FT Island to continue as a 2.5 member group

[RussianRoulette]

It was announced yesterday that FT Island will be continuing as a 2.5 member group (this 2.5 is a term I am using, the source article didn’t use this term).

If you are wondering what 2.5 members means:

Due all of his controversies, Minhwan will no longer be promoting in South Korea due to the fact that he is making people uncomfortable. He will only participating in oversea activities for now. The group’s leader has made it very clear though that Minhwan sitting out of a activities in Korea is just due to a “difference in opinion” between the general public and the group members and they fully intend on bringing him back into full group activities one day. They claim his drumming skills are irreplaceable in the group and they cannot get another drummer.



Here is a statement from the group’s leader Hongki:
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There are many people in Korea who are uncomfortable, and I think that each person has their own differences of opinion, but I think we should respect that. I will make them reflect more. That way, we will eventually return as a trio in Korea.

I think I know what you’re going to say, but we’re also prepared. The most important thing is that FT needs a drummer. If that guy really did something wrong, he would have chosen a different path without thinking about it, but otherwise, everyone has different perspectives, so we decided that we need a drummer. That's why we will firmly protect FTISLAND as a duo.

FTISLAND needs a good drummer. I feel very sorry for worrying you so much. We had a really big crisis at the end of last year, but I think we were able to overcome it thanks to you. I won't tell you any more about this. The next decision is up to you. I'm so sorry, but I still want you to play with me. I will really work hard​

It seems the group’s leader Hongki has really been pushing hard to defend Minhwan. I know I shared a previous post he made defending him, but here is another post he made defending Minhwan that the article source shared:
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It was their private life and it turned out like this. They should admit their mistakes and bow their heads in apology. But we all shouldn’t believe everything so easily. I have to protect myself and persevere. That’s what we are. All I can do is get hit by rocks and move forward.​

Article Source​

 

[mimenet]

They're already a guitar driven rock band without a guitarist, why exactly do they need a drummer? I can understand not wanting to replace him, but that doesn't mean they actually need him lmao, though I suppose losing him will sort of force them to stop fronting as a "band" if there is exactly one instrument played live and it's a bass.

I think there are very few fans who would be genuinely upset by the band becoming a duo. They have long been Hongki and friends anyway.

Infinitely disappointed in Hongki. The least he could do is keep his mouth shut. Still pretty amused by the fact that Jaejin has made 0 comments on this the whole time and nobody seems to notice or care lol

 

[RussianRoulette]

They're already a guitar driven rock band without a guitarist, why exactly do they need a drummer? I can understand not wanting to replace him, but that doesn't mean they actually need him lmao, though I suppose losing him will sort of force them to stop fronting as a "band" if there is exactly one instrument played live and it's a bass.

I think there are very few fans who would be genuinely upset by the band becoming a duo. They have long been Hongki and friends anyway.

Infinitely disappointed in Hongki. The least he could do is keep his mouth shut. Still pretty amused by the fact that Jaejin has made 0 comments on this the whole time and nobody seems to notice or care lol

Hongki seems to be going above and beyond trying to defend Minhwan to the point where I’m side-eyeing him and his morals now tbh. This isn’t even the first time I’ve seen him speak out defending him.

Regarding very few fans being upset, of what I’ve seen I think they might be trying to focus on Japanese promotions from now on? Apparently the Japanese fans don’t seem to care about Minhwan’s scandals and him cheating so this is why they will promote as 3 outside of Korea and as 2 people in Korea. (People were confused about them assuming fans outside of Korea were not mad at Minhwan as well, but apparently by “outside of Korea” they mean in Japan.)