Lee Jong Hyun (이종현) has announced that he will be leaving CNBLUE.
The sudden news came out after reports about him sending sexually suggestive text message to AfreecanTV broadcast jockey Park Min Jung (박민정) was spread online.
CNBLUE’s agency, FNC Entertainment has come out with the official statement to confirm the news. The text are read as followed (via Koreaboo):
“This is FNC Entertainment. Lee Jonghyun has decided to leave his group after discussing it with us and his members. We are relaying Lee Jonghyun’s message to everyone.”
The entertainment company also released a statement by Jong Hyun to address the whole issue. The statement reads (via Soompi):
“Hello. This is Lee Jong Hyun.
I once again apologize to the people I’ve hurt through my inappropriate words and actions and to all the people that I’ve greatly disappointed.
Also although it’s late, I am informing you that I’m withdrawing from CNBLUE. I feel sorry that I have caused harm for the members, and I have told the members as well that I am withdrawing. I am ashamed to have disappointed the fans who believed in me.
Since all of us including me are currently doing our military service, it took a while to convey opinions and announce this. I feel sorry and grateful to our company who waited.
I feel great regret over my wrongdoing and I am willing to accept criticism from many people. I’m sorry for evoking criticism over a shameful matter.”
On Wednesday (August 28th 2019), Park Min Jung posted a screenshot of a conversation between her and a man, who was later revealed to be the CNBLUE member. During the chat, she expressed her disbelief whether that man was really the singer.
The 29-year-old then responded by saying ,“I enjoyed watching your videos on YouTube, please post more. Your belly fat is really cute”. As a result, he has received tons of backlash by Korean netizens for his actions. After the conversation went viral, he reportedly deactivated his Instagram account.
Prior to this controversy, he was involved in another scandal with fellow singer Jung Joon Young. Reports say that he had received sexual videos of women in a direct chatroom with the “Superstar K” alum.
Jong Hyun is currently serving in the army, and is expected to be discharged in March 2020.
