Lee Jong Hyun, former CNBLUE vocalist, briefly resurfaced online on August 10. After an eight‑year silence, he reactivated his personal account and posted a short update about his daily routine. In the same note he wrote that he wanted to live as Lee Jong Hyun, the person, and to communicate with more people, while also mentioning that he had been learning about marketing in the beauty industry.
He explained that the account had been hacked, prompting a change to his username and profile description. The post featured photos of him working in an office and testing cosmetics, hinting at a new interest in the beauty sector. There were a few years when I turned my back on the world. After that, I learned how to work so I could keep living.— Lee Jong Hyun
On August 11, Lee followed up with a longer statement, beginning with, “I want to share something I’ve kept in my heart for a long time.” He addressed rumours that he had fallen out with his former bandmates, insisting, “Some fans may have thought that I was shunned by the members, but that is absolutely not true.” He added that leaving CNBLUE was “entirely my own fault and my own choice.” The original draft also alluded to his personal life, noting that he had started a family and was in the process of ending the relationship so each could go separate ways; this detail was later removed from the revised version.
He also responded to speculation that his recent beauty‑industry posts were a promotional push, stating, “This is absolutely not a post written to make a comeback to the entertainment industry.” He clarified that many brands mentioned on social media have no direct link to him. Shortly after publishing the lengthy note, the post was deleted and a revised version removed personal details, replacing them with a more general reference to “various hardships in my personal life after leaving the entertainment industry.”
Concluding the revised statement, Lee wrote, “With this post, I do not intend to engage in any further social media activities or additional communication.” He affirmed his intention to “return completely to the ordinary life of a non‑celebrity, reflect on my past, and live an upright life that I will not be ashamed of in this society.”
Frequently asked questions
When did Lee Jong Hyun reactivate his social media account?
Lee Jong Hyun reactivated his personal account on August 10, after an eight‑year silence, posting a short update about his daily routine.
Why did Lee Jong Hyun say he is leaving the public eye?
He announced on August 11 that he wants to return to an ordinary, non‑celebrity life, reflect on his past, and live without shame, stating he will not engage in further social media activities.
Did Lee Jong Hyun confirm any conflict with his former CNBLUE bandmates?
He denied rumors of being shunned, saying the departure from CNBLUE was entirely his own choice and not due to any dispute with the members.
What did Lee Jong Hyun say about his involvement in the beauty industry?
He mentioned learning marketing in the beauty sector and shared photos of working in an office and testing cosmetics, emphasizing the posts were not a promotional comeback to entertainment.
