The 13-member K-pop powerhouse Seventeen has announced the full-team renewal of their contracts with Pledis Entertainment, a label under industry giant Hybe. The announcement was made by group leader S.Coups (Choi Seungcheol) during the final concert of their 'NEW_' world tour at Incheon Asiad Main Stadium in South Korea on Sunday. This collective decision, made after "deep and sincere conversations," ensures the group will continue activities together once all members complete mandatory military service.
The renewal is significant in an industry where group disbandments and member departures are common. Seventeen, now in their 11th year, is one of Hybe's highest-earning acts. Their 2023 album "FML" holds the K-pop record for first-day sales, with over 6.4 million copies sold. Their 10th-anniversary album, "Happy Burstday," debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in 2025.
Military Service and a "New Chapter"
Currently, only nine of the thirteen members are actively touring due to South Korea's compulsory military enlistment. Five more members are scheduled to enlist in the coming years. The renewal means the group is contractually bound to reunite after every member completes their service. Member Joshua Hong stated the group's global fans, known as Carats, were a "biggest reason for re-contracting."
"Even if all 13 of us aren't here right now, just think of it as a new chapter," Hong said, promising "great, great things" upon their full reunion. The group will pause full team activities but continue working in sub-units and on individual projects during this period.
A Foundation Built on Longevity and Friendship
Seventeen's stability is rooted in a long-shared history. The members, who debuted in 2015, have lived and worked closely for over a decade. Leader S.Coups joined the label in 2009 at age 14, with the others joining between 2010 and 2014. They initially lived together dormitory-style, attending school and sharing rooms.
Their professional journey includes a 12-city tour in 2016 and the recently concluded 'NEW_' world tour. That tour, which began at the same Incheon stadium in September last year, spanned 14 cities and 31 shows, drawing over 900,000 attendees in-person and online.
Member Xu Minghao (THE8) confirmed the temporary pause in full-group activities but emphasised that the members' strong personal bond—evident in their shared apartments, travels, and documented downtime—will sustain them. "We will continue to sail on the same ship and row forward together," S.Coups concluded, framing the renewal as a commitment to their shared future.