ENHYPEN Reforms to Six-Member Lineup Following Heeseung’s Departure; “Seven-Member Curse” Deepens

ENHYPEN will restructure as a six-member group after member Heeseung leaves. Their agency, Belift Lab, announced on March 10 that Heeseung is departing the group, and ENHYPEN will continue its activities with six members. This decision caused a significant shock among fans, as ENHYPEN had enjoyed high popularity both in Korea and overseas.

Protests from fans erupted immediately upon the announcement of Heeseung’s departure. Some fans held demonstrations near HYBE’s headquarters and the members’ dormitories, demanding that the decision be reversed. Hashtag campaigns on social media were organized to urge Heeseung’s return. The departure of a key member at a time when ENHYPEN was entering its seventh year has also drawn concerns from industry insiders.

It is no longer uncommon in the K-POP scene for seven-member groups to shrink to six members. Repeated instances of member departures have even given rise to terms such as the “seven-member curse” or “the unfortunate history of seven-member groups.” NMIXX, Weeekly, and ONF all debuted with seven members before each losing one. Looking further back, Apink, 2PM, BTOB, Infinite, and MONSTA X are also groups that restructured from seven to six members. With Seo Young-eun recently leaving Kep1er, the trend of member departures in seven-member groups continues.

Why has the seven-member format become the standard for K-POP idol groups? The number seven allows for balance and symmetry on stage. It enables performances that are visually impactful without appearing overly complex. It is also the optimal size for distributing various roles such as vocals, rapping, dancing, and visual appeal. This structure allows individual personalities to shine while fostering team chemistry and building a shared narrative.

However, these advantages can be undermined by just one member’s departure. Dance formations, musical role assignments, and stage positions are all meticulously planned from the start. The absence of one member forces the entire group to be restructured from scratch. If that member is a key figure, the burden becomes even greater.