Lee Hangyul Leaves PocketDol Studio After 10 Years: What We Know So Far

Lee Hangyul (also known as Hangyul of BAE173) is officially ending his long-running relationship with PocketDol Studio, closing a chapter that has lasted roughly a decade—from his trainee era to multiple debuts and survival-show milestones.

PocketDol Studio Confirms Contract End Date

On February 11, 2026, PocketDol Studio released an official statement announcing that Hangyul’s exclusive contract will end on February 28, 2026. The agency described their time together as a “precious journey” spanning about 10 years and thanked him for his dedication, adding that they will continue to support his future activities and new challenges even after the contract ends.

A Rare “10-Year Run” in a Fast-Moving Industry

In K-pop, long agency tenures are becoming less common—especially for artists who debut, redebut, and navigate project groups or survival shows. Hangyul’s case stands out because his time under the company covers nearly every stage of an idol career: training, debut attempts, competition programs, project-group promotion, and a full group debut with BAE173.

While PocketDol’s statement is warm and respectful, it also signals a clear turning point: Hangyul is stepping into his next era without the management structure he’s had for most of his adult life.

Hangyul’s Career Path: From Survival Shows to BAE173

Over the years, Hangyul built name recognition through a series of high-visibility steps:

• IM (debut in 2017)

• Appearances on survival programs like KBS2’s The Unit

• Participation in Mnet’s Produce X 101, which led to the formation of X1

• Continued activities in H&D (unit)

• Finally, an official group debut with BAE173 (2020)

This kind of route isn’t just demanding—it’s emotionally exhausting. Repeated “fresh starts” require resilience, and Hangyul’s steady momentum over multiple formats is a big part of why fans are watching his next move closely.

CEO Kim Kwang Soo’s Farewell Message Adds Emotion

Korean reports also highlighted additional comments attributed to PocketDol’s leadership. CEO Kim Kwang Sooreportedly described Hangyul as someone who stayed by the company through good and difficult times, speaking of him in deeply personal terms (friend, younger brother, someone he was grateful to have beside him).

That tone suggests this wasn’t framed as a dramatic fallout—more like a significant goodbye after a long shared history.

What Happens Next for Hangyul (and BAE173)?

As of the announcements currently reported, the statement focuses on Hangyul’s individual exclusive contract and does not publicly lay out detailed next steps—such as a new agency, a solo plan, or how schedules will be handled going forward.

That leaves fans with a familiar K-pop in-between moment: the contract end date is confirmed, but the future structure (new representation, project plans, or partnerships) hasn’t been officially revealed yet.

The Bigger Picture

For many idols, the post-contract period becomes a chance to redefine priorities—whether that means:

• seeking a new agency that fits a specific direction,

• expanding into solo music, performance, or acting,

• or building a more flexible career path.

Whatever Hangyul chooses, the key takeaway right now is simple: a decade-long era has a clear end date, and the industry is about to see what his next chapter looks like—on his own terms.