SHINee‘s Taemin was in Japan for the first-ever Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024 (ASEA). He performed and won not one but two awards that night.
Taemin has since returned to South Korea. His recent appearance at the airport has provoked netizens’ criticism of SM Entertainment.
In March, it was reported that SHINee‘s Taemin would leave SM Entertainment after sixteen years to sign with BPM Entertainment (also known as Big Planet Made). On March 5, BPM Entertainment released statements to the Korean media regarding this rumor. OSEN was informed that the company was checking the matter, while TV Daily was told that nothing was decided.
Regarding recruiting Taemin into the company, we are currently in the midst of checking the facts internally.
— BPM Entertainment via OSEN
Nothing has been decided regarding Taemin.
— BPM Entertainment via TV Daily
Many fans had concerns regarding BPM Entertainment due to past controversies. Despite this, on April 1, BPM Entertainment announced that Taemin had signed an exclusive contract.
We recently signed an exclusive contract with Taemin, who is known as SHINee’s main dancer and a solo artist. We will fully support Taemin’s wide-ranging music activities and do our best to help him excel in various fields from now on. We ask for a lot of support and love for Taemin’s new beginning.
— BPM Entertainment
Fans are already seeing changes since Taemin’s change in companies. They noticed that they had a total of five bodyguards with him on his return to Korea after The 2024 ASEA.
Seriously… 5 bodyguards… protecting Taemin
Niceeee👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/XVxUOyovnB
— 라인 (@liney84) April 11, 2024
Fans pointed out that Taemin sometimes had only one person to protect him during trips, and it was his manager. Already, BPM Entertainment is doing more to protect Taemin than SM Entertainment did.
240411 | #Taemin arrived in Korea about an hour ago ✨️
He has almost 5 security guards escorting him in the airport. With SM he was alone with Euisoo 💀 That is the difference between SM and BPM Entertainment.
This is when we realize that Taemin made a very good choice. pic.twitter.com/kM84uAXoG7
— SHINee (@Shinee_Fan_Base) April 11, 2024
The guards. We have 5 guards for Taemin 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 look sm this is how you do it sm!!
Thank you bpm for protecting our Taemin 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
He really made the right choice. pic.twitter.com/axmSyISt86
— gwai | ILY1209 (@mingminhooo) April 11, 2024
This isn’t the only thing BPM Entertainment has done that earned them praise from Taemin’s fans. Read more below.
SHINee’s Taemin Signs With BPM Entertainment, Releases New Logo, Photoshoot, And More