Lee Hi recently appeared on 1theK's "Look Me Up," where she answered questions from the fans. As she responded to questions from fans, one comment stuck out - and that comment from a fan claimed that Lee Hi was the treated the least fairly during her time in YG Entertainment.
Lee Hi defended her company and said that during her time there, she was thrilled. She revealed that when an idol first debuts, that's when they get the most attention. She said,
"When a singer first debuts, they will be focused on and invested a lot, they will be greatly cared for and receive a lot of projects. I was treated no differently. I don't see myself as a victim, so please do not pity me!"
She revealed that YG Entertainment always wanted their artist's comeback to be perfect. Because of this, the company takes two whole months to prepare and smooth everything out, from idea to action. Additionally, YG Entertainment houses many artists, so it's reasonable to have a late comeback. Lee Hi said,
"To ensure perfection for each comeback, preparation takes a lot of time. Because of that, YG Entertainment only allows five artists to come back each year."
She goes on to ask fans to now criticize Yang Hyun-suk anymore for mistreating her, saying, "All the best composers in Korea have worked on my album, so please don't criticize CEO Yang anymore."
Additionally, Lee Hi revealed the reason why she chose to sign with AOMG when she was initially an independent artist following her departure from YG Entertainment.
She reveals that she wanted to sign with a company that needs her. Following her departure from YG Entertainment, the first person to contact her was the CEO of AOMG, DJ Pumpkin. They had met, but Lee Hi was initially hesitant since other companies had also reached out to her to sign her as an artist.
To not lose Lee Hi, DJ Pumpkin called and persuaded her to sign with them. In the end, she chose to sign with them.
AOMG houses many artists that specialize in hip-hop and R&B, such as Loco, Simon Dominic, and Gray. Lee Hi has expressed her desire to collaborate with her fellow senior artists and label mates and ensures the fans she will release music that both she and the fans will love.
Lee Hi also states that she is confident she will do her job well no matter what company she's with - whether it be YG Entertainment or AOMG, Lee Hi knows she can do well. She asks the fans not to worry about her.
Seeing how Lee Hi praises her former company, the anger in the fan's heart has lessened slightly. Still, many believe Lee Hi should have been promoted more during her time with the company and hopes that they will encourage their other artists better now. Additionally, fans hope that AOMG will be the company that allows Lee Hi to show her full potential from here on out.
Check out netizens comments here:
"There must be a good reason why artists who leave YG Entertainment retain a good relationship with the company. It seems YG has done a good job taking care of their artists."
"Nobody denies YG's investment in their artists. What fans are upset about is the long wait for new music."
"If we compare Park Jimin and Baek Yerin of [formerly] JYP Entertainment, YG strongly promoted Lee Hi!"
What do you think?
Lee Hi debuted with YG Entertainment back in 2012 after winning runner-up on SBS "K-pop Star Season 1". Her debut song "1, 2, 3, 4" was a digital success, but she achieved her breakthrough in 2016 with "Breathe.”
In January 2019, she released "No On (featuring B.I)," which topped the charts and earned the idol her first music show win. Despite the success, she did not have a comeback for the rest of the year. In December 2019, her seven-year contract with YG Entertainment expired, and she left the company. She is now part of the JTBC show, "Begin Again."
Ahead of her recent comeback "HOLO," which was released on July 22, AOMG revealed that Lee Hi was now signed as an artist under the label and that they had signed an exclusive contract with her.
