After years of conflict with his label BLACKMADE, Highlight (formerly BEAST) member-turned-soloist Yong Jun-hyung has gone independent, notifying the agency that he’s terminating his exclusive contract.
On March 30, Yong wrote on Instagram, "I have repeatedly requested corrections regarding the prolonged non-fulfillment of key contractual obligations," adding, "However, the issue has not improved for years, and I judged that it became difficult to maintain a relationship of trust."
He continued, "Accordingly, as of March 12, 2026, I notified the termination of the exclusive contract based on the relevant laws," noting, "There has been no separate response so far." He also stated, "I consider the contract legally terminated and plan to continue my activities independently," signaling a new start.
Yong has publicly raised issues with the company since last year. At the time, he claimed, "The agency unilaterally told me to leave the company and demanded that I pay back funds invested by a distributor I never approved or discussed, along with damages the company set on its own."
Meanwhile, Yong Jun-hyung married singer HyunA in October 2024.