Seok Rakwon of K-pop boyband ATBO has left the group due to “health reasons”, following brief hiatus.
On May 6, ATBO’s label IST Entertainment announced in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) and fan community platform Weverse that Rakwon has left the boyband due to “health reasons”. The news comes a little over a month after the K-pop idol went on hiatus in March 2024 over “anxiety symptoms”.
In its statement, the K-pop agency said that it held “in-depth discussions” with Rakwon during his hiatus about the singer’s “future activities with the group and within the entertainment industry”.
“After careful discussion, the decision was made for him to focus more on his recovery with the artist’s health being the top priority,” IST Entertainment added, while noting that ATBO will continue its activities in the K-pop industry as a six-member boyband moving forward.
[NOTICE]
안녕하세요, IST엔터테인먼트입니다.
ATBO 석락원의 탈퇴와 관련하여
팬 여러분께 안내 드립니다.➫ https://t.co/LLAihtq2wF pic.twitter.com/fcPqwZsv9Q
— ATBO (@ATBO_ground) May 6, 2024
ATBO made their debut in July 2022 with the mini-album, ‘The Beginning: 開花’. The boyband were formed through the reality TV competition The Origin – A, B, Or What?, which aired from March to May the same year.
Since their debut ATBO have released three other mini-album, with the latest being their November project ‘Must Have’, featuring the single ‘Must Have Love’.
In other K-pop news, BTS member RM has enlisted an all-star cast and crew for the upcoming music video of his new single, ‘Come Back to Me’, including Beef director Lee Sung-jin and actress Kim Minha of Pachinko fame.
Meanwhile, K-pop boyband Stray Kids seem primed to go on tour this year, according to a recent interview the group did with Tommy Hilfiger at the Met Gala 2024.
