn Eun-jin, often styled simply as Eunjin, announced her departure from the group. She cited health issues and difficulties in following Dia’s schedule as her reasons.


After two years of retirement, she returned to our screens as a live-streamer – or broadcast jockey, as they are known in Korea – often shortened to BJ. Appearing on the platform TVAfrica, the main content she offered was Q&As with her fans. But then in January 2021, following many malicious comments on social media, she quit being a BJ and the only platform she’s using now is YouTube.
2. Singer Lee Ji-yeon became a chef

After releasing hit song Wind, Please Stop Blowing, Lee Ji-yeon then decided to immigrate to the US after her retirement as a singer. She met her husband Cody Taylor at the Korean restaurant where she first worked, and together they now run the restaurant Heirloom Market BBQ in Sandy Spring, Atlanta. Lee has since been chosen as one of the top 100 chefs in Atlanta by CulinaryLocal.


In 2018, she even appeared on CNN during an inter-Korean summit to show how to cook Pyongyang cold noodles, highlighting the symbolism of sharing food during the important political event.
K-pop idols’ most epic wedding dresses, from Lee Hyori to Hyerim
3. Ballad singer Lee So-eun became a lawyer in New York

If you’re a fan of Korean ballads, you might have heard of popular artists such as Lee Seung-hwan, Yoon Sang, Kim Dong-ryul – and Lee So-eun, a singer scouted by Yoon Sang, who worked with producer Lee Seung-hwan and duetted with Kim Dong-ryul.

She was in high school when she made her debut in 1998, but moved to the US in 2009 to study law after graduating from Korea University. Later, she attended Northwestern University Law School in Chicago and started work as a lawyer in 2012, at which point she retired as a singer.
4. Ahn Mi-jeong from K-pop band O-24 became an English tutor

The first all-girl hip hop group of K-pop’s first generation, O-24 debuted in 1998 and was among the top three girl bands at the time, along with Fin. K. L and S.E.S. As a member of O-24, Ahn Mi-jeong definitely had her fans, but she chose to leave the K-pop industry, first becoming a reporter and anchor at the broadcaster SBS’ Suwon bureau.


Several years later, she took a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) course with Korea’s top institution, Sungkyunkwan University, and Georgetown University – a stepping stone towards becoming an English-language educator. Later on, she started to teach English at a centre that helps people to prepare for the exam to enter the police force.
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5. Oh Byung-Jin from the boy band 5tion became a CEO

Oh Byung-jin also found fame after retiring from K-pop boy band 5tion. The group had a hit song, More Than Words, in 2014 but Oh retired following the company’s internal issues, according to News 1. While he admitted he was worried about how he would survive after retirement, luckily he went on to have a lucrative career after K-pop.


According to SBS’ Access Showbiz Tonight, Oh became CEO of a business selling kitchen utensils, going on to earn an annual income of up to US$83 million. Perhaps not surprisingly, he said he is highly satisfied with his current career.
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K-pop idols

Life after K-pop: as Jay Park retires, here’s what 5 more idols did after quitting showbiz – from Ahn Eun-jin’s YouTube videos to Lee Ji-yeon’s chef career and Lee So-eun becoming a lawyer

These K-stars left their K-pop careers behind in order to pursue other jobs. Photos: @sportskh, @adiflover/Twitter; xfreehub.com; blog.daum.net/bi74472/9847

Dia’s Eunjin. Photo: @May06_09/Twitter

Former K-pop singer Lee Ji-yeon, who is now a chef. Photo: blog.daum.net/bi74472/9847

Former K-pop singer Lee So-eun. Photo: @sportskh/Twitter

Lee So-eun at her graduation. Photo: @soeunee23/Twitter

Former K-pop singer Ahn Mi-jeong became a tutor. Photo: culture77.tistory.com

Oh Byung-jin. Photo: @342436com/Twitter

7 Hong Kong icons who moved to Shanghai, from Carina Lau and Canto-pop divas Joey Yung and Miriam Yeung, to Twins members Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi

Hong Kong stars like Carina Lau, Miriam Yeung, Joey Yung, Laurinda Ho and Gillian Chung left their homes for Shanghai. Photos: @carinalau1208, @yeungchinwah, @yungchoyee, @laurinda_ho, @q_gill/Instagram

Hong Kong star Miriam Yeung recently moved to Shanghai. Photo: @yeungchinwah/Instagram

Laurinda Ho is the daughter of the late Hong Kong tycoon Stanley Ho. Photo: @laurinda_ho/Instagram

Hong Kong celebrity Charlene Choi also moved to Shanghai. Photo: @choisaaaa/Instagram

Gillian Chung is a Hong Kong-born actress and singer. Photo: @q_gill/Instagram

Joey Yung’s Pretty Crazy Tour was cut short due to the pandemic. Photo: @容祖兒/Weibo

Power couple Ying Caier and Jordan Chan relocated to Shanghai. Photo: @yingcaier/Instagram

Carina Lau has reportedly been living in Shanghai since March 2021. Photo: @carinalau1208/Instagram

Did these 6 K-pop idols get special treatment from their agencies? From Blackpink’s Jennie who was dubbed ‘YG’s Princess’ to Bae Suzy, and new girl group Ive’s Wonyoung

