Heeseung played a central role in shaping ENHYPEN’s sound as its main vocalist. His decision to pursue a different artistic direction highlights a broader reality in K-pop: as artists mature, creative ambitions sometimes extend beyond the structure of a group.
The main vocalist of ENHYPEN, one of the most successful Kpop groups, left the group.
Their agency, BeLift Lab, stated he will stay in the company and pursue a solo career. Following the agency’s announcement, Heesung published a handwritten note to on WEVERSE.
Below is the letter and the english translation.
Hello, this is Heeseung.
Many ENGENEs will probably be surprised by the news I’m about to share. I wanted to tell you myself first before anything else, so I’m writing this letter.
There is still so much I want to express, and it’s hard to put everything into words. During the long time we’ve spent together, I’ve received so much love and support. I always felt deeply grateful for the precious memories we created together and for the many moments we shared.
The time I spent with the members while promoting as ENHYPEN was truly meaningful to me. I think it will remain as one of the brightest and most valuable chapters of my life.
However, after giving this a lot of thought, I came to the conclusion that for my personal growth and for the direction I want to take as an artist, I need to challenge myself in a new way. It was not an easy decision, but after many conversations and careful consideration, I decided to take a different path.
I know this news may be upsetting or disappointing to some of you. Thinking about how this might make you feel weighs heavily on my heart. Still, I sincerely hope you can understand that this decision was made after deep reflection and with the desire to continue growing.
From now on, I will continue working hard so that I can show you an even better version of myself. I will always cherish the memories and the love I received from ENGENEs, and I will carry that gratitude with me wherever I go.
Thank you for always supporting me and believing in me. I will do my best to repay that love through my future activities.
Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
ENGENEs,
thank you and I love you.
— Heeseung —
Mistranslation Going Around On Social Media
Another version of the letter’s english translation contains errors (highlighted).
“Hello, this is Heeseung.
First of all, I know many ENGENE must have been very surprised to hear this news about me, and I imagine many of you have questions because due to the sudden news. That’s why I wanted to speak to ENGENE directly.
The six years I’ve spent have been filled with moments so overwhelming and precious that it’s hard to fully put them into words. Thanks to the members who shared countless emotions with me and to all of you ENGENE who always filled every empty space with your support, I was able to take step after step toward a dream that once felt impossible to reach.
Those times will remain as some of the brightest moments of my life. I will never forget those moments, and I want to continue being someone who supports ENHYPEN more than anyone else.
As I shared the results of the work I’ve been doing with the company, we spent a long time discussing with many people about the best way to present it. After thinking deeply about it for a long time, I made a big decision to follow the direction the company suggested so that I can return to ENGENE with an even better version of myself.
As ENGENE all know, I’ve continued working on my own projects and spent a lot of time hoping that one day I could show them to you. There were so many things I wanted to share, but I also didn’t want to push forward only my own desires within the team.
I’m well aware of your concerns and the many things being said. I’m working hard to prepare so that I can meet you again as soon as possible. My desire to come back and greet you with a better version of myself is completely sincere.
Because ENGENE have always given endless love and support to someone like me who still has so much to improve on, I also feel very sorry knowing how surprised and worried you must be. But I believe those feelings come from the care and interest you have shown me.
I will keep moving forward with the great love you have given me engraved in my heart.
ENGENE!
Thank you, and I love you.”
Clarification
That translation added meaning that is not clearly present in the Korean text. It is likely a mix of interpretation, paraphrasing, and possibly machine-translation drift, rather than a literal rendering of the original letter.
The letter does not mention the company suggesting or directing anything about his personal work. It introduces several elements that do not appear in the original Korean wording, including:
- “I shared the results of my work with the company”
- “according to the direction the company suggested”
- explicit references to the company proposing a direction
None of those phrases appear in the handwritten text.
Specifically, the Korean letter does not contain words like:
- 회사 (company)
- 소속사 (agency/label)
- 회사와 논의했다 (discussed with the company)
회사가 제안한 방향 (direction suggested by the company)
Those would be the normal phrases if the agency’s role were explicitly mentioned.
Reading the Korean text closely, Lee Heeseung frames the decision entirely as his own conclusion after reflection and discussion, not as something initiated by management.
The relevant portion says, in essence:
“After thinking deeply about the direction I want to take as an artist and for my personal growth, I decided I needed to challenge myself in a new way.”
He also writes that the decision came after “many conversations and careful consideration”, but the wording does not specify with whom those conversations took place. In K-pop statements, this phrasing usually implies discussions with management, members, or staff, but it remains intentionally general.
Importantly, the letter does not include language such as:
- “the company suggested”
- “the agency recommended”
- “I was advised by the company”
- “the label proposed solo activities.”
The key line in Korean is:
“많은 대화와 고민 끝에 이런 결정을 내리게 되었습니다.”
Direct translation
“After many conversations and a lot of deliberation, I came to make this decision.”
Important nuance
- 많은 대화 = “many conversations”
- 고민 끝에 = “after much thought/deliberation”
However, the sentence does not specify who those conversations were with.
