Jang Gyuri Opens Up About Leaving fromis_9 to Focus on Acting: 'I'm Not Good at Multitasking'

Jang Gyuri Opens Up About Her Decision to Leave fromis_9

In a candid interview following the finale of the tvN drama Four Hands, Two Sonatas, Jang Gyuri has spoken in detail about her decision to leave fromis_9 and pursue acting full-time. The interview, reported by Koreaboo and originally published via Naver, marks one of the most direct explanations she has given about the personal and professional calculations behind stepping away from the group she debuted with in 2018.

Gyuri left fromis_9 in 2022, a move that surprised some fans at the time. Now, as the lead actress in a major cable drama, she has reflected on the factors that led to that choice. According to the interview, the decision was not abrupt or driven by conflict, but rather grew from a long-held ambition and a practical recognition of her own limits.

She described acting as a dream she had held since high school, and explained that while she could have continued both singing and acting, she is not naturally suited to multitasking.

The timing of the interview is significant. It arrives just after the conclusion of Four Hands, Two Sonatas, giving Gyuri a natural moment to look back on her journey from idol to actress. For fans of fromis_9 and followers of her acting career, her comments offer a rare window into the emotional and logistical challenges of making such a transition.

Rather than framing the departure as a rejection of her group, she presents it as a necessary step to give her full attention to one path.

The interview also touches on her ongoing relationships with her former bandmates. She stated that they remain on good terms and keep in touch individually. This detail matters because it counters the assumption that leaving a group must involve a falling out. Instead, her story suggests that professional shifts can occur while personal bonds endure. As K-pop continues to see more idols move into acting, Gyuri's perspective adds a thoughtful, grounded voice to that broader conversation.

A Dream Since High School: Why Acting Came First

Jang Gyuri made it clear that acting was not a fallback or a sudden pivot. She said the ambition had been with her since high school, long before her time in fromis_9. This long-standing desire helps explain why she eventually chose to prioritise acting over a dual career. While many idols successfully balance music and television work, Gyuri identified a personal incompatibility with that approach. She admitted plainly that she is not good at multitasking.

That self-awareness is central to her story. In the K-pop industry, it is common for idols to pursue acting alongside group activities, often moving between comeback preparations, variety appearances and drama filming. Some thrive on that intensity, but Gyuri's comments suggest she found it unsustainable. She did not criticise the dual-career model; she simply recognised that it did not suit her personality or working style.

Her decision to leave fromis_9 can therefore be seen as an act of prioritisation rather than a rejection of her singing roots.

The fact that she could have continued both is important. She acknowledged that possibility in the interview, which indicates that the door was not closed by external forces. Instead, she made a choice based on how she wanted to work. That distinction is worth noting: leaving a group is often assumed to be a dramatic break, but Gyuri describes a more measured process. She weighed her options and concluded that focusing on one discipline would allow her to do it properly.

For fans, this explanation may soften the disappointment of her departure. It frames her exit as a mature decision about focus and quality, not a loss of affection for music or her teammates. Her high-school dream had waited patiently while she pursued idol life, and when the opportunity to commit fully to acting arose, she took it. The interview presents that choice as both personal and pragmatic, rooted in a clear-eyed understanding of her own capacities.

The Breaking Point: Juggling Fan Meetings, Albums, and Filming

Before leaving the group, Jang Gyuri experienced the strain of overlapping commitments firsthand. She recalled a period when she was simultaneously doing fan meetings, preparing and promoting albums, and filming the drama Cheer Up. That combination, she said, was when she really felt the difficulty. It was not a single dramatic incident but an accumulation of scheduling conflicts and divided attention that made her reconsider her path.

She described how hard it was to adjust schedules, and noted that there were many times when the other fromis_9 members had to practise without her. That absence weighed on her. She wondered aloud whether she was causing trouble everywhere, a sentiment that speaks to the guilt often felt by idols who cannot be fully present for group activities.

