Choi Min-hwan Halts Activities; FTISLAND to Continue as a Duo

FTISLAND member Choi Min-hwan will temporarily suspend his activities, leaving the band to continue with two members.

On October 29, FNC Entertainment issued an official statement: "After careful discussion regarding FTISLAND's future activities, we have decided to proceed temporarily as a two-member group, with Lee Hong-gi and Lee Jae-jin."

Choi Min-hwan's drum position will be filled by a session musician. The agency assured, "Starting from the November 2 schedule, Lee Hong-gi and Lee Jae-jin will deliver the performances they've prepared without issue."

The reason for Choi Min-hwan's hiatus stems from recent controversies surrounding his personal life. On October 24, his ex-wife Yulhee uploaded a video on YouTube revealing damaging details about their relationship. The footage included audio recordings from July to August 2022, in which Choi Min-hwan interacted with individuals from an entertainment establishment.

The recordings hinted at possible solicitation of prostitution. In the audio, Choi Min-hwan made requests such as, "Ask if I can pick a girl," "Do you know a good hotel? A motel is fine too," and "Prepare two toothbrushes."

The backlash was severe, especially since Choi Min-hwan had appeared on the family reality show The Return of Superman with his children. In response, FNC Entertainment stated, "We feel deeply responsible for causing disappointment to the public" and confirmed his withdrawal from activities.

Choi Min-hwan was notably absent from FTISLAND's Taiwan performance on October 26, where he played drums backstage instead of appearing on stage. He will no longer participate in future performances, and his long-term involvement with the band remains uncertain.

Choi Min-hwan and Yulhee married in 2018 and had three children—a son and twin daughters. The couple divorced in December 2022 after five years of marriage, with Choi Min-hwan retaining custody of the children.

[Full Statement from FNC Entertainment]

Hello,

This is FNC Entertainment.

We would like to provide an update regarding FTISLAND's future activities.

After thorough discussions, we have decided to proceed temporarily as a two-member group, consisting of Lee Hong-gi and Lee Jae-jin.

Starting from the November 2 schedule, the drum position will be filled by a session musician. Lee Hong-gi and Lee Jae-jin have worked hard in preparation and will deliver their performances as planned.

Below is the updated schedule for FTISLAND's upcoming events as a duo:

November 2 (Saturday): Grand Mint Festival 2024

November 8 (Friday): Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Music Festival <Theater>

November 10 (Sunday): 2024 FTISLAND LIVE 'PULSE' in Macau

November 17 (Sunday): LIVE ON Busan

November 24 (Sunday): LOVE IN SEOUL 2024

We sincerely apologize to the organizers, fans, and audiences for any confusion this situation may have caused.

We will provide further updates as soon as new information is confirmed.

Thank you.