Chapter 96 – Where Is Kang Jaeheon? The Idol Who Vanished in Italy
POV: Media Article (Dispatch Korea)
Published: April 6, 2025 | 8:03 PM KST
By: Seo Mirae, Senior Culture Correspondent
FLORENCE, ITALY — It's been five days since the AUREUS concert lit up Florence with a record-breaking attendance of 96,000 fans. But while the rest of the group returned to Seoul two days ago, one member remains unaccounted for: Kang Jaeheon.
The main producer, lyricist, and elusive center of AUREUS has not been seen in public since the night of their final encore. His management has yet to make an official statement.
Fans and insiders alike are beginning to ask:
Where is he?
The Disappearance
Jaeheon was last photographed entering the private elevator of a luxury Florence hotel with security detail. There were no signs of distress. No alarms triggered. No official departures recorded under his name.
A hotel employee, who asked to remain anonymous, described him as "quiet, unreadable, and alone."
"He didn't speak. He didn't smile. He just waited," they said.
Since then—
No airport sightings.
No cafe slips.
Not even a shadow.
Fan Theories Ignite
Within 48 hours, the AUREUS fandom—Aurum Hearts—launched their own investigation.
On Twitter/X, the hashtag #WhereIsJaeheon has trended in over 17 countries.
Some top theories include:
"He's writing an album in secret."
"He's recovering from burnout."
"He met someone."
"He's chasing a ghost from his past."
Others are more romantic.
A viral thread from @silverlinedshadows reads:
"Maybe he's finally with her.
Maybe she's real.
Maybe she's the reason he hasn't smiled for years.
Maybe she's why he disappeared."
The tweet has over 2.4 million likes.
Silence from Management
When reached for comment, AUREUS's agency offered a single-line response:
"Kang Jaeheon is taking personal time with prior approval."
No further clarification was given.
Industry Whispers
Within industry circles, insiders are divided.
Some say Jaeheon has always had "disappearing periods," particularly after emotionally taxing projects. Others hint at something deeper—an unspoken rule of silence surrounding his personal life.
One music director who's worked with him called him "the most brilliant, and most unknowable artist in the scene today."
A Legacy Built in Silence
Despite his absence, fans have turned to his lyrics again—especially those revealed during the recent variety show episodes.
Lines like:
"You didn't say my name.
You didn't look back.
But you let me breathe the air you live in."
—are now being reinterpreted.
Some think he left Florence chasing a memory.
Others think he never left at all.
Until then, only one thing is certain:
Jaeheon Kang has always disappeared when the world starts to look too closely.
But this time, it feels different.
Because for once—
It seems like he wants to be found.
Or maybe, just maybe—
He already has been.