If a K-pop idol group is a completed puzzle piece, each member is an indispensable puzzle piece to fans. However, sometimes one of the pieces of this puzzle suddenly disappears for reasons that are difficult to understand, such as 'personal circumstances', hurting the hearts of fans.
On the 2nd, Brand New Music, the agency of the group Unite, announced that Hyunseung, a member of the group, was leaving the team due to personal reasons. They said, "Unite member Hyunseung has left the team and terminated his exclusive contract with the company due to personal reasons." They added, "We will do our best to support the Unite members who will make a new start as an 8-member system." “He said. His withdrawal comes two years after his debut.
Fans sent comments to Hyunseung through the online platform ' “I will do it,” “I’m worried about how 8 people will fill the stage with 9 people,” etc., while expressing support and disappointment.
There have been previous cases like this where a member withdrew due to ‘personal reasons’ without prior notice. This is the case with Kim Woo-jin's departure from the group Stray Kids. Kim Woo-jin, who debuted as a member of Stray Kids in 2018, terminated his exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment and left the team in October 2019 the following year due to personal reasons. At the time of withdrawal, the mini album 'Cle: LEVANTER' was scheduled to be released the following month, but the group's comeback was postponed to December due to Kim Woo-jin's withdrawal.
As the specific reason for the withdrawal was not known, many speculations and rumors were created about it, increasing the pain among fans. Regarding the rumor, Kim Woo-jin posted a YouTube video announcing his solo comeback in March and said, "I didn't respond because it was nonsense, but it actually created an even more nonsense situation. From now on, I think I need to convey what I have to say more clearly. “I heard this,” he said.
At the same time, regarding the time of leaving Stray Kids, he said, "I am truly sorry for leaving the team like that. I was a little younger at the time, and I think I thought more about my situation. It is a little late, but I make sure to say I am sorry. “I want to convey my feelings to everyone who was hurt by that incident.”
However, the public's reaction to his withdrawal and solo comeback was consistently cold. Since it was a group that had emphasized the 9-member combination from the beginning of its debut, most critics say that his departure faded the meaning of the '9-member group' within Stray Kids. Above all, Kim Woo-jin was preparing for his comeback even before his withdrawal, so his sudden withdrawal due to 'personal reasons' caused a major setback in the comeback schedule. Furthermore, there was no public farewell to fans, which aroused antipathy from the domestic public.
The same goes for JINI, who was a member of the group NMIXX. On December 9, 2022, he terminated his exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment and withdrew from NMIXX due to personal reasons. As in the cases above, the reason was 'personal circumstances' and the detailed reason was not disclosed.
Her sudden withdrawal came as a huge shock to his fans, as he sent a message to the paid fan communication platform Bubble a few days before his withdrawal and participated in Mnet's representative awards ceremony, MAMA. Above all, it was even more disappointing that the group left the group only 10 months after debuting after 7 years and 5 months of training.
Last October, JINI debuted as a solo artist with the release of her first mini album, 'An Iron Hand In A Velvet Glove'. At the debut showcase, JINI said regarding her withdrawal, "It's difficult to say for personal reasons, but I'm prepared to work hard as I'm debuting as a solo artist."
Due to the unclear reason for her withdrawal, JINI also suffered from various rumors, and made a solo comeback without explanation, causing deep public concern at the time. Someone said, "We are in a position to support JINI, but if she debuts as a solo artist while the reason for her withdrawal is unknown, there will definitely be many people who criticize her. If a big or small controversy arises surrounding her, Nmix, who she was previously affiliated with, will be in the spotlight along with her. “I think so,” he said, worried.
When a member withdraws from a group, the most common reason for withdrawal is ‘health reasons’. Yuina, a member of the group Candy Shop, and Jiyoon Shin, a member of the group Weekly, left the team due to 'health reasons', leaving fans disappointed. However, the departing member himself had a farewell message to his fans, and by showing them exchanging greetings with other members after leaving, they succeeded in persuading the public who supported them, and were able to successfully close the gap left in the group.
Of course, the privacy of individual artists must be respected, but fans still need a sufficient reason to understand the absence of a member. It is undesirable for an artist who must move people's hearts to fail fans' expectations for harmony and chemistry between members for unclear reasons such as 'personal reasons'. If a member inevitably leaves a team after debuting, there is a clear need to provide a detailed reason to help fans understand, other than 'personal reasons'.
Reporter Lee Min-kyung, Ten Asia 2min_ror@tenasia.co.kr