On March 4, THE BOYZ's agency announced that Eric would be taking an indefinite hiatus to focus on his health. The 11 member group will carry out their schedules as a ten-member group moving forward until the idol gets back in shape with a full recovery. The agency's statement did not give much detail, except that he felt “unwell” and had “other health issues” during recent promotions.Fans have deduced that the health issues might be related to Eric’s mental health and stand in full support of his hiatus. They took to Twitter to send him supportive messages and assured him that they would wait for him to return healthier and better. Some fans even discussed sending messages on the group’s official Fan Cafe, hoping the idol would read it on the fan-artist platform.THE BOYZ to promote as ten members as Eric takes hiatus to prioritize health🍊. eric ‹3@hakthingseric is stopping work to focus on himself. temporary hiatus. the boyz will carry on as a ten member group until further notice, i feel sick3:00 AM · Mar 4, 20223515eric is stopping work to focus on himself. temporary hiatus. the boyz will carry on as a ten member group until further notice, i feel sick https://t.co/d6bWo5nOuLIST Entertainment released a statement announcing THE BOYZ’s Eric going on a hiatus starting March 4. They shared that the idol was experiencing poor health issues. After undergoing detailed analysis, the agency, members, and Eric decided to prioritize his health over other group activities.The agency also assured fans that Eric is currently resting and is in a stable condition. They added that the group would continue their schedules as ten members for the timebeing, without putting any timeline on Eric's return. They ended the notice by stating that they would regularly update fans about the idol’s health status and the group’s activities.Furthermore, they stated that Eric will solely focus on his health and will not participate in any other schedule."We will wait for you”: Fans send heart-warming letters to THE BOYZ’s Eric🦄@2jaericsohndeobis loves you so much eric @WE_THE_BOYZ, we will always wait for you so please focus on your health and come back whenever you are ready, your health is more important than anything else, please takecare 🏻🥺3:05 AM · Mar 4, 202230811676deobis loves you so much eric @WE_THE_BOYZ, we will always wait for you so please focus on your health and come back whenever you are ready, your health is more important than anything else, please takecare 🙏🏻🥺https://t.co/14lBKPR3ajSoon after the announcement, fans (called Deobis) sent supportive messages and letters to THE BOYZ’s Eric. The notice brought bittersweet feelings for them as, on the one hand, they were glad that the 22-year-old maknae decided to take complete rest for his deteriorating health. But on the other, they were concerned about the serious issue that led to his hiatus.However, fans are glad that the K-pop agency is changing for the better and prioritizing artists' health over promotions.alkina | 🌜@jcmlarg@IST_THEBOYZ take care of yourself Eric! take a rest and get well soon. No matter what happens I will always be with you, please always remember that. we will faithfully wait until you return from your hiatus. i love u so bad Eric 🥺 #GetWellSoonEric3:18 AM · Mar 4, 2022@IST_THEBOYZ take care of yourself Eric! take a rest and get well soon. No matter what happens I will always be with you, please always remember that. we will faithfully wait until you return from your hiatus. i love u so bad Eric 🥺❤️ #GetWellSoonEric༺⊹༻@412loveboteric has been frequently visiting fc so if anyone has access on fc or even pm pls keep sending him nice messages :(( we'll wait for u to come back fully recovered physically and with a clear mind eric take ur urr time !! pls rest lots and take care of urself my love @WE_THE_BOYZ3:23 AM · Mar 4, 20222406752eric has been frequently visiting fc so if anyone has access on fc or even pm pls keep sending him nice messages :(( we'll wait for u to come back fully recovered physically and with a clear mind eric take ur urr time !! pls rest lots and take care of urself my love @WE_THE_BOYZ https://t.co/qFwXSsoEdlFit.