Popular K-pop band Girls' Generation will lose three members, after the trio of Tiffany, Sooyoung and Seohyun quit the S.M. Entertainment management agency, reported Yonhap news agency on Monday (Oct 9).

Sources say that the trio quit as Tiffany will be pursuing her education in the United States, while Sooyoung and Seohyun will be pursuing their acting careers.

It is unclear whether they will continue working with Girls' Generation.

"The three members decided to terminate their contracts with the agency," Yonhap reported an industry official familiar with the matter as saying.

"Although Girls' Generation will stay afloat, it would be difficult in practical terms for those members to remain in the team when they sign up with a different management agency. I understand the members are still discussing the matter."

On Monday evening, S.M. Entertainment confirmed local media reports which claimed that Tiffany, Seohyun and Sooyoung did not renew their contracts with the label while the other five - Taeyeon, Yoona, Yuri, Hyoyeon and Sunny - have decided to remain with the agency, the Korea Herald reported.

The agency said in a statement that "Girls' Generation is a precious and meaningful group for both S.M. and fans", adding that the members are not considering disbandment at all and that it will carefully discuss the future of group with the

remaining members.

The eight-member group released a full-length album in August to mark its 10th anniversary.

It had been a nine-member band until 2014, when Jessica Jung was ousted for prioritising her fashion ambitions.