And then there were eight: K-pop's Girls' Generation drops Jessica Jung

One of K-pop's marquee acts, the girl band Girls' Generation, has kicked out one of its star members, sending shockwaves through the group's devoted fan base in South Korea, Asia and beyond.

Jessica Jung, a prominent member of the nine-strong act that has toured to packed stadiums around the world, said she had been "shockingly" informed by her eight colleagues and agency that she was no longer part of the band. "I am devastated - my priority and love is to serve as a member of GG but for no justifiable reason, I am being forced out," the 25-year-old wrote on her Weibo account.

Her agency SM Entertainment insisted Jung had expressed an intention to quit earlier this year to focus on her newly launched fashion business.

"As the band had conflicting priorities and interests and Jessica started her own fashion business ... we came to a conclusion that we can no longer continue the band like this," SM said. "We made a decision on her departure earlier than originally planned," it said.

The agency said Girls' Generation would keep going with the remaining eight members.

The news made headlines in South Korea and immediately began trending on social networks as messages poured in from devastated fans.