Only yesterday, we reported that MBC's 'Birth of a Great Star' Season 1 winner, Baek Chung Gang, had dismissed rumors that he would be leaving his mentor Kim Tae Won and his agency, Boohwal Entertainment. But on the same day, Boohwal Entertainment had made an official announcement that Baek Chung Gang would be departing from their agency, causing confusion amongst netizens. So you can imagine the shock netizens felt upon hearing the news that Baek Chung Gang has since then officially departed from his agency, when he had personally denied the rumors through his me2day the day before. On September 2nd, Baek Chung Gang and Kim Tae Won both attended a ceremony held in Kyungki-Do, and shared their feelings about the issue. Kim Tae Won stated, "I am a singer, not a businessman. My student has a chance to grow and develop in a bigger world and under better conditions, so as a teacher I believe that I should be happy for him and let him go." Baek Chung Gang also commented, "Although I am leaving my first agency, Kim Tae Won will always be my mentor and teacher." So what were the reasons behind Baek Chung Gang deciding to leave Kim Tae Won and Boohwal Entertainment? Well, first and foremost, Baek Chung Gang wished to expand his career into China -- something that Boohwal Entertainment could not easily help him prepare for, since the agency mainly focuses on managing the Boohwal band. Consequently, Baek Chung Gang concluded that it was better for him to join an agency with established ties in the Chinese market. The second reason is that Baek Chung Gang's chances of succeeding in the Chinese market are much higher than his chances of making it big in Korea. Korea is currently saturated with talented singers all vying to make it to the top, and so Baek Chung Gang felt it would be difficult for him to break into this market and display his own unique talents. In China, however, the situation is different. To Korean immigrants living in China, Baek Chung Gang is a symbol of the Korean dream. The singer would have a much higher chance in China of leading a long and successful singing career. After winning 'Birth of a Great Star', Baek Chung Gang currently holds the status of a star in China and is receiving much love from his Chinese fans, as proven by the hundreds of fans that gathered to greet him at his last fan signing event in Yanbian, China. For the sake of his future singing career, Baek Chung Gang felt he needed to promote in countries outside of Korea, and therefore, leaving Kim Tae Won could be the right step towards preparing his future. However, the singer disappointed many of his fans when he first denied the rumors, then acknowledged them as being true merely a day later. Baek Chung Gang is a unique figure who could help form a bridge between the cultures of Korea and Yanbian of China, so there is also a need for him to maintain a positive image within Korea. Source + Photo: TV Daily via Nate, TV Report via Daum