FOREVER 9 .

"It's official. Girls' Generation will be promoting as 8 members from now on"

How do I feel? Devastated, heartbroken, confused.

This morning I woke up around 9am, to see messages from my friends and also tweets, saying that Jessica might be dropped out from Girls' Generation. I just woke up and my initial reaction was shocked. I was trembling, thinking, this can't be true. I immediately went on to read more, and found out that this all started because of Jessica's posts on her Weibo around 4am.

At first we all thought her account was hacked, but she was not spotted at Incheon Airport, where the members were scheduled to leave for Shen Zhen, China for their 1st China Fanmeet Tour. Everyone else except Jessica was there, and they all looked rather solemn. It hurts more to see Hyoyeon crying and clenching her fists - when even Hyoyeon, a member who doesn't cry easily cries, you know it's really serious. Seems like the members also just found out about the news.

At this point of time, I was really hoping it is all not true. It's a dream. 

Dispatch then released a series of reports, stating that Jessica has been in New York all these while and has returned to Korea yesterday at 4am. It was reported that she was in New York to attend to personal affairs and to also look for a design school. It seems like she wanted to further her studies in the fashion area, since she started her own fashion label, Blanc. However they also spotted Tyler Kwon 5 minutes later. He's the rumoured boyfriend of Jessica but their relationship has been denied many times. It was also rumoured that Jessica was planning to get married next year.

Dispatch also released 5 possible reasons for Jessica's departure from the group, which I find, it's rather ridiculous.

Firstly, they said that the members feel that Jessica should put in all her time and efforts into SNSD's promotions and that she should know the difference between work and personal affairs (Tyler Kwon).

Well I find this rather dumb, because Jessica has been attending ALL of Girls' Generation's schedules without any invalid reasons. Plus she has never affected the group's promotions at all due to her personal dating life, same goes to the other members who are dating. It's unfair to say that as all the members have been working hard to promote the group even with their individual activities like dramas, reality shows and radio. 

Secondly, they claimed that the conflicts between Jessica and the members begin in August, after Jessica set up Blanc. SM and the members did not oppose to her business but they felt that it was wrong to put priority on her business before SNSD, which means that Blanc should be a 'side' business and not her 'main' business. Again, I find this ridiculous, as the members has been supporting Blanc as well, especially during Kcon in August, where Tiffany excitedly introduced Blanc. Also, Blanc has never affected any of Girls' Generation's promotions or appearances at all, Jessica was always there when she was scheduled to attend an event.

Thirdly, Dispatch said that Jessica has a dream of being a designer and wanted to enroll in a design school in America, whereby she needs to produce her portfolio before getting in, thus putting her time into Blanc. An representative has said "We can understand her designing as she promotes as a member of Girls’ Generation. But we are against her using the Girls’ Generation brand to live (better) as a designer." I feel that this is totally unfair, she is part of the Girls' Generation, she IS Girls' Generation, what wrong did she do. A lot of other artistes also have their own business outside of the group, for example, 2PM's Taecyeon's OkCat. JYP even allowed OkCat to make appearances in 2PM's promotions so I see absolutely no problem in that. Since Girls' Generation last album was back in March, they now have their own time for individual activities and to do things they want to do, so Jessica chose to start Blanc and learn designing. I'm pretty sure she can adjust her time to attend school if she gets in, just like how Seohyun has recently graduated from university, while still promoting with Girls' Generation - thus I don't see how this is a reason for Jessica to leave.

Fourth reason. Basically talks about their concerns that if Jessica focuses more on her business, instead of Girls' Generation activities, it would affect the fanmeets and schedules planned. When they asked Jessica to choose between Blanc and Girls' Generation, Jessica couldn't choose between the two - if I was in her shoes, it's hard to choose between the two. It's two of her biggest dreams, to be a singer and also do designing. I'm sure she can juggle the two, like maybe do designing when she's free from schedules? 

The last possibility is a follow up to the fourth one, as it states that Jessica has given her all into being part of the group and she finds that being suggested the idea of leaving the group was an unacceptable and irrational thing to do - which I absolutely agree to. It was also said that once she decides to choose “Girls’ Generation”, then Girls’ Generation must become her #1 priority. Because in the eyes of her members, Tyler Kwon and Blanc are Jessica’s first and foremost priority. Because of this, these conflicts arose. I find it rather stupid, she should have her freedom to pursue her own dreams, while still in the group. Other members are doing fine as well, doing DJ-ing, filming dramas and reality shows, while still in the group, I don't see why Jessica can't do designing while still in the group. It could be her work while Girls' Generation has a break, like how Hyoyeon picked up skiing (and won 1st lol) and Yuri learning pottery during their breaks. 

