Hyunseung leaves BEAST for solo career

It hasn’t been long since the news that Minzy was leaving 2NE1, but now another popular K-pop group has lost one of its members. According to a statement released by record label Cube Entertainment on Tuesday (19 April), 27-year-old Hyunseung of boyband BEAST is withdrawing from the group to pursue a solo career.

Photo of Hyunseung from Dreamers Radio

With his departure from the band, BEAST will be restructured as a five-member group with the remaining members (Dujun, Kikwang, Yoseop, Junhyung, Dongwoon).

Despite disappointment among their fans (called B2utys), this news did not really come as a shock.

Long-time fan Jamie said, “Among the fans, we already expected this to happen sooner or later. But we just hoped that our favourite group could continue as six members. In our hearts, he will always be a member of BEAST.”

Ying, a fan that attended their last appearance as a six-membered group in Taiwan added, “I don’t know how to feel. I guess it’s good for him now. It was painful to watch the lack of interaction between him and the other members on stage.”

Since last year, the BEAST fandom was rife with rumours about Hyunseung’s impending departure following his absence from several of the group’s activities as well as allegedly showing poor attitude and restlessness with the group while appearing on TV shows.

However, right up till the end of March, Cube Entertainment kept denying that he was withdrawing, further stating that Hyunseung would be attending the group’s fan meeting in Taiwan on 4 April.

BEAST last visited Singapore on 24 September for a fan meeting. Their last album, titled “Ordinary”, was released in 2015, there are no updates yet about when they will be releasing new music.

Photo of BEAST from member Junhyung’s Instagram