AB6IX Lim Young-min leaves group after DUI

K-pop boy band AB6IX's former leader Lim Young-min / Yonhap

By Lee Gyu-lee

K-pop boy band AB6IX member Lim Young-min will leave the group after being caught drunk driving.

The group's agency Brandnew Music announced Lim's withdrawal from the group, Monday, on a fan community site, and sited changes to the group's comeback, slated for June 29.

“After a thorough discussion with Lim, we decide to respect his opinion that he does not want to jeopardize the group any longer,” it said.

The leader of the quintet made headlines after his misconduct was revealed last Thursday, leading the group to postpone its release of its album “VIVID,” originally scheduled for June 8.

Teaser images of the group's new album “VIVID,” which was released before Lim's withdrawal. / Courtesy of Brandnew Music

The agency listed the adjustments it is making to exclude Lim from the album's tracks, music video, and related promotional goods that have already been completed.

“We have re-recorded all six tracks with just four members … CDs that have been previously made will be discarded to be newly produced with the tracks,” it said. “The choreography will also be adjusted to a new version.”

However, the agency noted that there were still limits in cropping out Lim from all the group's work, as Lim's had taken part in great portion of the album.

“It would be nice if we could start from scratch to make changes, but at this point, frankly, we are too constrained for time and are too pressed to have more burden than we already have.”

It explained that some parts of the title music video and fan goods would include Lim, as changes could not be made with some finalized content.

“We send our sincere apology for asking fans for understanding and promise to come back with good music and content to pay back your support,” it said. “We ask for encouragement and support for the new start of AB6IX as a quartet.”

The group ― Jeon Woong, Kim Dong-hyun, Park Woo-jin, Lee Dae-hwi and formerly Lim ― debuted in 2019 with the album "B:COMPLETE."