Jang Hyun-seung Discusses His Exit from Beast: Ongoing Misunderstandings Remain Unresolved

Jang Hyun-seung previously discussed his exit from Beast, which is now known as HIGHLIGHT, through the paid messaging platform Fromm. He shared, “At that point, it was already decided that I would part ways with the group, and I was instructed not to attend the fan meeting because an official announcement regarding my departure was set to be released shortly. Consequently, I chose to go out instead. I wish to clarify that my absence was not unauthorized.”

He further elaborated, “The agency requested that I skip the fan meeting and create an apology video for my Japanese fans, explaining that I couldn’t attend for various reasons. I complied. However, I later felt it would have been better if I had just stayed home instead of going out, although at that time I wasn’t in the frame of mind to remain indoors.”

Recently, Jang Hyun-seung, a former member of B2ST, appeared on Daesung’s (of BIGBANG fame) solo program, ZIP (Home) Daesung. During the episode, Daesung referenced the earlier tensions between Jang Hyun-seung and his former bandmates, currently active as HIGHLIGHT: “It appears that while the others are moving forward as HIGHLIGHT, reports suggest that Beast may be reformed with Jang Hyun-seung and a couple of others.”

Hyun-seung was quick to clarify, “I was not aware of any such plans. It’s correct that I was still under the agency’s umbrella, but I had no information about it. I only read about it in the news after waking up.”

In response, Daesung asked, “Is it fair to say the other members probably learned about it through media as well?” The former Beast member acknowledged, “I believe that’s the case. The members might think I was involved in that decision, but it’s merely a misunderstanding.”

Jang Hyun-seung made his debut with Beast back in 2009 but departed the group in 2016. Following his exit, Beast restructured into a five-member formation before rebranding to Highlight. Soon after, Yong Jun-hyung also exited the group due to involvement in the Jung Joon-young scandal, and Highlight is presently a four-member ensemble.

Throughout his tenure with Beast, Jang Hyun-seung encountered continuous criticism for perceived lack of cooperation and rumors of discord with fellow members. The pivotal incident that ignited controversy was his absence from a fan meeting, which he did not notify anyone about beforehand. He had cited personal reasons, but it later emerged that he spent time with an acquaintance at a café in Seoul on the same day as the fan event, igniting further backlash. Jang later apologized, recognizing that there were no valid justifications for his actions, and subsequently left the band.

Since parting ways with Beast, Jang Hyun-seung has been actively pursuing a solo career.

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