Fans are still reacting after Belift Lab announced on March 10, 2026, that Heeseung would leave ENHYPEN. The company said the 24-year-old singer will now focus on starting a solo career while still being signed to the label. At the same time, Heeseung confirmed the decision himself through a handwritten letter shared with fans on Weverse. Quickly after the announcement, many fans questioned why he could not stay in the group while also working on solo music. Some even brought up artists in groups such as BTS and BLACKPINK, whose members have done both solo projects and continue to be part of their groups.
In response, Belift Lab told Billboard on March 11, 2026, that letting Heeseung fully focus on his individual career would be the “most fulfilling approach” for everyone involved. The label also referred back to its earlier statement, explaining that many serious discussions took place about ENHYPEN’s future direction and each member’s goals. According to the Belift Lab, those conversations made it clear that Heeseung has his own musical direction, and the choice was made to respect his career moving forward.
“We concluded that allowing HEESEUNG to focus fully on his career as a solo artist, rather than pursuing solo activities within the team, would be the most fulfilling approach for both ENHYPEN and HEESEUNG,” the agency said, doubling down on their previous statement from March 10 on the reasons for his exit.
Even with that explanation, the news has been emotional for ENGENEs (the name ENHYPEN fans have). Some have shared messages of heartbreak online, while others said they were confused because recent comments from Heeseung had suggested future group activities were still being planned. Before the group became a sextet, ENHYPEN had released their project “THE SIN : VANISH,” which debuted at #2 in the United States and Japan, and entered at #1 in South Korea. The album was released in multiple variants, including versions with voice notes narrated by the members. You can hear Heeseung’s here: