Heeseung, the main vocalist of ENHYPEN, introduced his new solo stage name “EVAN” on Wednesday, April 8. The 24-year-old shared the news through his agency BELIFT LAB and new social media channels. This will be the start of an exciting new chapter after he left the seven-member group last month.
“EVAN is a versatile vocalist defined by a trendy, sophisticated tone,” the announcement reads.
He made his debut in 2020 as HEESEUNG of ENHYPEN, and has garnered acclaim for his seamless vocals and polished stage presence. Having consistently showcased his creative range through songwriting and production, he is now poised to define a new chapter as a solo artist.
The name EVAN carries special meaning for the singer. It is actually his real English name, Evan Lee, something he clarified with fans in past live streams.
The statement continues, “The name ‘EVAN’ captures an alternate dimension of his identity and represents the essence of his musical artistry.”
Heeseung first rose to fame on the 2020 survival show I-LAND. Particularly, he stood out with powerful performances like a near-perfect score on BTS’s “Fake Love.” He placed fifth in the global vote and debuted with ENHYPEN on November 30, 2020, with the mini-album Border: Day One.
Over six years, ENHYPEN became one of K-pop’s top fourth-generation acts. The group sold out arenas worldwide and earned multiple music awards.
On March 10, 2026, BELIFT LAB dropped a bombshell. After long talks with all seven members about their future goals, the agency announced Heeseung would leave ENHYPEN to chase his solo dreams. He stays signed to BELIFT LAB but will no longer perform as part of the group. ENHYPEN continues as a six-member team—Jungwon, Jay, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, and Ni-ki.
The company called the move the best path for both Heeseung’s artistic vision and the group’s direction.
After the news broke, many ENGENEs felt heartbroken and rushed to social media. Hashtags like #ENHYPENIS7 and #BringBackHeeseung trended for days. A Change.org petition demanding the label reverse the decision quickly passed one million signatures.
Supporters sent protest trucks to HYBE’s Seoul headquarters with banners urging the company to keep him in the group. Some even contacted major shareholders to voice their concerns.
Producer El Capitxn, a known friend and collaborator of Heeseung, also received backlash. He was blamed by some fans for influencing his departure. El responded angrily on social media and told fans to “stop sending me stuff about Lee Heeseung.”
Heeseung responded with a heartfelt Weverse letter and later changed his profile nickname from “Evan” to “ENGENE’S MAN.” In recent fan calls, he hinted at new music coming soon and promised, “I’m going to come back as soon as possible.”
Fans can follow EVAN on his new Instagram and other platforms for updates.