South Korean girl group ALICE (formerly known as ELRIS) member Sohee (Kim Jaekyung) is set to marry a businessman who is 15 years her senior. As her contract with the management company is nearing its end, she has decided not only to leave ALICE but also to retire from the entertainment industry.
According to reports from the South Korean media outlet “YTN” on the 26th, Sohee will marry the businessman she has been dating for a year, who is 15 years older than her. The couple plans to register their marriage next month and hold a wedding ceremony later this year to celebrate with family and friends. On the same day, her management company IOK COMPANY confirmed the news and stated that Sohee’s contract with the company has about a month left, and both parties have decided not to renew it, leading to Sohee’s retirement from the entertainment industry.
In response to this, Sohee posted a handwritten letter on her official Instagram account, announcing her upcoming marriage. She expressed that since pursuing her dreams in childhood and debuting as a member of ALICE in 2017, she has grown while being loved by fans and is now 26 years old. She mentioned that she has learned a lot and made many happy memories during her time in the entertainment industry, and the difficult moments were overcome because of the support from her fans.
Sohee wrote, “I have met someone who has given me great strength. We are now very precious to each other, and we have made a promise to marry. Although I am joyfully sharing this news, I deeply apologize to fans and friends who may be surprised by this sudden announcement.”
She declared, “From now on, I will not be Sohee from ALICE, but will embark on the next chapter of my life as Kim Jaekyung. I, who have been loved by all of you, will live happily and without causing any worries. I have received a lot of love throughout my entertainment activities until now, and I am truly happy. I will never forget this kindness and will live gratefully!”
Lastly, she expressed gratitude to her fans, colleagues, and friends who have supported her through various experiences and vowed to cherish those memories and live happily in the future.