In a team environment where synchronisation and shared preparation are essential, missing practice can feel like letting others down, even when the reason is professional and unavoidable.

The interview does not suggest that her bandmates resented her, nor does it imply any conflict. Instead, Gyuri's account focuses on her own internal struggle. She recognised that her divided commitments were affecting the group's rhythm and her own ability to contribute. That realisation led her to think it would be better to focus on just one thing. The logic is simple: if she could not give both careers her full energy, she would choose the one that had been her dream for longer.

This section of her story highlights a practical reality of idol life that is often invisible to fans. Comebacks, promotions, fan events and filming can collide, and the burden of managing those collisions falls on the individual. Gyuri's honesty about that pressure is valuable because it avoids romanticising the multitasking idol. Instead, it presents a picture of someone who tried to do everything, found it unsustainable, and made a difficult but deliberate choice.

Guilt, Group Dynamics, and the Weight of Responsibility

Jang Gyuri's reflections on group dynamics reveal how deeply she considered the impact of her absence on fromis_9. She did not frame her departure as a solitary decision made in isolation. Instead, she described worrying about the members practising without her and questioning whether she was causing trouble. That sense of responsibility to the team is a recurring theme in idol culture, where the group's success is often prioritised above individual ambitions.

Her comments suggest that leaving was not a rejection of that collective ethos but an attempt to resolve a tension she could no longer manage. By stepping back, she could stop being the member who was frequently absent and allow the group to function without the disruption of her split schedule. In that sense, her decision can be read as a form of respect for her bandmates and for the work they were doing together.

At the same time, the interview makes clear that this was a personal reckoning. She spoke about her own difficulty, her own limitations and her own desire to focus. The guilt she felt was real, but it was also a signal that she needed to change something. Rather than letting the situation continue indefinitely, she chose a path that would allow her to commit fully to one career and stop being a source of scheduling friction for the group.

For readers who follow K-pop, this account may feel familiar. Many idols have spoken about the challenge of balancing group and individual activities, though not all choose to leave. Gyuri's willingness to discuss the guilt and the practical calculations behind her exit adds nuance to the familiar narrative of idol-actress transitions. It shows that such decisions are rarely simple, and that they can be driven as much by consideration for others as by personal ambition.

Still in Touch: Her Relationship with fromis_9 Today

One of the most reassuring details from the interview is Jang Gyuri's statement about her current relationship with the fromis_9 members. She said they just get along well overall, and that they also keep in touch individually. That brief but clear comment indicates that her departure did not sever the bonds she formed during her time in the group. For fans who have followed fromis_9 since their debut, this will be welcome news.

Her words also serve as a reminder that leaving a group is not always synonymous with falling out. In the K-pop industry, former members sometimes maintain friendships with their old bandmates even as they pursue different paths. Gyuri's case appears to be one of those positive examples. She did not elaborate on the frequency or nature of their contact, and it would be wrong to speculate beyond what she said. What matters is that she characterised the relationship as good and ongoing.

The fact that she keeps in touch individually suggests a genuine personal connection that survives the professional separation. It also implies that her decision to leave was understood by the other members, even if it was difficult at the time. That kind of mutual respect is not guaranteed in every group departure, so her comments add a layer of warmth to an otherwise practical story about career focus.

For fromis_9 fans, this detail may help bridge the gap between the group's present and its past. Gyuri is no longer part of the lineup, but she remains a part of its history, and her continued affection for the members is evident. The interview does not dwell on this point, but it provides enough to suggest that the relationships she built during her idol years remain intact.

The Solo Shift: Taking Full Responsibility

The biggest change Jang Gyuri has felt since leaving fromis_9 and working solo is the need to take full responsibility on her own. She explained that in a group, members could complement each other's weaknesses. As someone who describes herself as shy, she noted that on variety shows she tended to stay quietly in the background because many of her friends were so good at that environment. As an actress, however, she said that wherever she goes, she has to take full responsibility by herself.

