After the stunning departure late last year of BoA — the label's flagship artist and a living symbol of its history — SM Entertainment has now lost nearly all of its founding figures. Without the "roots of SM," the company has announced a full-scale restructuring under the banner of "SM Next 3.0." SM confirmed the end of its partnership with BoA last December, saying her exclusive contract expired on Dec. 31, 2025. The announcement drew intense attention, marking the end of a 25-year journey that began with her debut in 2000. "I leave without regrets, having given and received unsparingly," she wrote on social media. "I am grateful for our time together and will support SM Entertainment as it shines. Thank you." During her career, BoA was more than just a star. She was a non-executive director and played a key role in the company's creative direction, most recently guiding the rookie group NCT WISH as its executive producer. Her exit is particularly symbolic given that founder and executive producer Lee Soo-man and hitmaker Yoo Young-jin have already left. With BoA gone, composer Ken