Kwon Yuri reflects on independence after 19 years with SM Entertainment

Following the termination of her exclusive contract with SM Entertainment on August 31, Girls' Generation member Kwon Yuri shared her transition to managing her own tax invoices and legal meetings during a YouTube appearance on the 30th.

Kwon Yuri, a member of the group Girls' Generation and an actress, has opened up about the changes and honest feelings she has experienced after leaving SM Entertainment, where she was based for 19 years. Having operated under the systematic support and protection of her agency for a long time, she is now facing a new reality by personally managing everything from issuing tax invoices and attending legal meetings to planning and filming YouTube content. She confessed that stepping out of her familiar protective circle allowed her to realize how much help she had been receiving.

The first episode of the new web variety show 'John Park Buys Dinner' was released on the YouTube channel TEO on the 30th. Appearing as the first guest, Kwon Yuri shared her changed daily life and mindset with host John Park during their meal following the termination of her exclusive contract with SM.

“I’ve graduated from SM,” Kwon Yuri said, sharing her current status as she adapts to her new environment. “I am learning everything from A to Z, and it is so much fun,” she said. She explained that after becoming independent, she is experiencing the practical tasks previously handled by agency staff, finding the unfamiliar process to be a new source of enjoyment.

The tasks she has taken over are more diverse than expected, ranging from issuing tax invoices to attending legal meetings and planning and filming YouTube content. During this process, Kwon Yuri candidly admitted, “I realized that there is much more I don't know how to do by myself than I thought.”

She reflected, “Before I could go through the process of accomplishing something myself or failing and trying again, there were so many people around me helping me.” Having worked under organizational support for a long time, she had relatively fewer opportunities to experience trial and error or solve problems on her own. “My age has increased quite a bit, but I am actually very young. I lived with a lot of protection,” she added.

Independence also became an opportunity to look back at her own tastes and identity. Kwon Yuri confessed, “I am not even sure what I truly like.” She explained that because she had worked in an environment where public reactions and feedback from those around her arrived quickly, there were many moments when she followed choices that others judged to suit her rather than what she truly wanted.

“Because I worked in a field where feedback comes so quickly, there were many times I chose something because people said it looked good on me, rather than because I truly liked wearing it,” she explained. She stated that she has realized the need to practice making decisions based on her own judgment and taking responsibility for the results, moving away from a life accustomed to the evaluations of others.

“I realized that even if I fail, I have to try doing things one by one myself,” Kwon Yuri said. She meant that the process of encountering challenges and failing is itself an experience that fosters growth, rather than simply performing perfectly. For an entertainer who had to show a polished image to the public for a long time, this marks the beginning of a change toward acknowledging her shortcomings and accepting trial and error.

When John Park asked about the biggest change, Kwon Yuri shared her altered self-perception. “I used to think I always had to do well, but after continuously looking at and facing the shortcomings of the human Kwon Yuri, I’ve started to think, ‘It happens’ or ‘What if I’m not good at it?’” she replied. She confessed to moving away from a strict attitude toward herself and beginning to accept her imperfect side.

This change has also influenced how she treats others. “I think I have become a bit more generous toward others and have come to understand each person's circumstances more,” Kwon Yuri added. Upon hearing this, John Park reacted, “It seems you have changed for the better,” to which Kwon Yuri laughed, saying, “I think I’ve become a bit more comfortable.”

Kwon Yuri concluded her 19-year exclusive contract with SM Entertainment as of August 31. While the process of leaving a long-familiar system to create a new environment alone is by no means simple, she is discovering her tastes, abilities, and shortcomings one by one within it. Her confession draws attention as she learns the meaning of independence as the "human Kwon Yuri," rather than just a star on a glamorous stage.

Read the original (Korean)