Sunye of Wonder Girls to head to Haiti for missionary work

Sunye, the leader of the Wonder Girls, has announced that she will head to Haiti to carry out missionary work there for five years with her husband through their self-established NGO “Whitestone Global.”

Sunye broke the news on the group’s official fan website on Tuesday by uploading a personal statement that explained her reasons for moving to the Caribbean nation with her missionary husband James Park.

“During a short week that I spent volunteering in Haiti while living abroad, the direction of my life completely changed,” wrote Sunye. “After much thought, I have decided to live a second life devoted to missionary work with my husband ... all of my activities as a celebrity will be an extension of this goal as well.”

Sunye will leave for Haiti with her husband in July, according to the online statement. She plans to establish an NGO called “Whitestone Global” to carry out and fund her missionary activities.

Sunye also expressed a deep gratitude to her fans, fellow Wonder Girls members and her management agency JYP Entertainment for understanding and supporting her decision, and vowed to live her new life with diligence and sincerity.

After Sunye’s announcement, many began suspecting that the Wonder Girls will disband or Sunye will leave the group permanently. In response, JYP Entertainment publicly denied such rumors on Tuesday.

“Although Sunye is going to Haiti for five years, she is not leaving the Wonder Girls. She also may be returning to Korea to stay for short periods of time.” said a JYP Entertainment official. “Moreover, the Wonder Girls will not be disbanded.”

In January 2013, Sunye married James Park, a Korean-Canadian missionary, and gave birth to a daughter later that year, bringing the Wonder Girls’ activities to an indefinite halt. Earlier this year, former Wonder Girls member Sohee departed from the group and JYP Entertainment to pursue an acting career.

Meanwhile, the rest of the members have been carrying out individual projects such as featuring in musicals and TV programs as well as pursuing activities as solo musicians.

By Sohn Ji-young (jiyoung.sohn@heraldcorp.com)