XLOV’s Hyun Misses Comeback Showcase After Leg Injury, Sends Message to Fans

Rui, Wumuti and Haru attended the Seoul event for i=!, while Hyun said he was focusing on treatment so he could return to the stage.

XLOV’s Hyun had hoped to introduce the group’s new album beside his bandmates, but a leg injury sustained during practice kept him away from their October 28 comeback showcase. Instead, the singer sent a message expressing his disappointment and determination to recover, which host Yoo Jae-pil read aloud as Rui, Wumuti and Haru presented the group’s third mini-album, i=!, in Seoul.

The event took place at Cube Convention Center in Mapo ahead of the album’s scheduled release at 6 p.m. KST. Although Hyun could not join the three members onstage, his message and songwriting contribution to the record remained part of the introduction to a project exploring life’s choices and the possibilities that exist beyond them.

Hyun Shares His Disappointment Through a Written Message

Hyun began his message with a reflection on the changing seasons, describing the arrival of cool autumn weather after a summer filled with beautiful flowers. He then turned to the album, saying the group was introducing a release filled with work they could stand behind without regret.

The greeting became more personal as he addressed his absence, explaining how much he regretted being unable to stand beside the members because of the unexpected injury. He said he was receiving focused treatment so he could return to the stage in good health as soon as possible, while asking listeners to look forward to XLOV’s new music.

His words gave fans an update directly from him without establishing a date for his return. The supplied showcase report does not identify a specific diagnosis or describe how long his treatment is expected to take.

Future Activities Will Depend on His Recovery

StrangeLab had announced Hyun’s absence the previous day, explaining that medical professionals had advised sufficient rest and recovery after he injured his leg during practice. The agency confirmed that the showcase would proceed with Wumuti, Rui and Haru, allowing the album presentation to continue while Hyun rested.

His participation in later activities, including music broadcasts and fan-signing events, will be decided according to his recovery, the agency said. Further details are expected through a separate announcement, meaning his absence from this showcase should not be read as confirmation that he will miss every part of the comeback schedule.

Hyun’s Writing Features on ‘Silence’

While the injury prevented Hyun from attending the launch event, he contributed to the album as the principal lyricist for “Silence.” The credit gives him a creative role within i=!, whose broader production was led by XLOV’s leader and producer Wumuti, including involvement in its structure, lyrics and composition.

The album considers the choices people encounter throughout life, including moments shaped by forces beyond their control. Across the project, that theme opens into questions about consequences and alternative possibilities, continuing the narrative approach XLOV has developed through its releases.

For listeners following Hyun’s work, “Silence” offers a way to hear his contribution to the comeback even as his immediate stage participation remains uncertain. His message at the showcase therefore accompanied a project in which he was involved beyond performance alone.

Two Title Tracks Introduce Contrasting Musical Worlds

The album’s two title tracks approach its ideas through different sounds and imagery, beginning with “Hush,” which contrasts a deity guiding people toward the right path with an opposing presence that intensifies nightmares. The song uses restrained tension and bold sound design to explore those competing forces and the duality of life.

“Tooth Gem Chihuahua” takes a more dreamlike approach, combining hyperpop and house rhythms with an atmospheric soundscape. Its premise follows a wolf raised by a family of chihuahuas who believes it can become a beautiful chihuahua itself, bringing identity and imagined transformation into the album’s larger story.

XLOV’s third mini-album i=!, pronounced “I Equals I,” is scheduled for release on October 28 at 6 p.m. KST.

Editor’s Note: XLOV is a four-member group consisting of Wumuti, Rui, Hyun and Haru, which debuted on January 7, 2025, with I’mma Be, according to its official Japanese profile. The three-member lineup at the October 28 showcase reflects Hyun’s injury-related absence; the reports reviewed do not announce a change to the group’s membership.