(Yonhap)

Veteran K-pop act T-ara has parted ways with its management agency MBK Entertainment, but the quartet is committed to staying together as a group, one of its singers said Thursday.

"At the end of last year, we left the company that we'd been part of for the past 10 years," member Hyomin wrote to fans on her Instagram account.

The 29-year-old singer, whose real name is Park Sun-young, added, "We can't say for certain now, but the members will be able to stay together whenever, wherever we are," suggesting that the act may continue on either independently or through a new agency.

Hyomin said she and her teammates will take time off to "seriously deliberate" the future of the group. "Don't worry too much as we'll return with good news in the near future," she added.

An MBK representative confirmed that the contracts for the four members expired at the end of December, adding, "The future of the band will be decided by its four members."

Since its debut in 2009 with the EP "Lies," T-ara rose to fame with hits such as "Bo Peep Bo Peep," "Roly Poly" and "Lovey Dovey." The group released its ninth EP, "What's My Name," last June. T-ara initially started out with six members but later went through several lineup changes amid departures and allegations of an internal bullying incident. (Yonhap)