The factors that I’m having trouble wrapping my head around:
1) Leaving the GROUP but still staying in the same COMPANY as a solo artist
2) Leaving NOW when there’s still a year left in the contract for possible negotiations
3) The sudden announcement without there even being a date on when the group departure actually starts and the solo activities begin
4) No scandals, no injuries or sickness, no hiatus leading up to the artist’s departure from the group
5) The group is one of the company’s most successful and biggest moneymakers so there’s no logical business reason to shake them up now when they’re peaking
Idol groups losing a member is heartbreaking but unfortunately not uncommon. All the factors involved this time however ARE uncommon.