ENHYPEN’s Heeseung Leaves Group; EVAN Begins Solo Career Amid Intensifying Fandom Debate Over Member Count

Heeseung, the senior member of ENHYPEN, began his solo career as EVAN after leaving the group in March. However, conflicts within the fanbase over his departure have grown more severe. Some fans refuse to accept his decision to pursue a solo path, leading to futile arguments about whether ENHYPEN consists of six or seven members.

The news of Heeseung’s departure dealt a heavy blow to the fan community ENGENE. Some fans have launched campaigns demanding his return. Protests calling for his comeback took place outside HYBE’s headquarters in Seoul and Los Angeles, while group social media posts and member livestream comment sections were filled with collective complaints using the phrase “ENHYPEN is 7.”

EVAN stepped into his solo career by showcasing a new visual at events such as the C-Laset fashion show. Appearing initially with a blond prince image, he captured fans’ attention. He also has plans to perform on the international stage, having been added to the 2026 lineup of KCON LA.

This fanbase conflict eventually affected the members themselves. On April 20, Jay held a livestream on the fan community Weverse to celebrate his 24th birthday. During the broadcast, some fans flooded the comments with claims that ENHYPEN has seven members, which was countered by others saying it has six, turning the live chat into chaos in an instant.

Witnessing the situation, Jay spoke out directly. He pointed out the seriousness of the issue by saying, “It seems some of you really aren’t interested in how things are unfolding right now.” Jay urged fans not to keep arguing over the number of members, especially on members’ birthdays, adding, “I’m fine with it, but I hope others aren’t.”

Jay shared his more honest feelings. He confessed, “Today was happy for my birthday, but at the same time, I’m extremely anxious. I’m scared that in the future, other members might become depressed or hurt because of this situation.” His concern for the members’ mental health shows how the fanbase’s futile debates are turning into real-world stress.

Producer El Captain (Jang Yi-jeong) was also observing the situation. After witnessing the conflict in the comment sections, he disabled social media comments and later released his own statement. He wrote, “Please stop sending messages about Lee Heeseung. Even he can make mistakes sometimes. If you’re a true fan, you should hug him first instead of throwing stones at him.”

This incident exposes a long-standing problem in K-pop fan culture. The K-pop industry encourages fans to become deeply involved not only in artists’ music but also in their personal stories, birthday celebrations, and live interactions. While the strong emotional bonds formed in this process can yield positive results through fans’ enthusiasm and loyalty, it can also lead to negative outcomes as fans attempt to exert excessive control over artists’ lives, decisions, and team compositions.

Jay’s message is clear. The simple statement “ENHYPEN is ENHYPEN” carries the intention that fanbases should respect the artists’ decisions and the group’s direction over their own personal desires.