Former "I-LAND" Contestant Hanbin Makes First Public Appearance In Months With Potential New Group

Hanbin, a popular trainee who made a name for himself on the survival show I-LAND, was seen for the first time in public since he made the decision to leave BELIFT LAB and join Yuehua Entertainment.

Hello, this is Hanbin. I believe the announcement made today has caught everyone by surprise. Please know that I gave it plenty of thought before making the decision to pursue my dream elsewhere. I would like to sincerely thank everyone at BELIFT for helping me thus far. And I look forward to your support for my new beginnings at Yuehua! I’ll continue to work hard.

— Hanbin

안녕하세요, 한빈입니다.
오늘 발표된 소식에 많이 놀라셨죠?
꿈을 이루기 위해 어떤 선택이 좋을지 많이 고민해서 내린 결정이었어요.
그동안 함께 해준 빌리프랩 여러분들께 진심으로 감사드리고, 위에화에서 시작하는 새로운 출발에 많은 응원 부탁드려요!
앞으로 더 노력하는 한빈이 되겠습니다.

— HANBIN (@HANBIN_twt_) June 2, 2021

Fans were starting to get worried, as Hanbin hadn’t posted any updates on his personal Twitter account for more than two months following the announcement. However, their concerns quickly turned into joy when a fan posted a series of photos their friend had taken showing Hanbin hanging out with a few other Yuehua Entertainment trainees, including Hyeongseop and Euiwoong.

My friend spotted Hyeongseop on the streets and sent me this picture. This must be the pre-debut 7-member group at Yuehua T-T I think Hyeongseop, Euiwoong, and Hanbin are all in this group T-T Plus, with the announcement today T-T I THINK THEY MIGHT REALLY DEBUT NOW T-T

— @bongbong_mint on Twitter

친구가 길에서 형섭이 봤다고 보내줬는데 위에화 데뷔조 7인조인가봐요ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 형섭 의웅 한빈 다 잇는것같구ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 오늘 공지도 떴던데ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ 진짜 데뷔하나ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ pic.twitter.com/iLjqEVI6kV

— 민트초코 (@bongbong_mint) August 13, 2021

Their excitement stems from the possibility that Hanbin as well as the other six boys might be gearing up for a debut in the near future.

This is because on June 8, Yuehua Entertainment filed an application of patent for the phrase “TEMPEST” and the acronym “TPST”, which fans speculate could be the new group’s name.

Yuehua Entertainment’s Patent Application | Korean Intellectual Property Office/Korea Institute of Patent Information

In addition, the company also announced that Hyeongseop and Euiwoong’s “Yuehua Project” fancafe is officially shutting down on August 17, which adds them to the list of potential “TEMPEST” members.