KATSEYE Needs an Answer on Manon as Her Hiatus Passes 100 Days

More than 100 days have passed since KATSEYE member Manon began her indefinite hiatus, yet the biggest question surrounding the group remains unanswered: Is she coming back?

HYBE and Geffen announced Manon's hiatus on Feb. 20, explaining that she would step away from activities to focus on her health and well-being. Manon later reassured fans through Weverse that she was healthy, doing well and "trusting the bigger picture."

Many fans initially viewed the hiatus as a temporary pause. More than three months later, however, the conversation has shifted. What once appeared to be a short break has become an open-ended absence with no clear timeline.

Neither the agencies nor Manon has provided any indication of when she may return. As the uncertainty continues, speculation about her future has only intensified.

Meanwhile, KATSEYE has continued building momentum as a five-member group. During Manon's absence, the group performed at major festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza and released new music such as "Pinky Up." While the remaining members have repeatedly expressed support for her, the group's activities increasingly resemble those of a permanent five-member act.

Questions grew louder in April when Manon removed "KATSEYE" from her Instagram bio. Her exclusion from KATSEYE's upcoming North American and European tour poster only intensified those concerns. With the tour set to run from September through November, some fans have begun wondering whether her absence could extend through the group's largest overseas activities of the year.

Around the same time, her appearance on Germany's "Next Topmodel" fueled speculation about a possible shift toward solo activities, though the program had been filmed before her hiatus began.

The situation is particularly notable because health-related absences are not new for Manon. She previously missed performances due to illness and injury, including SUMMER SONIC 2025 and later promotional activities for "Gabriela." Unlike those interruptions, the current hiatus has no announced end date.

For some observers, the discussion extends beyond health concerns. They point to differences between Manon's personal outlook and the demands of the K-POP-inspired model that helped create KATSEYE.

Part of that discussion dates back to Netflix's "The Debut: Dream Academy," where Manon became a focal point in debates about effort and commitment. Episodes showing her missing practices and spending time away from training led some viewers and contestants to question her participation. Manon has since said that illness and burnout sometimes made it difficult to keep pace with the program's demanding schedule, but the distinction was not always clear to viewers.

Some observers believe the controversy also reflected a broader cultural difference. Raised in Switzerland, Manon grew up in an environment that places a strong emphasis on personal well-being and work-life balance, while HYBE and Geffen's training model borrows heavily from the K-POP model, which prioritizes rigorous schedules and constant participation in group activities. Whether fair or not, the narrative established during the survival show has continued to follow her throughout her career.

The uncertainty is creating challenges for both fans and the group. Fans remain divided over Manon's future, while KATSEYE continues moving forward without a clear answer about its lineup.

More than 100 days into the hiatus, the issue may no longer be Manon's absence itself but the uncertainty surrounding it. The group is already preparing for its next chapter with the release of its third EP, "WILD," on Aug. 14, yet questions about Manon's future remain unresolved. As KATSEYE continues to move forward, fans are still waiting for a clearer picture of what comes next.