The dust has yet to settle around girl group (G)I-DLE after the quintet's leader, Soyeon, hinted at leaving her agency, Cube Entertainment, during the group's concert last weekend.

During the Seoul concerts of (G)I-DLE's "iDOL" world tour held on Saturday and Sunday at the KSPO Dome in southern Seoul, Soyeon performed a solo show of her rap song, "Is this bad b****** number?"

The song contained slang, slurs and lyrics such as, "Contract ends November, who's to stop me? I don't have to f**king tiptoe." The digital screen also showed the phrase, "Contract ends November," leading the audience to believe that the performance was coordinated by the agency to signal that the (G)I-DLE member would be leaving the agency this year.

Soyeon also revealed during Sunday's concert that it was her grandmother's funeral on the day of the concert but that she couldn't go. She also uploaded an Instagram post reading, "I'm sorry for not being able to be there because I'm supposed to be busy when I told you I was your best friend."

Soyeon ended the concert with affectionate comments to fans, saying, "We will always be together, so don't worry," but this did not help alleviate concerns.

"The lyrics were only part of the performance," Cube Entertainment told the press after the concert. "Next year is when we will discuss contract renewals."

The standard contract recommended by the government lasts for seven years in the entertainment industry, after which many artists leave their initial company to pursue their solo careers. Groups do not disband just because a member leaves the agency, but having individual members on different career paths typically makes it difficult for the whole group to come together.

Many Cube Entertainment artists chose to leave the agency after their seven-year contract ended, such as the members of the boy band BTOB.

(G)I-DLE debuted on May 2, 2018, and next May will mark the quintet's seventh anniversary.

The girl group will continue its "iDOL" world tour in 14 cities around the world.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]