Gunil Pens Tell-All Letter To Fans, Revealing Reason For Departure From Xdinary Heroes

Drummer and leader Gunil has departed Xdinary Heroes and terminated his exclusive contract with JYP Entertainment following online fan insult allegations. The five remaining members will continue activities starting at the Summer Sonic 2026 festival in Japan, while Gunil has released a letter addressing the controversy.

The sudden dismantling of Xdinary Heroes’ original six-member lineup marks a turning point for the JYP Entertainment band. Just years after debuting in December 2021 with tracks such as Happy Death Day, the group finds itself reorganizing as a quintet. The immediate catalyst was an online controversy involving leaked remarks attributed to the group’s drummer and leader, an exit that was swiftly finalized through mutual agreement between the artist and the agency.

JYP Entertainment Terminates Contract and Details the Quintet Transition

The decision to split came after JYP Entertainment announced Gun-il’s departure from the group alongside the simultaneous termination of his exclusive contract. In an official statement released on August 13, 2026, the agency acknowledged the severity of the situation.

The agency added that it determined it would be difficult for him to continue team activities and mutually agreed to terminate his exclusive contract, confirming that he would leave the band as of that day. While Sportschosun reported that the company did not disclose the exact issue in its formal release, online discussions had already centered on allegations that the drummer made inappropriate remarks about fans.

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The Online Accusations and the Leaked Phone Call

The controversy ignited when an online post surfaced from an individual claiming to be the drummer’s former girlfriend. According to that published account, the poster alleged that he often insults fans in front of me and is very different from how he normally behaves and appears on broadcasts. The poster explained that feeling uncomfortable eventually drove them to upload the material because seeing him on a broadcast made it especially difficult.

Photo: 스포츠조선

Those allegations quickly spread across online communities, leading to intense criticism within the fandom known as Villains. While the agency statement left the specific grievances unspecified, public pressure mounted rapidly around the recorded remarks before the agency and the artist reached their conclusion.

Gunil Breaks Silence in a Tell-All Letter to Fans

Facing the fallout, Gunil posted a detailed letter to fans explaining the circumstances behind his exit. He acknowledged that the person who made the inappropriate remarks in the recorded phone call was indeed him, taking responsibility for the statements regardless of context.

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“The person who made the inappropriate remarks about fans in the recorded phone call that was made public to Villains was indeed me. Regardless of the reason, the fact that I said those things does not change. I sincerely apologize to everyone who was disappointed and hurt by what I said.”

Photo: Korea JoongAng Daily

Gunil

However, Gunil also detailed the extreme emotional distress he was experiencing during the period. He stated that earlier in the year, sasaeng fans had broken into the group’s dorm, placed a GPS tracker on his personal vehicle, and followed him. He described feeling overwhelmed by malicious online comments and fear, which culminated after a concert at the Inspire Arena in June when harsh online criticism broke him down emotionally. He admitted to venting to someone he had met only recently through an acquaintance, never expecting the conversation would be recorded and made public.

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Stage Debut as a Quintet at Summer Sonic 2026

Despite the abrupt leadership vacancy, Xdinary Heroes must maintain a rapid touring schedule. The remaining members—Jooyeon, Jungsu, Gaon, Jun Han, and O.de—will continue activities as a five-member group starting with their performance at the Japanese music festival Summer Sonic 2026 on August 14, 2026.

Born in 1998, Gunil studied at the Berklee College of Music in the United States before debuting with the band in 2021 as its leader and drummer. His departure concludes an era that recently included an 18-show world tour across 14 regions and the release of their eighth mini album, DEAD AND, in April. JYP Entertainment has stated it will provide full support to the five remaining members as they step into this new chapter without their drummer.