Heeseung Is Leaving ENHYPEN After Six Years to Go Solo — The First Lineup Change in the Group's History
It is confirmed, and it is a big deal. Heeseung is departing ENHYPEN. BELIFT LAB announced the news Tuesday, March 10, making the 24-year-old's exit the first lineup change the group has faced since debuting in November 2020. He stays under the label. He is preparing a solo album. ENHYPEN continues as six.
Why Did Heeseung Leave ENHYPEN? The Official Explanation
BELIFT LAB posted an official statement on X titled "ENHYPEN's Future Activities," saying: "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."
The label did not cite conflict, scheduling issues, or contract disputes. Both sides publicly framed the split as mutual and creative in nature.
Heeseung's Handwritten Letter to ENGENE: "A Big Decision"
Hours after the announcement, Heeseung posted directly on Weverse. He did not deflect or keep it vague.
"I shared the results of my work with the company and talked with many people for a long time to think about how to show this. After a long period of thought, I made a big decision to leave to reach out to you in a better way according to the direction the company suggested," he wrote.
"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," he added.
Describing his six years in the group, he called the memories "some of the most shining and unforgettable moments" of his life and said he would continue supporting ENHYPEN as "someone who will always cheer them on."
The Remaining Six Members Respond: "We Respect His Choice"
Jungwon, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-Ki released a joint statement on X hours after the news broke. "We bet you were really shocked seeing today's announcement," they wrote. "Seeing ENGENE worry and struggle is the greatest pain for us. The time we've spent together up until now is precious beyond words. That's why we respect and support Heeseung hyung's choice and new beginning."
They closed with a direct pledge to fans: "To ease ENGENE's worries even a little and create happy days for ENGENE every day, we ENHYPEN will grow even more from now on."
Fan Backlash: Why Couldn't He Do Both?
The reaction from ENGENE has been intense — and not entirely supportive of the decision's framing. The loudest question is simple: why couldn't Heeseung pursue solo work while staying in the group, as dozens of K-pop idols do simultaneously?
"HEE CAN DO HIS SOLO DEBUT WHILE BEING IN ENHYPEN!! like why does he need to leave?" one fan posted on X. Another wrote: "His solo debut under Belift, why did he leave ENHYPEN? This all makes no sense." A third added: "It's really confusing — you can do both solo and group activities while being under the group, so what's the point of leaving?"
Some fans believe the scale of Heeseung's solo ambitions simply could not coexist with ENHYPEN's tightly coordinated group schedule. Others have flagged that both BELIFT LAB and Heeseung have emphasized the decision was made mutually, with no evidence of conflict or mismanagement.
The Zayn Parallel — And What Comes Next
The announcement landed on the same day fans marked 11 years since Zayn Malik left One Direction. The coincidence was not lost on K-pop Twitter, with fans immediately drawing parallels between the two departures — both framed as artistic rather than personal, both leaving devoted fanbases processing a sudden structural shift.
Heeseung debuted with ENHYPEN in November 2020 after competing on the survival audition program I-LAND. The group launched with Border: Day One and built a global fanbase across subsequent releases and world tours. His exit marks the first lineup change in the group's history.
A solo album is in preparation. No release timeline has been announced.
