HEESEUNG Announces Departure From ENHYPEN: “I want to continue being one person who cheers for ENHYPEN more than anyone else.”
“…After much deep thought over a long period, I’ve made a big decision to follow the direction the company suggested, in order to approach you ENGENEs in an even better form,” the K-pop star shared in a heartfelt statement.
HEESEUNG: Courtesy of BELIFT LAB.
HEESEUNG: Courtesy of BELIFT LAB.
ENHYPEN‘s HEESEUNG has just announced his sudden departure from the group — and shared that he will be making his debut as a solo artist.
In a statement posted by their label, BELIFT LAB, it was shared the HEESEUNG would be parting ways with ENHYPEN, while the rest of the group (comprised of JAY, JAKE, SUNGHOON, SUNOO, JUNGWON, and NI-KI) would continue their official activities as six members moving forward. Their statement also acknowledged the difficulty of sharing such unexpected news, but asked for grace from the group’s fanbase of ENGENEs as “this decision was made for the future of ENHYPEN and HEESEUNG.”
Read through BELIFT LAB’s full statement below:
Hello, this is BELIFT LAB.
We would like to express our gratitude toward ENGENE for their unwavering support for ENHYPEN and provide information on ENHYPEN’s future activities.
AdvertisementBELIFT LAB has given much thought and consideration into ENHYPEN’s future direction and goals. Through in-depth discussions with each of the members about the future they envision and the direction of the team, it became clear that Heeseung has his own distinct musical vision and we have decided to respect it.
As such, Heeseung will be parting ways with ENHYPEN, and ENHYPEN will continue official activities henceforth as a group of six members.
It’s difficult to relay the whole process through a short notice, but this decision comes after extensive deliberation. We understand that this news is a lot to process and may be received with mixed reactions. Nevertheless, we hope you understand that this decision was made for the future of ENHYPEN and Heeseung.
AdvertisementENHYPEN remains committed to sharing energetic performances with ENGENE. Heeseung will be preparing a solo album as an artist under BELIFT LAB. We ask for ENGENE’s continued love and support for ENHYPEN and Heeseung as they start a new chapter of their journey. Thank you.
Following BELIFT LAB’s statement, HEESEUNG also took to WeVerse to post an emotional, heartfelt, and handwritten letter explaining more context behind the abrupt announcement. ” I know many ENGENE must have been very surprised to hear this news about me, and I imagine many of you have questions because due to the sudden news. That’s why I wanted to speak to ENGENE directly,” he wrote.
“The six years I’ve spent have been filled with moments so overwhelming and precious that it’s hard to fully put them into words,” HEESEUNG shared, before continuing, “Those times will remain as some of the brightest moments of my life. I will never forget those moments, and I want to continue being someone who supports ENHYPEN more than anyone else.”
HEESEUNG then continued by sharing more context surrounding his departure from ENHYPEN, noting that it was suggested by the company as part of his journey moving forward a solo artist. “I made a big decision to follow the direction the company suggested so that I can return to ENGENE with an even better version of myself. As ENGENE all know, I’ve continued working on my own projects and spent a lot of time hoping that one day I could show them to you. There were so many things I wanted to share, but I also didn’t want to push forward only my own desires within the team,” he then continued.
Read through HEESEUNG’s full letter penned to ENGENEs below:
Hello, this is Heeseung.
First of all, I imagine many ENGENEs must have been very surprised to hear my news, and there are probably a lot of you feeling curious about this sudden announcement. That’s why I wanted to speak directly to you ENGENEs myself. The past 6 years for me have been a time filled with moments so overwhelming and precious that words alone can’t fully express them.
AdvertisementThanks to the members with whom I’ve shared countless emotions, and to all of you ENGENEs who have always filled every empty space, I’ve been able to take one step at a time toward dreams that once felt out of reach. And that time will remain one of the shining moments in my life that I’ll never forget. I never want to forget those moments, and I want to continue being one person who cheers for ENHYPEN more than anyone else. While sharing the results of my work so far with the company, I’ve spent a long time discussing and deliberating with many people about the best way to present it to you, and after much deep thought over a long period, I’ve made a big decision to follow the direction the company suggested, in order to approach you ENGENEs in an even better form.
As you ENGENEs know, I’ve continued my personal projects, pouring a lot of time into them in the hope of one day showing them to you. There was so much I wanted to share, but I also didn’t want to put my own desires ahead of the team. I know about your worries and all the various stories out there. I’m working hard to prepare so I can meet you all again as soon as possible. The desire to come back to you in an even better form is more sincere than anything.
Since you’ve always given endless love and affection to someone as imperfect as me, I can understand why you’re feeling shocked and worried, and that makes me feel deeply sorry. I think it’s because you’ve cherished and cared for me so much that these feelings arise. I’ll keep the immense love you’ve given me all this time engraved in my heart and run forward as that person.
AdvertisementENGENE! Thank you, and I love you.
Following HEESEUNG’s personal statement, the remaining members of ENHYPEN also penned a lengthy message on the members’ X (formerly Twitter) account, promising their fanbase that they will continue giving their best with their future activities. “I think ENGENE must have been very surprised after seeing today’s announcement. The first thing we worried about was what ENGENE would think. As ENHYPEN is a group that always exists for the sake of ENGENE, seeing ENGENE worry or struggle is more painful than anything else for us,” they shared.
“In order to ease ENGENE’s worries even a little, and in order to make every day a happy one for ENGENE, we, ENHYPEN, will continue to grow even more in the future,” they promised.
Read through ENHYPEN’s statement regarding HEESEUNG’s departure below:
I think ENGENE must have been very surprised after seeing today’s announcement. The first thing we worried about was what ENGENE would think. As ENHYPEN is a group that always exists for the sake of ENGENE, seeing ENGENE worry or struggle is more painful than anything else for us.
The time we’ve spent together up until now is so precious to us that it’s impossible to put into words. That’s why we respect and support the choice made by Heeseung, who spent that time with us, along with his new start.
AdvertisementIn order to ease ENGENE’s worries even a little, and in order to make every day a happy one for ENGENE, we, ENHYPEN, will continue to grow even more in the future. In order to become an ENHYPEN that ENGENE, who always support us and cheer us on wherever they are, can always eel proud of, we will become stronger and never forget our gratitude at every moment. We are always thankful, and we love you, ENGENE.
ENHYPEN was originally formed through the 2020 survival competition show I-Land, and they officially made their debut on the scene as a seven-piece ensemble on November 30, 2020 with their mini-album, Border: Day One. Since then, the group has achieved numerous chart-breaking hit singles, albums, and have sold-out several world tours — even making history as the fastest K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella.
Most recently, the group released their seventh mini-album, THE SIN: VANISH. which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 1 on Billboard’s US World Albums chart.
Listen to ENHYPEN’s THE SIN: VANISH below: