Former F.T. Island member Seunghyun has announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.

On February 15, Seunghyun announced his plans to retire from the industry and move abroad in a post on Instagram. The idol-turned-actor explained he now wishes to live a normal life as a non-celebrity and thanked fans for waiting for him, wishing them health and a happy life.

Seunghyun debuted as a guitarist in F.T. Island in 2009 and later debuted as an actor after leaving the band in 2019. After he was discharged from his mandatory military service in 2021, he went on to appear in the web drama 'Oh! My Assistant', the musicals 'Jack the Ripper' and 'D'Artagnan', and the play 'Lost Village'.

Read Seunghyun's full message to fans below:

"Hello, everyone. This is Seunghyun.

I would like to express my sincere apologies to the fans who have patiently awaited my return, as I am not very active on social media, and it has been a while since I left the company.

I deeply regret the lack of effective communication and the extended period of silence. I am truly sorry and grateful to those fans who have waited for me.

After much contemplation, I have decided to leave the entertainment industry and possibly leave Korea to start a new chapter in my life. It has been four years since I departed from the team FTISLAND to pursue a career as an actor. The challenges were not only in adapting to new endeavors but also in facing the uncertainties of unpredictable waiting periods and complex interpersonal relationships.

While there are no easy tasks or simple relationships in any field, I aim to embrace a healthy and disciplined new life that I can tackle day by day.

I wanted to convey my gratitude to the fans who have been patient and supportive, and I sincerely hope that both you and I can lead healthy and happy lives without physical or emotional distress.

Thank you."