By Lee Han-soo
ChoA, the main vocalist of K-pop girl group AOA, will leave the band, she announced on Thursday.
ChoA said in a long letter on Instagram that she has been suffering long-term depression and insomnia and that medication had not helped.
"I've tried to treat my insomnia and depression by taking medication and reducing my schedule for two years," she said.
"However, it came to a point where I had to cease all activities, as the problem wasn't due to fatigue.
"After talking it over with my agency I plan to leave AOA effective immediately and cheer on my fellow members as a fan."
However, AOA's managing company, FNC Entertainment, did not confirm ChoA's announcement.
"ChoA's departure is still being discussed and has not been decided yet," a company official said. "We plan to reach a decision after thorough talks with her."
Following ChoA's announcement, rumors spread that she was leaving to get married.
Then Sports Seoul reported on Friday that she recently went on took a romantic trip to Japan with Lee Suk-jin, an electronic sports agency CEO, and her family.
ChoA immediately denied the rumors, saying her decision to leave the group had nothing to do with her love life.
"I am not pregnant, nor did I have an abortion, nor am leaving the group to get married," she said.
"The decision to leave AOA was made after long and hard consideration. Please stop trying to connect my leaving with other matters."
 |
ChoA said in a long letter on Instagram that she has been suffering long-term depression and insomnia and that medication had not helped.
"I've tried to treat my insomnia and depression by taking medication and reducing my schedule for two years," she said.
"However, it came to a point where I had to cease all activities, as the problem wasn't due to fatigue.
"After talking it over with my agency I plan to leave AOA effective immediately and cheer on my fellow members as a fan."
However, AOA's managing company, FNC Entertainment, did not confirm ChoA's announcement.
"ChoA's departure is still being discussed and has not been decided yet," a company official said. "We plan to reach a decision after thorough talks with her."
Following ChoA's announcement, rumors spread that she was leaving to get married.
Then Sports Seoul reported on Friday that she recently went on took a romantic trip to Japan with Lee Suk-jin, an electronic sports agency CEO, and her family.
ChoA immediately denied the rumors, saying her decision to leave the group had nothing to do with her love life.
"I am not pregnant, nor did I have an abortion, nor am leaving the group to get married," she said.
"The decision to leave AOA was made after long and hard consideration. Please stop trying to connect my leaving with other matters."
![[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/83a5770de8d8420da3634fb8b78266c1.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8cc3b8d992cd4b8bb43395b014670ca2.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
