BoA and SM Entertainment End a 25-Year Chapter: “I Leave Without Regrets”

One of K-pop’s most iconic artist-agency partnerships has officially come to a close. BoA and SM Entertainment have mutually agreed to end their exclusive relationship after 25 years, with the partnership concluding as of December 31, 2025. The news was confirmed publicly on January 12, 2026, followed by BoA’s own message to fans that quickly became the headline quote: “I leave without regrets.”

For longtime fans, the announcement doesn’t just mark a contract ending—it closes a defining era in modern Korean pop history, one that began when BoA debuted as a teen and helped push K-pop’s footprint beyond Korea long before “global expansion” became the industry’s default strategy.

The official timeline: what was announced and when

SM Entertainment’s official statement said that after “extensive and in-depth discussions,” both sides agreed to conclude their 25-year journey together effective December 31, 2025.

Korea JoongAng Daily also reported that BoA will not be renewing and noted that she has not announced a new agency at this time.

That combination—mutual conclusion, clear end date, and no immediate next-agency reveal—suggests BoA is taking a measured transition rather than rushing to the next headline.

BoA’s message: gratitude, closure, and no bitterness

After the official statement went public, BoA posted her own farewell note on social media, reflecting on the length and intensity of her time with SM. Her key line—shared across multiple reports—was that after giving and receiving without holding back, she is leaving without regrets, while also expressing gratitude for the time shared and continued support for the company’s future.

The tone matters. This wasn’t framed as a fight, a scandal, or a dramatic separation. It read like closure: appreciative, calm, and forward-looking.

SM’s tribute: “pride, symbol, and honor”

SM Entertainment’s statement was unusually glowing, describing BoA as an “icon of global expansion” and the “Star of Asia,” and praising her as a role model for later generations of artists.

Soompi’s transcript of the statement highlights SM’s emphasis on her legacy—calling her the company’s “pride, joy, and symbol”—and adds that SM intends to support her future activities and challenges even after the exclusive contract ends.

In other words: the business relationship is ending, but the respect is being publicly locked into the record.

Why this breakup hits differently: BoA isn’t just another “senior artist”

Plenty of idols have left agencies after long runs—but BoA’s case lands differently because her career is woven into the foundation of modern K-pop.

She debuted young—and stayed

SM’s statement notes BoA debuted in 2000 at age 13, and that her journey with the company spans the full rise of K-pop from regional phenomenon to global industry.

She helped define “overseas expansion,” especially Japan

Kyunghyang (Khan) describes her as a major figure in building K-pop’s presence in Japan, crediting her popularity there as part of what helped drive the Korean Wave across Asia.

She became symbolic inside SM itself

Khan also reports BoA was appointed a non-registered director at SM in 2014 and later participated in production work for newer acts such as NCT WISH, reflecting how her role expanded beyond being “just” a performer.

Even if fans mainly associate BoA with hits and stages, her influence has long lived behind the scenes as well.

What happens next

Right now, the clearest confirmed points are simple:

• The exclusive partnership ended December 31, 2025

• The announcement was made January 12, 2026

• BoA has not announced a new agency yet

• SM says it will continue to support her future endeavors

That leaves the biggest questions—management structure, next releases, long-term plans—open for now. But if her message is the emotional thesis, it’s this: she’s leaving a chapter behind without regret, not leaving her career behind.