BELIFT LAB announced on March 10, 2026, that ENHYPEN member Heeseung is departing the group after six years due to differing musical visions. The seven-member boy band, formed via the 2020 survival show I-LAND, will continue as a six-member unit while Heeseung pursues solo activities under the agency. Fans expressed shock, with online speculation linking the exit to unconfirmed personal rumors.
ENHYPEN debuted in November 2020 with the mini album BORDER: DAY ONE and title track 'Given-Taken.' The original lineup—Jungwon, Heeseung, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki—gained global success with releases like BORDER: CARNIVAL, DIMENSION: DILEMMA, MANIFESTO: DAY 1, and DARK BLOOD, alongside tours and a vampire-coming-of-age concept, building a fanbase called ENGENE.
Heeseung, born in 2001 and a former HYBE trainee, served as the group's main vocalist and 'ace' for his singing, dancing, and performance skills. BELIFT LAB, a HYBE Labels subsidiary, stated on Weverse that after 'deep conversations about each member's vision for the future and the team's direction,' they respected Heeseung's desire for a different musical path. The agency emphasized the decision followed 'a long period of deliberation' for the benefit of both the group and Heeseung.
The announcement surprised fans amid ongoing promotions, coming in the sixth year of contracts and a year before renewals. Heeseung shared a message: "Thanks to the members with whom I shared countless emotions, and to ENGENE, who always filled every empty space with their support, I was able to take step after step toward a dream that once felt out of reach. I am working hard on an album so I can meet you all again soon."
ENHYPEN will promote as six members during upcoming schedules, while Heeseung remains with BELIFT LAB for solo releases. Speculation surged online, with some linking him to a February 2026 MHN Sports report on a K-pop idol 'A' with an out-of-wedlock child in 2022, involving financial support but unclear paternity. Experts noted this does not grant legal rights without recognition. These claims lack evidence, and fans have urged against rumors. Heeseung's calm, mature image made the change significant for the group.