러브잇 🍀@eternallykswOur littlest one, Eric, please focus on your recovery. Your health is our top priority. Comeback anytime u feel better & when you're ready, we're always waiting for u here. There're many people love u. I hope only the good things for u. You're so precious to us 🥺 @WE_THE_BOYZ3:56 AM · Mar 4, 20221577712Our littlest one, Eric, please focus on your recovery. Your health is our top priority. Comeback anytime u feel better & when you're ready, we're always waiting for u here. There're many people love u. I hope only the good things for u. You're so precious to us 🥺❤️ @WE_THE_BOYZ https://t.co/lf6ZENdTFKًdrop fancafe letters📌@kswbliss#ERIC: no matter what it takes. i'll always be there for you.#손영재사랑해 @WE_THE_BOYZ6:48 AM · Mar 4, 202210155#ERIC: no matter what it takes. i'll always be there for you.#손영재사랑해 @WE_THE_BOYZ https://t.co/LAc4JU9fatً@kswzone_love you so much eric. take as much as time you want and focus on your health. we will wait for you and always here supporting you. your health matters the most so take care. we love you @WE_THE_BOYZ3:48 AM · Mar 4, 20221007399love you so much eric. take as much as time you want and focus on your health. we will wait for you and always here supporting you. your health matters the most so take care. we love you 💗 @WE_THE_BOYZ https://t.co/Fzn6VXIIIWChi（╹◡╹）@hakkyusabodanOMG JUST FOUND OUT THAT ERIC IS GONNA BE HIATUS FOR A WHILE. Aaaaaa I wanna cry but I really hope Eric get the time to heal…and get back stronger. Become happier than ever before, cause thats what matters the most! Remember Deobi loves you!사랑해! @WE_THE_BOYZ @IST_THEBOYZ6:43 AM · Mar 4, 20221OMG JUST FOUND OUT THAT ERIC IS GONNA BE HIATUS FOR A WHILE. Aaaaaa I wanna cry but I really hope Eric get the time to heal…and get back stronger. Become happier than ever before, cause thats what matters the most! Remember Deobi loves you!사랑해! @WE_THE_BOYZ @IST_THEBOYZ https://t.co/dciJqBpTfohourly chanhee ◡̈@hourly_chanhee@IST_THEBOYZ Eric, we'll always wait for you. We love you. Please take care of yourself. 🤍5:10 AM · Mar 4, 2022293@IST_THEBOYZ Eric, we'll always wait for you. We love you. Please take care of yourself. 😊🤍🧸iria (빵빵)@bbangiverse#ERIC I wanna go back♡︎I hope you are resting well and taking care of yourself. Your physical and mental health is my priority. I love you Eric#에릭 #더보이즈 #THEBOYZ8:57 AM · Feb 26, 2022685265#ERIC I wanna go back♡︎I hope you are resting well and taking care of yourself. Your physical and mental health is my priority. I love you Eric♥️#에릭 #더보이즈 #THEBOYZ https://t.co/y5VdXOJSomً@photobytbzTo our energetic Eric, always remember that we love you! Focus on your recovery and prioritize your health and well-being over everything else. You can always come back and we'll wait for you with an open arms @WE_THE_BOYZ4:15 AM · Mar 4, 202216378To our energetic Eric, always remember that we love you! Focus on your recovery and prioritize your health and well-being over everything else. You can always come back and we'll wait for you with an open arms ❤ @WE_THE_BOYZ https://t.co/E87fiY24U4meg ✿ eric best boy !!@sunwoosberrieeric our bestest boy and our little ray of sunshine, please always remember that deobis are always here for you and will always be🥺get well soon and come back as amazing as ever hun we'll always wait for you AND always remember deobis love you<3 @WE_THE_BOYZ3:22 AM · Mar 4, 20225319eric our bestest boy and our little ray of sunshine, please always remember that deobis are always here for you and will always be🥺💗get well soon and come back as amazing as ever hun we'll always wait for you 😭❤️ AND always remember deobis love you<3 @WE_THE_BOYZ https://t.co/TdAVfXffeAEric is the lead dancer, lead rapper, and vocalist of THE BOYZ. The group recently made a single comeback through Echo a few days ago, on March 2. There is also speculation rife in the Deobi fandom about an album release in mid-2022.In other news, Sunwoo and Jacob were the latest members to test positive for COVID on February 28. Eric, Younghoon, Ju Haknyeon, Hyunjae, and Sangyeon tested positive for the virus in late January and have recovered fully.