Heeseung is parting ways with Enhypen, the K-pop group’s label Belift Lab announced Tuesday through a statement on social media.
The 24-year-old, who was the eldest member of the group, is preparing a solo album and will continue on under the label as a solo artist, according to the statement. The company said the decision came after they spoke with each member about their thoughts on the future.
“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,” the statement reads. “As such, Heeseung will be parting ways with Enhypen.”
The boy group will continue official activities as a six-member outfit, consisting of of members Jungwon, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo and Ni-ki.
Heeseung took to the group’s Weverse community to share a message with fans about the news. “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,” he says in the post, according to a translation from Soompi.
“Thanks to the members who shared countless emotions with me and to all of you Engene (the group’s fanbase) who always filled every empty space with your support, I was able to take step after step toward a dream that once felt impossible to reach,” he continues. “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.
The rest of Heeseung’s statement reads, “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. Engene! Thank you, and I love you.”
Hailing from Korean entertainment company Belift Lab (a subsidiary of entertainment conglomerate Hybe), Enhypen was formed through the music survival series I-Land. The series, a joint venture between Hybe and Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM, aired on the CJ ENM-owned channel Mnet in South Korea. Enhypen’s latest album, The Sin: Vanish, debuted at No. 2 on on the Billboard 200 chart.