Members leaving their groups is not uncommon in K-Pop. There are various reasons for that, some of them have health or mental issues, others have contract disputes with their company, or they simply don’t renew their (usually 7-year) contracts.
Other common reasons are switching (or focusing) on acting, and focusing on their studies (especially if they are young).
In the chart below you can see more than 100 idols that left their groups, and the reason for leaving.
| Name | Group | Gender | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jessica | SNSD | F | Other Interests |
| Hyuna | Wonder Girls | F | Health Issues |
| Jimin | AoA | F | Bullying Scandal |
| Choa | AoA, AOA BLACK | F | Health Issues |
| Yookyung | AOA BLACK | F | Contract Termination |
| Mina | AOA, AOA BLACK | F | End of Contract |
| Haeryung | EXID | F | Switch to Acting |
| Hyeyeon | EXID | F | Focus on Studies |
| Uji | EXID | F | Focus on Studies |
| Uji | BESTie | F | Contract Termination |
| Dahye | EXID, BESTie | F | Contract Termination |
| Bini | 9Muses | F | Other Interests |
| Rana | 9Muses | F | Other Interests |
| Hyuna | 9Muses | F | Graduation |
| Euaerin | 9Muses | F | Graduation |
| Sera | 9Muses | F | End of Contract |
| Lee Sem | 9Muses | F | End of Contract |
| Minha | 9Muses | F | End of Contract |
| Taeha | Berry Good | F | End of Contract |
| JinE | Oh My Girl | F | Health Issues |
| Yulhee | LABOUM | F | Pregnancy |
| Uee | After School | F | Graduation |
| Kahi | After School | F | Graduation |
| Jooyeon | After School | F | Graduation |
| Jungah | After School | F | Graduation |
| Soyoung | After School | F | Graduation |
| Bekah | After School | F | Graduation |
| Hyunjoo | APRIL | F | Switch to Acting |
| Yoojin | Brave Girls | F | Focus on Studies |
| Yeonwoo | MOMOLAND | F | Switch to Acting |
| Kangin | Super Junior | M | DUI Scandal |
| Han Geng | Super Junior | M | Left to China |
| Kibum | Super Junior | M | Switch to Acting |
| Luhan | EXO | M | Left to China |
| Kris | EXO | M | Left to China |
| Tao | EXO | M | Left to China |
| Junhyung | Highlight | M | Burning - Molka Scandal |
| Hyunseung | Beast | M | Creative Differences |
| Hoya | Infinite | M | End of Contract |
| Jeongkyun | N-Train, Bigflo | M | End of Contract |
| Yoosung | Bigflo | M | End of Contract |
| Somin | April | F | Creative Differences |
| Nicole | KARA | F | End of Contract |
| Jiyoung | KARA | F | End of Contract |
| E'Dawn | PENTAGON | M | Dating Scandal |
| Sunhwa | SECRET | F | Switch to Acting |
| Seunghee | DIA | F | End of Contract |
| Eunjin | DIA | F | Health Issues |
| Lee Joon | MBLAQ | M | End of Contract |
| Thunder | MBLAQ | M | End of Contract |
| Taehyun | WINNER | M | Health Issues |
| B.I | iKON | M | Han Seohee'd |
| Junhyeok | DAY6 | M | Dating Scandal |
| Kwangjin | N.Flying | M | Dating Scandal |
| Jiyul | Dal Shabet | F | Switch to Acting |
| Gaeun | Dal Shabet | F | End of Contract |
| Viki | Dal Shabet | F | End of Contract |
| Sulli | f(x) | F | Switch to Acting |
| Jinju | Wassup | F | Contract Dispute |
| Dain | Wassup | F | Contract Dispute |
| Nada | Wassup | F | Contract Dispute |
| Sanghoon | 100% | M | Other Interests |
| Changbum | 100% | M | Contract Termination |
| Daisy | MOMOLAND | F | Dating Scandal |
| Taeha | MOMOLAND | F | Contract Termination |
| Laun | ONF | M | Personal Reasons |
| Jaeseok | Golden Child | M | Health Issues |
| Daeil | 24K | M | Solo Career |
| Kidoh | Topp Dogg | M | Contract Dispute |
| Seogoong | Topp Dogg | M | End of Contract |
| Gohn | Topp Dogg | M | Contract Dispute |
| Jenissi | Topp Dogg | M | Solo Career |
| P-Goon | Topp Dogg | M | Personal Reasons |
| Nakta | Topp Dogg | M | Solo Career |
| Hansol | Topp Dogg | M | Personal Reasons |
| Terry | NeonPunch | F | Health Issues |
| May | NeonPunch | F | Focus on Studies |
| Dohee | NeonPunch | F | Personal Reasons |
| Youngmin | AB6IX | M | DUI Scandal |
| Woojin | Stray Kids | M | Personal Reasons |
| Yoo Ara | Hello Venus | F | Switch to Acting |
| Yoonjo | Hello Venus | F | End of Contract |
| Minjung | Busters | F | Personal Reasons |
| Minji | Busters | F | Personal Reasons |
| Hyungseo | Busters | F | Focus on Studies |
| Gaga | NATURE | F | Focus on Studies |
| Jisun | Girl's Day, New F.O | F | Other Interests |
| Hannah | GP Basic | F | Focus on Studies |
| Myungji | Tiny-G | F | Got too tall |
| Leah | GP Basic | F | Personal Reasons |
| Mirae | Cherry Bullet | F | Contract Termination |
| Kokoro | Cherry Bullet | F | Contract Termination |
| Lin Lin | Cherry Bullet | F | Contract Termination |
| Jaejoong | TVXQ | M | Contract Dispute |
| Yoochun | TVXQ | M | Contract Dispute |
| Xia Junsu | TVXQ | M | Contract Dispute |
| Habin | Dreamnote | F | Personal Reasons |
| Hanbyeol | Dreamnote | F | Personal Reasons |
| Aini | Pink Fantasy | F | Health Issues |
| Jonghoon | FTISLAND | M | Burning - Molka Scandal |
| Seunghyun | FTISLAND | M | Switch to Acting |
| Jonghyun | CNBLUE | M | Burning - Molka Scandal |
| Seungri | BIGBANG | M | Burning - Molka Scandal |
| Dohee | Tiny-G | F | Switch to Acting |
| Wonho | MONSTA X | M | Han Seohee'd |
| Hyeyeon | gugudan | F | Focus on Studies |
| Jenny | DIA | F | Health Issues |
| Heesun | Pink Fantasy | F | Health Issues |
| Yubeen | Pink Fantasy | F | Health Issues |
| Soyul | Crayon Pop | F | Pregnancy |
| Sumin | Sonamoo | F | Contract Dispute |
| Nahyun | Sonamoo | F | Contract Dispute |
| L.Joe | Teen Top | M | Personal Reasons |
| Jisoo | Tahiti | F | Health Issues |
| Hwayoung | T-ara | F | Bullying Scandal |
| Areum | T-ara | F | Solo Career |
| Yookyung | Apink | F | Focus on Studies |
| Hwall | The Boyz | M | Health Issues |
| Sunmi | Wonder Girls | F | Focus on Studies |
