Who is the first Monsta X member to leave the group?

“Who is the first Monsta X member to leave the group?” — Wonho. Lee Ho-seok, known professionally as Wonho, became the first member to depart Monsta X when Starship Entertainment announced his withdrawal on 31 October 2019. He had been part of the group since its debut in 2015.

Wonho was selected as a Monsta X member through the survival program No.Mercy, which Starship Entertainment and Mnet used to form the group. He debuted with the members Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M on 14 May 2015, when the group released its first extended play, Trespass.

His departure followed public controversy and allegations concerning events from his past. Wonho denied some allegations, and later investigations cleared him of drug-related charges. After leaving Monsta X, he signed with Highline Entertainment and launched a solo career in 2020 with the EP Love Synonym Pt.1: Right for Me. The key point for this question is chronological: Wonho was the group’s first member to leave, not merely its most prominent former member.