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Lee Joon and Thunder of K-Pop Boy Band MBLAQ Leave Group

After months of speculation, Lee Joon and Thunder of the popular South Korean boy band MBLAQ have announced that they are officially leaving the group to focus on their individual careers.

Lee Joon and Thunder’s legal team released an official statement regarding their departure from the five-member group following the expiration of their contracts with label J. Tune Camp, which was in late November. According to the statement, Lee Joon will be focusing on filming his latest drama Mr. Baek, while Thunder will focus on his music studies.

J. Tune Camp has released a statement regarding the status of MBLAQ. The company is uncertain whether it will continue promoting the group as a trio or if it will add new members to its line-up, but it assured that MBLAQ will continue on. It is not immediately known whether the two will sign a contract with J. Tune Camp and continue to be managed by the agency.

Rumors first surfaced of the group's break-up in October, with J. Tune Camp saying that the two will still be negotiating contacts and that nothing had been officially decided. But the two performers's last concert "Curtain Call" Nov. 31 gave way to their departure, with Lee and Thunder hinting that they would end their five-year careers as members of MBLAQ.

“I don’t know what to say. Some loved us from the beginning, but some didn’t. Anyway, we are here, enjoying our time together and crying together. I am honored to be here with you. Thank you for being by our side from 2009 until now,” Lee told the audience.

Thunder also made a tearful remark to the fans at the concert.

“It is not easy to support someone steadily for five years. You [fans] gave us strength. Thank you for being with us for the last five years. Hope I can continue to see you again,” he said.

MBLAQ’s remaining members are Seungho, G.O and Mir. Formed by K-pop star Rain, the group debuted in 2009 with the EP “Just BLAQ.”

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