From Blackpink’s Jennie to Ive’s Wonyoung and former 4minute member Hyuna, fans think these K-pop stars got special treatment from their agencies. 
Photos: @jennierubyjane, @for_everyoung10, @hyuah_aa/Instagram

Fans recently pointed out that Wonyoung from K-pop group Ive seems to be getting “preferential treatment”. Photo: @for_everyoung10/Instagram

Ive’s Wonyoung donned a white outfit while fellow group members wore black during a performance. Photo: SBS Kpop/YouTube

Mia is often pointed out as being the company’s “favourite” of Everglow. Photo: @official_everglow/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jennie was often called “YG’s princess”. Photo: @jennierubyjane/Instagram

Blackpink’s Jennie often donned outfits that made her stand out. Photo: Mera/YouTube

Bae Suzy was dubbed “JYP Princess” when she part of now-disbanded girl group Miss A. Photo: @skuukzky/Instagram

Bae Suzy had more opportunities compared to her Miss A bandmates. Photo: @skuukzky/Instagram

K-pop star Hyuna was part of now-disbanded girl group 4Minute. Photo: @hyunah_aa/Instagram

K-pop group Triple H. Photo: Cube Entertainment

Who’s the richest member of Girls on Top, K-pop’s new supergroup? Net worths, ranked – from Aespa’s chart-topping hits and Red Velvet’s brand endorsements, to Boa’s millions

SM Entertainment’s newest group, Girls on Top, includes seven K-pop heavy hitters. Photo: @GirlsOnTop_SM/Twitter

Twenty studio albums and a string of K-dramas and films has made Boa rich beyond most people’s wildest dreams. Photo: @boakwon/Instagram

Boa in 2013 Hollywood film Make Your Move 3D. Photo: IMDB.com

Taeyeon from Girls’ Generation is also successful as a soloist and soundtrack song writer. Photo: @taeyeon_ss/Instagram

Taeyeon currently has 1.28 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. Photo: 탱구TV/YouTube

Hyoyeon has accumulated wealth from her DJ gigs in addition to her career with Girls’ Generation. Photo: @hyoyeon_x_x/Instagram

Red Velvet’s Wendy has sung with international stars including Ricky Martin and John Legend. Photo: @todayis_wendy/Instagram

Seulgi from Red Velvet is the group’s resident fashion and beauty queen, with numerous brand endorsements under her belt already. Photo: @hi_sseulgi/Instagram

Winter may be lower down the GOT rich list, but considering she only debuted a year ago, the 20-year-old is doing pretty well. Photo: @winter_aespa_a/Instagram

Aespa’s brand deal with Givenchy means the girls are often seen wearing the brand’s clothes on the red carpet. Photo: @givenchy/Instagram

Fans voted Aespa’s Karina “Vocal Queen of K-pop” – will she bring her impressive rap skills to Girls on Top? Photo: @karina_aespa/Instagram

The real life Santas of K-pop: stars like IU, Exo and Bae Suzy love to treat their fans all year round – but which idol’s gifts were the most OTT?

Who are K-pop’s real life Santas when it comes to gift giving?Photos: @hyunah_aa/Instagram, @dlwlrma/Instagram, JYP Entertainment

Who doesn’t want to receive Yves Saint Laurent goodies? Let alone from a K-pop idol. Photo: @hyunah_aa/Instagram

 IU is one of Korea’s most popular solo artists and is well known for her love of gift giving. Photo: @dlwlrma/Instagram

IU wears the couples ring she designed for fans on the poster for her single BBIBBI. Photo: @dlwlrma/Instagram

The Exo boys wanted to treat the fans that came to their comeback performance at Lotte World in Seoul – so bought them all tickets to enjoy the theme park beforehand. Photo: @weareone.exo/Instagram

More than a thousand fans benefited from Suzy’s generosity back in 2018. Photo: @skuukzky/Instagram

Oh My Girl pose with the hand-crafted, hand-written notes they gave to fans. Photo: @WM_OHMYGIRL/Twitter

5 ridiculous K-pop apologies, from NCT 127’s Earthquake joke to Winwin and BTS’ Jungkook hanging out with female friends, did these Korean idols really need to say sorry in public?

5 K-pop stars who had to say sorry unnecessarily, including, from left, NCT’s Winwin, BTS’ Jungkook and Monsta X’s Hyungwon. Photos: @wwiinn_7/Instagram, Getty Images, @coenffl/Instagram

K-pop group NCT 127 at the 2021 Mnet Asian Music Awards, or MAMA, in Paju, South Korea, on December 11. Photo: AP

Should BTS’ Jungkook be allowed friends? Photo: @bts_twt/Twitter

Like Jungkook, Winwin was criticised for hanging out with friends. Photo: @wwiinn_7/Instagram

Hyungwon apologised on behalf of Monsta X. Photo: @coenffl/Instagram

Lee Han-gyul and Nam Do-hyon of former K-pop group X1. Photo: MBK Entertainment

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‘Hustle king’ Park announced his decision to step down as CEO of AOMH and H1ghr Music, then deleted his Instagram – but there’s still his upcoming soju brand, Won Soju
A first gen star alongside S.E.S., Ahn Mi-jeong became an English tutor while Eunjin – whose Dia bandmate Chaeyeon eventually joined I.O.I – took to live-streaming



Jay Park’s shock news of his retirement as CEO of his music companies – and possibly from K-pop altogether – got us thinking about when other stars announced they were hanging up their microphones
