Shownu and Hyungwon from boy band Monsta X are currently preparing to form a subunit.

“Shownu and Hyungwon are currently in preparation for Monsta X’s first subunit,” the boy band’s agency Starship Entertainment confirmed with local media reports on Wednesday.

“Exact dates [of the debut] have not been set yet. We will release an official statement once the dates are confirmed,” the agency added.

Local media reported on Wednesday the subunit is expected to release an album this summer.

The anticipated subunit debut will be the first music-related activity since Shownu completed his mandatory military service on April 21 this year.

Boy band Monsta X debuted under Starship Entertainment in 2015 with the band’s first EP, “Trespass.” The band is best known for its hit tracks “Who Do U Love” (2019), “Hero” (2015) and “Dramarama” (2017). Five of the six members of Monsta X —Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon and Joohoney — extended their contracts with Starship Entertainment in 2022.

Fellow member Joohoney, more commonly known by his previous stage name Jooheon, will drop his first solo album “Lights” on May 22.


BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]