What really made me mad is that all these possibilities suggests that there is a conflict between the members and Jessica, which is TOTALLY NOT TRUE. The bond between the 9 members is really really strong, indestructible and unbreakable as you might say. It's that special bond between the members which kept them going strong and lasting for 7 years. Soshibond is one thing I like about them, probably one of the many reasons which made me a sone. I choose to believe in soshibond. 

"They say "lucky number is 7" but lucky number 9 has been ingrained in my head. so my lucky number is 9."

So at about noon, SM released an official statement. That was the defining moment.

"Hello. This is SM Entertainment.

We are offering our position on the message posted on Jessica’s Weibo posted today.

This coming spring, due to her personal situation, she notified us that she will halt her team promotions with the release of one [more] album.

Despite Jessica’s sudden notice, the agency and the Girls’ Generation members tried our best and tried to figure out a way that Girls’ Generation’s activities can continue in the best possible direction.

However, in the midst of insufficient clear negotiations regarding conflicts of differences in priorities and interest, Jessica started her fashion business.
Due to this, despite ongoing talks, it has come to a point where the team could not be maintained any longer.

Thus, the agency had no choice but to pull up Girls’ Generation’s activities as 8 members earlier than planned, and in the midst of while working out when to announce this, Jessica had posted her words early this morning.
From here on, our agency will continue to support and manage the 8-member Girls’ Generation and Jessica’s individual activities."

I cried. 

It was that bad. Never knew I would get so attached to a pop group but it's really heartbreaking. But then again, SM always try and cover up with excuses. Isn't it dumb for them to kick her out of the group but still keep her in the company? Why? To earn more money? Or maybe they are afraid that if they kick her out totally, the other 8 will leave as well, together with her sister Krystal? 

It totally contradicts what Jessica said in the morning, where she has been "forced out of the group". She wants to stay, but she got kicked out. That is really the weirdest thing ever. I believe Jessica would not have said she wanted to leave, because soshibond and sones. I'm pretty sure she will not give up a group she has been in for so long, she trained the longest and put in so much sweat and tears in it. 14 years of dedication just to find out she got kicked out. She even came back to Korea from New York just to attend the fanmeet in China. It shows that she is sincere in being with the group. You can't do this to her, without any justifiable reason. Luckily Jessica was smart enough and revealed she got kicked out early in the morning before SM could come up with some excuse to cover up her absence (Remember SM claimed that Sulli was having a cold and missed out on Red Light promotions but she actually wanted to take an hiatus from the entertainment industry?) Jessica knew SM will resort to dirty lies and excuses so she acted quickly before SM could put the blame on her. SM really disgusts me. 

But then again in this industry there are many hidden secrets and unsaid truth - which we may never know the full story to. There must be something happening.

Some may ask, what did the members say? At this point of time I'm sure SM has told them not to say anything, and keep a watch on their SNS. Remember when Taeyeon's dating news broke out, she had no where to express her feelings and was desperately looking for a fan to talk to at the airport despite getting pulled away by the managers? They are really restricted a lot. I'm really hoping that the girls will be brave and say something at tonight's fanmeeting. Tonight's fanmeeting is really going to be a deciding factor. I wonder how the members and Jessica are feeling right now.

I can't imagine Girls' Generation without Jessica, or without anyone. Girls' Generation is always 9, and that has been in my head since the start. How do you want me to think of Girls' Generation as 8 from now on. To think that they are also having a concert at Tokyo Dome in December... where they have worked hard for years. (Tokyo Dome is a prestigious place where top artistes perform, Girls' Generation will be the 2nd korean girl group ever to perform at that place) What is really important now is, how would they move on from now? Everything has changed. SM just screwed up the best girl group, a legend. 

"Nine people who are very different from each others, have now become one."

"Nine of us being together is more important than anything else"

"I mean we can't be promoting as SNSD until we're ahjummas. However, like Shinhwa sunbaenims, even when everyone is focusing on their individual activities, I would like for us to get together and hold a concert or release albums...I want SNSD to be like that."

To think that I am that attached to a group, I would just say that I fell for their personalities and their soshibond. They are actually my motivation, as over time they say things to encourage us all, to never give up in anything you do. I get inspired by their quotes, and get through my hardest times. I really hoped to see them perform life in front of my eyes someday, but I guess I will never have the chance to see them in my life .....

Jessica said on a show before that she hope that Girls' Generation's way down can be more beautiful than anyone else’s..... but it just had to end this way....

Thanks for the memories, thank you for everything. 

you'll forever be our ice princess
I will still and forever be supporting you and Girls' Generation !!

I only believe in soshibond,

Only 9.

지금은 소녀시대 , 앞으로도 소녀시대 , 영원히 소녀시대 .....

"Right now it's Girls' Generation, from now on it's Girls' Generation, Forever it's Girls' Generation!"