Heeseung leaves ENHYPEN for a solo career; band calls his exit ‘the most painful thing’

For the fans all over the world, the K-pop scene took a hit this week. ENHYPEN announced that Lee Heeseung, one of their most recognizable voices, is leaving the band to fly solo. While the news blindsided fans and even fellow artists, for ENHYPEN, the exit was just tough. The six guys left behind didn’t hold back in their messages to fans. They called it the most painful thing they’ve faced since their debut.Per The Korea Times, on March 10, 2026, Belift Lab, ENHYPEN’s agency, made it official that Heeseung was stepping out from the band to focus on his solo career. The company said they talked it over for a long time, weighing the future of the group and Heeseung’s own dreams. Apparently, he’s got his own musical vision, and everyone agreed to let him chase it. The statement read: “Through deep conversations about each member’s vision for the future and the team’s direction, we confirmed that Heeseung has a clear musical path he wishes to pursue,” the agency said. “After careful consideration, we decided to respect his aspirations.”However, Heeseung isn’t cutting ties completely, though. He’s staying with Belift Lab and already working on his first solo album. That’s set to kick off his next chapter.Meanwhile, ENHYPEN will keep going as a six-member team: Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki.For the group, this is a turning point. The guys opened up about how hard it is to lose Heeseung, saying it’s the toughest thing they’ve ever faced together.In a statement shared on X (Formerly Twitter), ENHYPEN wrote, “We think ENGENEs must have been very surprised after seeing today’s announcement. The first thing we worried about was how ENGENEs would feel. As ENHYPEN always exists for ENGENEs, seeing you worried and hurting is the most painful thing for us. The time we have spent together until now has been so precious that it can’t be expressed in words. Because of that, we respect and support the choice and new beginning of Heeseung hyung, who has shared that time with us."They added, “To ease ENGENEs’ worries even a little and to create happy days for ENGENEs, we, ENHYPEN, will continue to grow even more in the future. For our precious ENGENEs who always support and cheer for us wherever they are, we will become an ENHYPEN you can always be proud of. We will grow stronger and never forget to be grateful every moment. Thank you always and we love you ENGENEs."Like ENHYPEN, Heeseung didn’t leave fans hanging, either. He wrote a handwritten letter and posted it on Weverse, opening up about his years with ENHYPEN. He thanked his bandmates and ENGENE for always being there, saying their support helped him chase a dream that once felt impossible. He’s working hard on new music and can’t wait to meet fans again, carrying their love with him.“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,” he said. “I am working hard on an album so I can meet you all again soon. I will move forward with the love from ENGENE always in my heart.”