Fans of boy group KNK are reeling after a member’s latest announcement.
KNK | 220 Entertainment /Instagram
KNK made their anticipated debut in 2016 with I Remember, and promoted as a six-member group until 2019, when member Dongwon was added. Further line-up changes saw two members leave the group, and another be added in late 2024.
On March 6, Dongwon announced he would be leaving the group and retiring from music to focus on acting.
Hello, this is Dongwon.
I’m writing this because I wanted to tell Tinkerbells first before the article comes out.
You may be very surprised, but after seven years of activities, I will be wrapping up my promotions as a member of KNK.
After long discussions with the company, we made this decision because our directions have become a bit different.
It’s true that there have been many difficult times since debut.
Even so, the reason I was able to endure until now is because of the members who went through those times together with me, and because of Tinkerbells who have always supported us and waited for us without change.
However, as time passed and I grew older, I inevitably ran into many realistic challenges.
After a very long and difficult period of consideration, I decided to leave the team.
From now on, I plan to continue my activities as an actor in a new place.
I have received far more love from all of you than I deserve, but I feel sorry that I wasn’t able to fully repay that support and love.
I was truly happy to become a member of KNK and to meet Tinkerbells.
I sincerely thank you for warmly welcoming and supporting a sudden and unfamiliar new member who joined seven years ago, from that time until now.
I will never forget the memories we made together and the love I received from you, and I will cherish them for the rest of my life as I start anew elsewhere.
From afar, I will sincerely support the happiness of the members and Tinkerbells.
I would be grateful if you could also watch over my new beginning with warm support.
This has been Lee Dongwon of KNK until now.
Thank you.
— Dongwon
Since he joined KNK, the group has released three albums, the most recent being KNK Airline, which was crowdfunded in 2020. As a result of their continued inactivity and the latest member departure, many fans do not have high hopes about future activities, preferring instead that the company be direct and wishing him the best.
please just put us out of our misery and disband the group im being dead serious https://t.co/OowBF3Yx4a
— evil bounty met kino (@brknparty) March 6, 2026
i feel kinda sad but they also literally have 3 members left https://t.co/p0o8yadlLX
— andy (@bin_neathestars) March 6, 2026
girl just disband atp the group has been dead for years https://t.co/2lEzoJdriT pic.twitter.com/xl25JoHBAZ
— Sofia ☽☾ Dongheon’s Wife(REAL) (@L0VERJUN) March 6, 2026
We wish him and the remaining member of KNK the best in their future activities!