TXT leader Soobin is going on a hiatus. BigHit Music, the group's parent company, announced the news on November 19, 2024, with a statement posted to fan platform Weverse.
In the announcement, BigHit shared that Soobin will momentarily halt activities with TXT, citing health reasons. "Soobin recently exhibited signs of being unwell and visited the hospital for medical attention. The medical staff have advised that he would need sufficient time to rest and recover," the statement reads.
The company continued saying the decision was discussed among the members, and Soobin was "determined to continue with his activities," but the label ultimately ruled it was wiser to prioritize recovery. "We felt that it would be better for him to focus on improving his health for the time being as recommended by the medical staff," the letter continued.
As part of the hiatus, Soobin will be absent from the group's imminent schedules, such as the MAMA Awards, Japan offline fan events, ACT: PROMISE Encore in JAPAN, and Shanghai fan signing event, as listed by the label, as well as “other end-of-year ceremonies and activities.”
"Soobin plans to take necessary rest and maintain his daily life to return to fans in his healthiest self again. The company will do our very best to support Soobin for him to recover and meet fans in good health," the statement concluded.
Following BigHit's formal announcement, Soobin took to TXT's Weverse to directly address MOAs, the official name for the group's fans, with a hand-penned letter. "I'm sorry to our MOA who must have been very surprised at this sudden news," he wrote, as translated by Soompi.
In his letter, Soobin admits he has not always been in his "best physical condition," but the support from MOA and his fellow members made him "push through." However, it's now time to pull the brakes.
"After giving it deep thought, I thought that in order to be with all of you for a long time, I needed time to reorganize myself," Soobin continued. "MOA's happiness is always my top priority. Although my heart feels heavy because I worry that this news might sadden MOA, who always give me only love and joy, I will recover quickly so that you don't have to wait long, and I will return in good health."
News of Soobin's hiatus comes just weeks after the release of TXT's seventh EP, The Star Chapter: Sanctuary, on November 4, 2024.
