The members of K-pop boy band SPEED are saying goodbye to their leader Taewoon, who will be transitioning into a solo artist with the backing of his agency, reports Koreaboo. Taewoon will be replaced with a new member in time for SPEED's comeback later this year.

Taewoon joined SPEED as a talented underground rapper, and it was revealed that he continued to hold aspirations to debut as a solo artist. After discussions with his agency, MBK Entertainment, it was decided that Taewoon will be leaving the group to prepare for his solo career.

Fans of Taewoon will not have to wait long before they see the rapper perform as a solo artist. He is slated to participate in Show Me The Money 4, the incoming new season of the South Korean rap competition TV series. Show Me The Money 3 was won by Bobby, a member of the YG Entertainment's new boy group, iKON.

Taewoon's bold move to become a solo artist has garnered support from his fans and family, including his younger brother and Block B member Zico. "Please support my brother in his new beginning," said Zico on Twitter on March 25 after news broke of Taewoon's move to become a solo artist.

Taewoon debuted with Coed School in 2010, but the mixed gender concept was nixed and the members split into same-gender groups. The girls formed the now-defunct F-ve Dolls while the boys reformed as SPEED.

Even while still a part of SPEED, Taewoon has been releasing solo tracks such as "Saturday Night" in 2012 and "Focus" in 2014. He has also shown a knack for producing albums such SPEED's comeback album Speed Circus which released in 2014.