SF9's leader Young Bin addresses Ro Woon's exit from the group

Artist Rowoon from the group SF9 announced his group activities on the 18th and uploaded a handwritten letter, stating that he will be active in the entertainment industry under his real name, Kim Seok-woo. In response, his management company FNC also released an official position on their official cafe, stating that the group will continue activities as eight members, sparking discussions among netizens.

SF9, who made their debut in 2016, only have 8 members re-signed their contracts, whereas Ro Woon has decided to focus more on his acting career and thus chosen not to renew his contract. Regarding this, Ro Woon also posted a handwritten letter revealing his deep concerns. He expressed that there have been many misunderstandings over the past seven years that he cannot explain, yet he still decided to try different new challenges. He also thanked his fans for supporting him throughout the past seven years.

However, upon the revelation of Rowoon's handwritten letter, it swiftly ignited criticism from fans who expressed their disappointment. They were dismayed that he did not acknowledge the fans in his letter despite not renewing his contract. Some went as far as to say, "If he doesn't intend to pursue group activities in the future, why does he present himself as a victim?" Nevertheless, certain netizens adopted a more empathetic perspective, stating, "It's preferable to address these matters promptly" and "It appears like this is a better course of action for all parties involved."

Due to the news of Rowoon not renewing his contract has sparked a lot of discussions, and also caused some fans to be quite upset. In response to this, the team leader, Young Bin, who is currently in military service, personally came forward to explain and soothe the fans' emotions, which once again caused a flurry of discussion among netizens.

In the text, Youngbin began by offering solace to the dismayed fans, expressing, "I'm at a loss for words when it comes to addressing FANTASY. I'm even more concerned about the potential pain everyone might be experiencing." Subsequently, Youngbin extended his apologies and affirmed, "Apart from reciprocating FANTASY's unwavering support for SF9 with improved performances, I have nothing else to offer but my heartfelt apologies."

Youngbin revealed that during his last vacation, he had many conversations with Rowoon. Their conversations were filled with a lot of things that happened over the past 7 years and feelings they felt at present, making their emotions quite complex and subtle. However, Youngbin still expressed his best wishes, saying "I will continue to support Ro Woon's future as always", and hoped that fans could continue to support and love SF9. At the end of the post, he comforted fans by saying "For the FANTASY who are hurt in their hearts, I hope tonight is not a long and arduous night anymore."

Upon the exposure of Youngbin's remarks, it promptly ignited a flurry of discussions among netizens. Some commented, "He truly embodies the qualities of a leader, understanding how to console the hearts of his pained fans, but one can only imagine how much he must be going through himself," "The captain certainly lives up to his role; he's incredibly handsome," "Even non-fans recognize that the captain made a wise decision," "The captain is truly exceptional," "Even while fulfilling his military service, he has to step out and handle matters; it must be quite challenging."