Yuehua Entertainment, the agency representing the boy group TEMPEST, announced on March 6 KST that Hwarang will be suspending his activities for the time being. The decision comes in the wake of personal life issues concerning Hwarang that recently surfaced on social media platforms.

In an official statement released through TEMPEST's official channel, Yuehua Entertainment expressed that despite extensive discussions, Hwarang was unable to regain trust, making it challenging to continue group activities under the circumstances. Consequently, the agency made the difficult decision to temporarily halt Hwarang's involvement in the group's activities, with a six-member lineup moving forward, excluding Hwarang.

The agency also noted that there might be limited Hwarang appearances for pre-filming and production cases, and apologized to fans for any distress caused by the sudden news.

As a result of the suspension, Hwarang will step down from his role as an MC on MBC M's 'Show Champion', a position he assumed on February 21 KST.

The decision comes after allegations arose during a recent video call fan signing event, where a fan claimed to have seen Hwarang at a club. In response, the agency addressed the issue on TEMPEST's official account, emphasizing that the circulating content did not reflect the truth. Hwarang expressed deep reflection on the matter and vowed not to repeat such behavior in the future.

Born in 2001, Hwarang's temporary hiatus sparked mixed reactions among fans, with some questioning the necessity of an apology for an adult's presence at a club.

Meanwhile, TEMPEST, which debuted in March 2022, is set to make a comeback with their 5th mini album 'TEMPEST Voyage' on March 11 KST.