NewJeans' Hyein temporarily halts activities due to foot injury
NewJeans' Hyein will take a hiatus due to a foot injury.
According to a report by Korean entertainment media outlet Soompi, ADOR, the girl group's agency, said that Hyein would take a temporary break from activities due to a microfracture in her foot that she sustained during practice.
"Pain in the top of her foot during practice prompted her to [go to] the hospital, where she underwent a thorough examination and discovered a microfracture in her foot," the agency wrote in a statement, adding that medical staff advised the K-pop idol to limit her movement, leading her to put her activities on hold.
"Accordingly, Hyein will pause her activities and focus on recovery and recuperation. We will do our very best to support Hyein so she can resume her activities in good health," it added.
Hyein is a former member of the kid's girl group USSO. GIRL. She is known as the Maknae, or the youngest member.
Meanwhile, the NewJeans is returning to the K-pop scene on May 24 with a double single consisting of four tracks such as How Sweet and Bubble Gum as well as instrumental versions of both songs.
The latter will be released first as a background song for a Japanese shampoo commercial in April.
NewJeans will drop their Japanese single album Supernatural the following month, marking their official debut in Japan. It will feature the title track, Right Now, alongside two other instrumental songs. The former will be pre-released as a commercial song in Japan and South Korea in May.
Soompi also reported that the band is preparing a new album slated for release in the latter part of 2024. They're also planning their first global tour for 2025.
NewJeans is known for its girl-next-door image and 1990s- and 2000s-indebted pop and R&B songs, popularizing K-pop songs like ETA, OMG, and Cool With You, among others.
They visited the country in December for the 2023 Asia Artists Awards (AAA), which took place at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.