A member leaving an idol group is never just a headcount change. It can upend the group’s lore, shake the core of its sound and performance, and split a fandom’s emotions. Since 2020, as K-pop has gone global and fandom bonds have grown tighter, a single departure has increasingly sent shockwaves through fans in Korea, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and Greater China—all at once. That’s exactly why the news of ENHYPEN’s Heeseung and NCT’s Mark stepping away sparked massive turmoil. Looking back at recent departures, the reasons differ, but what lingers is strikingly similar: shock, confusion, loss, and the looming question—what kind of team will they become now?
◆ ENHYPEN Heeseung
In March, BELIFT LAB announced, "Heeseung is leaving ENHYPEN, and the team will continue as a six-member group." The agency said that after deep discussions over future direction, they respected Heeseung’s clear musical path and decided to prepare for his solo career. Heeseung told fans, "Thanks to the members and ENGENE (ENHYPEN’s fandom), I could take each step toward my dream," promising to return with a new album soon. In short, the official line framed it not as a fallout but as a decision centered on career and musical direction.
Fans, however, reacted very differently. Shock and confusion exploded online, and within a day, petitions drew hundreds of thousands of signatures—eventually surpassing one million. Fans strongly questioned, "Why can’t solo and group activities coexist?" The remaining members quickly shared messages like "Our time with Heeseung was beyond words precious" and "We respect and support Heeseung’s choice and new beginning," while also admitting, "What hurts most is seeing fans worry and struggle." Heeseung’s departure—coming at the height of the group’s rise and not at a contract’s end—was especially shocking for K-pop, as it resulted from internal alignment over direction rather than a scandal.
◆ NCT Mark
On the 3rd, SM Entertainment announced that Mark ended his exclusive contract and would wrap up all activities with NCT, NCT 127, and NCT DREAM. Since debuting with NCT in 2016, Mark had been a cornerstone—covering rap, performance, English-language interviews, and the group’s global narrative. Fans therefore saw his exit not as a routine lineup change, but as a blow to NCT’s very identity. In a letter, Mark said, "I was not without fear, but this was a decision I contemplated for a long time with sincerity," while the agency praised his contributions and wished him well on his new path.
Even so, fan reactions bordered on panic. Amid deep shock across the fandom, overseas outlets said, "A departure after nearly a decade sent shockwaves through the K-pop industry." The remaining members’ responses stood out. Jeno wrote on a fan-communication platform, "It was my first time facing something like this, so I didn’t know what to do, and I’m sorry I couldn’t handle the situation well." He added, "It’s sad, but this is part of our story—let’s be sad for a bit and then make happy memories again." Doyoung likewise expressed a desire to preserve the authenticity of their relationships.
◆ (G)I-DLE Soojin
In August 2021, CUBE Entertainment announced Soojin’s departure from the team amid prolonged school-bullying allegations, with (G)I-DLE reorganizing as a five-member group. As one of the core members shaping the group’s performance and stage presence, Soojin’s case resonated widely in Korea as it intersected with the country’s broader reckoning over school violence. The group was on a strong upswing, so her exit raised existential questions about whether the team could even stay together.
Notably, this case offered a relatively clear window into the remaining members’ feelings. In 2023, they recalled that period on a broadcast as "the hardest time since debut." Minnie said, "I was anxious about whether I could come back to Korea," while Miyeon shared, "Thinking about the gap fans would feel, I tried to work even harder." Soyeon confessed, "I believed we might not recover," adding that she felt intense pressure "to write the best possible songs." In other words, it wasn’t just fans in shock—the members feared for the group’s survival. Although (G)I-DLE made a dramatic resurgence with 'TOMBOY' and 'Nxde', Soojin’s departure remained a painful scar that, paradoxically, amplified their comeback narrative. The fandom split between those calling for Soojin’s return and those supporting the five-member lineup, with debates continuing overseas as well.
◆ NMIXX Jinni
In December 2022, JYP Entertainment stated, "Jinni is leaving the team due to personal circumstances," announcing the end of her exclusive contract. The shock wasn’t just the news itself—it was how sudden it was and how little explanation accompanied it. Jinni had drawn attention for visuals and performance from the very beginning and, with her long trainee backstory, had a strong presence in the fandom. But as the group was just finding its footing, her departure without concrete details left fans reeling from the uncertainty.
The remaining members did not publicly dwell on their feelings as directly or extensively as in other cases. Still, at their first comeback as a six-member team in 2023, leader Haewon asked fans to "continue loving and supporting our current six-member lineup," signaling a focus on reestablishing the group’s identity. Their restraint read as a strategy to stabilize the team, though some argued that the silence itself deepened the void for fans. Jinni’s case now stands as a stark example of how vague reasons can prolong the shock within a fandom.
◆ RIIZE Seunghan
Seunghan’s 2024 departure from RIIZE unfolded in an unusually convoluted way. After pausing activities in 2023 due to private-life controversies, SM Entertainment first announced his return in October 2024—only to reverse course two days later with a final departure notice. SM’s subsidiary, WIZARD PRODUCTION, apologized for the confusion, admitting that "the return decision brought even greater confusion and pain." Seunghan wrote in a handwritten letter that he had agonized over whether he was "making a selfish choice or harming the members and the company," ultimately deciding it was right to step back.
After the announcement, segments of the Korean fandom strongly opposed his exit, while overseas fans rallied behind his return. This was no longer just a "member issue"—it spotlighted which fandom voices ultimately carry more weight in final decisions. Because he had remained inactive for a long time amid controversy, the remaining members’ detailed feelings did not surface much, but Seunghan’s line about not wanting to "hurt the members" suggested significant internal strain. The case starkly revealed how, in the 2020s, the power tug-of-war among artists, companies, and domestic versus international fandoms can leave K-pop painfully vulnerable.
One member’s exit can trigger countless aftershocks. In today’s global K-pop industry, entire multinational fandoms—and their spending habits—can waver overnight, while the remaining members openly endure anxiety, guilt, and loss. Then and now, a member’s departure remains one of the most shocking moments in K-pop.