That shift is profound. In a group, mistakes or shortcomings can be shared, covered or balanced by other members. Solo work removes that safety net. Every performance, every interview and every public appearance rests entirely on the individual. Gyuri's acknowledgment of this difference shows that she understands the stakes of her new path. She is not pretending that solo work is easier; she is recognising that it demands a different kind of strength.

Her comment about her shyness is also revealing. It suggests that group settings offered a kind of shelter, allowing her to contribute without always being in the spotlight. As a lead actress, she cannot rely on that shelter. She must carry scenes, answer questions and represent the project on her own. That is a significant adjustment for anyone, and her willingness to name it indicates a clear-eyed approach to her career change.

Yet she did not present this shift as purely daunting. She said that in a way, it only makes her want to do better. That line captures a positive, forward-looking attitude. Rather than being paralysed by the pressure, she seems motivated by it. The interview leaves the impression of someone who has accepted the solo burden and is using it as fuel for improvement, which is a promising sign for her acting career.

From Group Stages to Lead Role in Four Hands, Two Sonatas

The interview took place after the finale of tvN's Four Hands, Two Sonatas, in which Jang Gyuri played the female lead. That context is important because it marks a significant milestone in her acting career. Leading a drama on a major network is a substantial step up from smaller roles, and it demonstrates that she is being entrusted with carrying a project. The timing of the interview, immediately following the finale, suggests she is in a reflective mood about how far she has come.

While the source does not provide details about the drama's plot, ratings or critical reception, the fact that Gyuri was the female lead is noteworthy on its own. It signals that her transition from idol to actress has progressed to a point where she is no longer just a supporting player. For someone who left a group to focus on acting, landing a lead role on tvN can be seen as validation of that decision.

The interview does not dwell on the specifics of the production, which keeps the focus on her personal journey. Instead, she uses the moment to explain the reasoning behind her career shift and the changes she has experienced. That choice of emphasis is telling: she wants to talk about the process, not just the outcome. It suggests that she values the opportunity to reflect on how she got here, not merely to promote the drama.

For fans of her acting, this section of the story offers a natural checkpoint. Gyuri has moved from group activities to a leading role, and she is now speaking openly about the challenges and motivations that shaped that path. The interview does not promise what comes next, but it leaves the impression of an artist who is committed to her craft and aware of the responsibilities that come with greater visibility.

What Jang Gyuri's Story Says About Idol-Actress Transitions

Jang Gyuri's account is part of a wider pattern in the K-pop industry: idols moving into acting. That transition is rarely as simple as it might appear. It often involves years of training, careful scheduling and a shift in public identity. Gyuri's emphasis on focus and personal responsibility highlights the toll that balancing two demanding careers can take. Her decision to leave fromis_9 rather than continue both is a reminder that not every idol wants to, or can, sustain a dual path.

Her story also underscores the importance of self-knowledge. She recognised that she was not good at multitasking and that the strain was affecting both her group and herself. That kind of honesty is not always present in industry narratives, which sometimes celebrate relentless hard work without acknowledging its costs. By speaking plainly about her limits, Gyuri offers a more realistic picture of what it takes to change direction.

For other idols considering a similar move, her experience may serve as a useful reference point. It shows that leaving a group does not have to be acrimonious, that relationships can survive the change, and that solo work brings both freedom and a heavier burden. It also shows that acting can be a long-held dream rather than a sudden escape. These are nuanced points that go beyond the usual headlines about idols becoming actors.

As K-pop continues to evolve, stories like Gyuri's will become more common. Artists will move between disciplines, and the lines between idol and actor will blur further. What makes her interview stand out is its tone: reflective, practical and free of drama. She is not asking for sympathy or celebrating a dramatic break. She is simply explaining why she chose one path over two, and how that choice has changed her.

For listeners who want to follow these kinds of industry shifts as they happen, K-Beats Radio keeps an eye on the stories behind the comebacks and the casting news, and you can tune in while you read for more context on the artists shaping the scene.