On July 11, WINNER's agency, YG Entertainment, announced that Kang Seung Yoon would be sitting out some promotions due to an ankle injury. The leader sustained an ankle injury during the group's concert "Holiday in the City" that was held on July 10, and according to a doctor's diagnosis, it was confirmed to be an ankle ligament injury. 

While it will not be a big inconvenience to his daily life, he will have to monitor closely and have enough rest for a full recovery. In accordance, Seung Yoon will be taking a break from WINNER's group activities, and WINNER will be taking a break from this week's music programs that would require performance.

Soon after the news of Kang Seung Yoon's ankle injury, member Lee Seung Hoon shared on his social media that he is the new leader of WINNER. He shared a photo of a Kakaotalk chatroom where the members decided to pick a new leader since Kang Seung Yoon was injured.

Translation:

Song Min Ho: "Since Kang Seung Yoon hurt his leg."

Song Min Ho: "Who wants to be the next leader."

Song Min Ho: "Hurting your leg is enough to be disqualified as the leader."

Kim Jin Woo: "I nominate Lee Seung Hoon."

Song Min Ho: "Yeah, one vote for leader Lee Seung Hoon."

Lee Seung Hoon: "I'll make a new era for WINNER without any lateness."

Kim Jin Woo: "Do 'Guess Who's Back' starting today."

Kang Seung Yoon: "I guess it can't be helped."

Lee Seung Hoon: "I'm the second oldest but am the leader."

In a recent radio talk show, WINNER explained to fans why leaders change when the leader gets hurt and explained it was an old tradition that started from the audition program 'Win Who is Next.'

Of course, this is not an official change in leadership but just an ongoing joke between the members. Therefore, WINNER has been going around on talk shows, sharing this joke with fans saying that Lee Seung Hoon is the new leader of the new age of WINNER.

Netizens and fans commented, "This is hilarious," "I love WINNER," "They're so cute how they joke with one another," "This is so funny and so cute," "I cracked up when Seung Yoon said 'I guess it can't be helped,' why are they so funny?" "This is so funny," "When Lee Seung Hoon said 'I'm the second oldest but I'm the leader,' he got that from when Seung Yoon said on 'Amazing Saturday', 'I'm the youngest but I'm the leader,' lol so funny," and "They're so cute with each other."