D-CRUNCH fans have been dealt a double blow this week with news that rapper Minhyuk is departing the group, and youngest member Dylan will be temporarily suspending his activities to focus on treatment for anxiety.
In two separate statements released back-to-back on the evening of November 9th KST, company AI Grand Korea relayed the unfortunate and unexpected news.
The first statement regarding Dylan reads:
Hello, this is AI GRAND KOREA.
AI Grand Korea
We have sad news to deliver to the fans who support our artist, D-CRUNCH.
Since last month, D-CRUNCH member Dylan has been visiting the hospital due to frequent deterioration of health and psychological anxiety.
Recently, however, after careful discussions, Dylan decided to temporarily suspend his activities, take a break, and focus on treatment as he judged that he needed sufficient rest and stability due to worsening anxiety symptoms.
We made the above decision with our artist’s health and recovery as the top priority, we ask for fans’ generous understanding and later on we will inform you again of the schedule and recovery situation [regarding Dylan].
We will do our best to help Dylan recover his health quickly, and please give a lot of support to Dylan who is focusing on recovering, and D-CRUNCH.
Our agency promises to continue to do our best for the health and safety of our artists and staff.
We’d like to apologize for the sudden news and causing concern to the fans who always support D-CRUNCH, we will do our utmost to help Dylan regain his health.
Thank you.
Another statement followed a few minutes later, this time regarding D-CRUNCH rapper Minhyuk, stating:
First of all, we would like to apologize to DIANA [D-CRUNCH’s fandom] at home and abroad who cherish and love D-CRUNCH, we have sad news to deliver.
AI Grand Korea
We had a lot of conversations and consultations about future activities and directions with D-CRUNCH member Minhyuk (real name: Kim Minhyuk), an artist under AIG KOREA.
After sufficient discussions with Minhyuk that it would be difficult to continue his activities with D-CRUNCH in the future, we failed to reach an agreement and the decision was made that Minhyuk will withdraw from the group D-CRUNCH.
To the domestic and international fans who always help and support D-CRUNCH, I’m sorry to tell you this news.
Please give a lot of encouragement and support to Minhyuk who is taking a new path from now on.
2021 is coming to an end, there were many difficulties with out activities due to COVID-19.
A lot of unfortunate things and hardships happened during the year, but there were so many things to be grateful to DIANA for, who were always by [D-CRUNCH]’s side.
We will continue to do our best to show D-CRUNCH’s further development and effort in the future.
Sadly, D-CRUNCH and their fans have already experienced the loss of a beloved member back in 2020 when vocalist Hyunwoo exited the group due to a herniated disc.
2021 saw the release of the group’s fourth mini-album, DAYDREAM, in April this year, which was followed by online fan meetings and virtual schedules but wrapped up early due to O.V and Hyunwook testing positive for COVID-19. In July, they performed a virtual concert for the “Korean Cultural Centre In The United Arab Emirates” to celebrate the country’s 50th year of federation.
New Zealand-born maknae Dylan had a busy year with his own individual schedules, making his acting debut earlier this year in web drama “Time To Be Together 1:11.” The drama also starred fellow D-CRUNCH member Hyunho as well as APRIL‘s Chaekyung and MOMOLAND‘s Nayun.
Minhyuk is known for his deep voice and chic visuals but his personality couldn’t be further from that image. The charismatic rapper is full of positive energy and is always expressing genuine gratitude towards fans as often as he can.
He originally planned to join another company instead but when he saw the then-trainee group dancing, he knew he wanted to be part of it and make the members his family. In addition to his passion for music, rapping, and singing, Minhyuk majored in theatre and film and has great ambitions with acting.
In light of the heartbreaking news, sub-unit STOPES (consisting of members Hyunwook and Jungseung) released their newest mixtape Tell Me: What You Want on November 12th KST as a way comfort to fans, marking the anniversary of the reveal of their fandom name “DIANA.”
The group commemorated the event with a special V-Live broadcast, the first since the announcements regarding Minhyuk and Dylan were released and their first with only six members.
We are very sad that Minhyuk is departing D-CRUNCH and we wish him all the very best for the future pursuit of his dreams. We also send Dylan our support for a swift and complete recovery that sees him return to the group soon!
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Justin is a K-pop fan from Australia who is passionate about shining a light on underrated and lesser known groups and artists. A lover of all types of music, devoted television drama and soap opera fan, and part-time video game nerd.
MEDIA: AI Grand Korea