Earlier today, Son Naeun officially announced her departure from girl group Apink, after 11 years. Naeun uploaded a handwritten letter to Instagram as a formal goodbye to fans, members, and staff. Last year, Naeun was the only member to not renew her contract. Instead, she decided to sign with YG Entertainment, but would continue to promote with Apink, if available. Naeun participated in the most recent comeback, but was unable to promote with the rest of the group, due to scheduling conflicts. IST Entertainment went on to announce that the group will continue to promote as a group of 5 as of April 19th, the group’s anniversary.

The translated letter can be found below (Via: Soompi):

Hello, this is Son Naeun.
I worried a lot about how I should say this, and even now, as I write these words, I’m very nervous.
I will be leaving Apink, with whom I have been together for the past 11 years.
Because Apink is a place like family, with whom I have spent a long time together, I made this difficult decision after a lot of debate, and though it wasn’t an easy decision, I plan to become a Panda [Apink fan] and cheer on Apink starting from now on.
The members… Chorong, Bomi, Eunji, Namjoo, Hayoung… the many people who have worked hard for Apink from the start, including the IST staff, and the fans, who are the most precious of all: as I look back on the times we’ve spent together until now and our memories, there is no way to express all of my feelings through words, but…
I want to sincerely thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who made my teens and twenties the most radiant, who gifted me this happy time.
I will engrave the name “Apink’s Son Naeun” in my heart, and I think showing you better things in the future, so that I don’t bring shame to that name, is one way I can repay you.
Please give lots of love to Apink, and I, too, will be sincerely rooting for them.
Up until now, this has been Apink’s Son Naeun.

Let’s support Naeun as she departs on the new stage of her career.