Fans Upset After 4th Gen Idol’s Months-Long, Continued Hiatus Announced Through Photocards
Normally, when an idol needs to take an extended hiatus, their company will issue a statement and give continued updates on their status if health-related. These updates usually keep fans from unnecessarily worrying over their status with the group.
Recently, a fourth-generation idol’s continued hiatus was announced to be continued through details of his group’s upcoming album.
In May 2023, it was announced that xikers‘s Junghoon would be going on a temporary hiatus due to a knee injury and would miss the upcoming promotions. A further update on his condition in January 2024 revealed that he was recovering and taking it easy to not re-injure himself.
Fans have been grateful to KQ Entertainment for focusing on his health instead of rushing his recovery. However, some have expressed anger and frustration over xikers’s upcoming promotions cycle.
Xikers are currently scheduled to make a comeback on September 6 with WATCH OUT.
[📷] xikers – 4TH MINI ALBUM 'HOUSE OF TRICKY : WATCH OUT' COMEBACK POSTER
RELEASE 2024. 09. 06. 1PM(KST)#xikers #싸이커스 #4THMINIALBUM #HOUSE_OF_TRICKY #WATCH_OUT #KQ pic.twitter.com/MkvEIHYzoG
— xikers(싸이커스) (@xikers_official) August 11, 2024
With no announcement made in advance, some hoped that Junghoon would be involved in this comeback in some manner. However, following the release of the album’s details, a fan spotted something that that dashed some of these hopes.
In a video shared on TikTok, a fan pointed out that the number of photocards as options only amounted to 9 members being a part of the comeback.
@jjongiesannie I WILL NOT SHUT UP ABOUT THIS EVER #kpop #kpopfyp #xikers #xikers_official #greenscreen
The album’s details show that there are 18 possible options, which would point to one member not being involved.
Junghoon’s non-involvement was later confirmed with the sharing of the first teaser images.
[📷] xikers – 'TRICKY' CONCEPT POSTER
RELEASE 2024. 09. 06. 1PM(KST)#xikers #싸이커스 #4THMINIALBUM #HOUSE_OF_TRICKY #WATCH_OUT #KQ pic.twitter.com/EK5Nbh4MG4
— xikers(싸이커스) (@xikers_official) August 13, 2024
While fans understand and want Junghoon’s health to come first, many wish that KQ would share official updates even if they are just to say he is asking for privacy.
Some have wondered why he has not been involved in any manner at all in recent comebacks, as other injured idols, like NCT‘s Taeil, have been able to join comebacks in a way that does not harm their recovery.
Hopefully, fans will be able to get an update soon.
