THE BOYZ is moving forward with their comeback as a 9-member group, minus Ju Haknyeon.
According to insiders, THE BOYZ are in the final stages of preparing for their new album, with a July comeback now officially confirmed. This marks their first release since Ju Haknyeon’s removal from group activities.
In March, the group’s eldest member Sangyeon enlisted in the military, and with Ju Haknyeon out, THE BOYZ will now promote with nine members. While the comeback had already been planned prior to the controversy, some speculated that the timeline might be delayed—but the group has decided to push forward as scheduled.
Last month, their agency IST Entertainment officially announced Ju Haknyeon’s exit, citing “personal issues.” It was later reported that he had met privately with Japanese pornstar Kirara Asuka in May. Although Ju Haknyeon acknowledged the meeting, he strongly denied any involvement in prostitution, leading to an ongoing public dispute. He has also publicly stated, “I never agreed to leave the team or terminate my exclusive contract,” challenging the agency’s announcement.
The situation sparked a wave of online reactions from fans and netizens alike: “That was fast,” “Even without him, they still have nine members,” “They’re really going through with this?” “Coming back now might be the smartest play, before the buzz fades,” “I thought they’d wait until things quieted down,” “They’re not exactly top-tier, so might as well just push ahead,” and “The schedule was set already—delaying for one member doesn’t make sense.”
Following their July comeback, THE BOYZ will launch a new world tour in August, beginning in Seoul on August 8th. The tour includes stops in Yokohama, Tokyo, Macau, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, and Bangkok, among others.
>> Ju Haknyeon Removed From THE BOYZ After Secretly Meeting Japanese Pornstars
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