BELIFT LAB has announced that Heesung will leave the South Korean boy group ENHYPEN to pursue his own musical direction, after discussions about the members future plans. According to the agency, the decision was reached about their long term goals. The move allows Heesung to focus on his individual artistic ambitions, while ENHYPEN will continue activities as a six member group performing for their fans, known as ENGENE.

Their agency stated that the discussions revealed Heesung’s desire to develop a distinct musical path, which led both the artist and the agency to agree on his departure from the group. The company acknowledged that the announcement may bring mixed reactions from fans. Heesung will remain under BELIFT LAB and is currently preparing a solo album.

Following the announcement, Heesung shared a letter from his fans through the fan communication platform Weverse, expressing his gratitude for their support over the past 6 years. He wrote that the period had been “filled with moments that were overwhelming and precious beyond words“, adding that the support of the members and ENGENE helped him move closer to his dreams step by step.

He also said he hopes to continue supporting the group and thanked fans for their continued encouragement. In the letter, he noted that he had been working on personal projects for some time and had long hoped to to share them with fans, while also trying not to place his own ambitions ahead of the team.

ENHYPEN will continue activities with six members: Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-Ki.