ALPHA DRIVE ONE member Kim Geonwoo has been accused of verbal abuse, on-set misconduct, and rude behavior.
It started with a mother’s post in an online cafe. Within days, it exploded into the most damaging scandal to hit the rookie idol.
Kim Geonwoo, a 22-year-old ALD1 member, now faces accusations from multiple industry insiders across Korea’s three major broadcasting networks—MBC, KBS, and SBS. The allegations paint a picture of an idol who repeatedly disrespected staff, used abusive language, and displayed what one insider called “horrible character”.
Kim Geonwoo Bullying Controversy
About a month ago, an anonymous post appeared on an online mom cafe. The original poster (OP) detailed the emotional toll her daughter had suffered while working as a contract floor director at MBC.
According to the mother, her daughter had been hired at MBC two years ago. A week before the post, she received a tearful call from her daughter, who said she wanted to die. When the parents rushed to her side, she revealed that a celebrity had hurt her deeply.
The OP wrote carefully, avoiding names out of fear of retaliation. “He is housed under a large corporation,” she explained, “so it will only come back to bite my daughter.”
The mother revealed that while her daughter was giving instructions to a boy group during filming, one member allegedly muttered, “F*ck, why is that fat b*tch talking so much?” The idol likely believed the floor director couldn’t hear him, but she did.
The post also alleged the idol continued glaring at her daughter, scanning her body with disdain. When a prop malfunctioned, he reportedly berated her rudely, asking, “Are you sure this is something a person can actually use?”
The OP provided limited details about the idol’s identity—only that he was part of a group formed through a survival show on tvN or Mnet. She also revealed that he was 24 years old and that his surname was Kim.
The Alleged Victim Speaks Out
As the story spread across online platforms, an individual believed to be the victim herself came forward. She directly named ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s Kim Geonwoo as the perpetrator. She provided evidence of her employment at MBC: images of her work desk and a weekly filming schedule.
“He has horrible character,” she wrote. She called him “rude” and “the rumors about him are rampant in the industry.” She further shared, “I have nothing to lose, so I will open up his name. Seriously, avoid Kim Geonwoo. Trust in the rumors.”
Many Korean netizens who examined the evidence concluded that she appeared to be telling the truth.
Kim Geonwoo’s Alleged Rude Behavior with ‘1N2D’ Staff
A stylist claiming to be part of the production team for KBS2’s Idol 1N2D shared an incident they said was already “well-known among insiders.”
According to the stylist, Kim Geonwoo appeared frustrated during the setup. When filming began and staff provided instructions, he reportedly spoke into his open microphone—apparently forgetting it was on—saying, “Okay what the f*** do they want us to do? They are saying a bunch of s***.”
The stylist noted that everyone on set heard him, and production briefly halted. The insider claimed that the manager and the head manager had to “practically beg for an apology.”
The incident was reported to the higher-ups and everyone at the KBS entertainment branch is unaware of it. Fans later observed that ALD1’s episodes were unusually short and, unlike other idol guests, the group did not receive a celebratory meal after filming.
Accusations from Other Employees
Another insider, verified as an SBS employee through the professional community app Blind, gave a blunt opinion about him. The employee said he leans more toward the “evil side” and claimed he “pretty much glowers at every person he meets.” The staff member added, “He does not seem to have any interest in acting with some manners in front of people.”
The insider confirmed that broadcasting stations were unofficially “red flagging” him, and that the ‘1N2D’ microphone incident was widely known across the industry.
An MBC production employee described how his behavior stood out even among typical rude idol behavior. A separate comment stated, “This guy is the first rookie to act this bold and entitled.”
They claimed that he did not greet staff, ignored a young intern in the elevator, and refused to help with basic tasks like “carrying luggage or items.”
The employee specifically praised Younghoon from The Boyz as a positive counterexample.
A former Bill Entertainment employee, where Kim Geonwoo trained before joining WakeOne, added that he is not a “rotten apple to the core” and instead “crafty.” They also pointed out, “He treats the people whom he considers helpful to him and people whom he considers below him very differently.”
The former employee confirmed that previous bullying accusations from a fellow trainee were true. They said the trainee “used to smile all the time,” however, he lost his smile after the incident.
They also described him as “cocky prick.” At the same time, the employee suggested that responsibility does not rest on him alone, saying “Some of the blame falls on the adults who favored him and boosted his ego.” The insider further remarked, “If it weren’t for the staff helping him shine, he would be nothing.”
They noted that staff at Bill Entertainment always described him as “a flower without a scent.”
Kim Geonwoo’s Pre-debut Controversy
This is not Kim Geonwoo’s first brush with scandal. During his participation in Mnet’s survival show Boys II Planet, he faced accusations of bullying a fellow trainee.
At the time, the allegations caused significant backlash. Kim Geonwoo had been selected as the initial center for the signal song—a position often seen as a “guaranteed debut” slot. He initially introduced himself as an independent trainee, but it was later revealed that he was an artist under WakeOne.
He ultimately wrote a handwritten letter of apology to the accuser. However, netizens have noted that the letter was quietly deleted at some point afterward.
Despite the controversy, he successfully debuted as part of ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s final lineup in January 2026, placing fourth in the competition.
Korean netizens have responded with a mix of shock and anger. Some netizens are demanding his removal from the group after the controversy.
According to multiple insiders, the broadcasting industry has already taken informal action. Kim Geonwoo is reportedly being “red flagged” across the major networks. As a result, it could significantly impact ALPHA DRIVE ONE’s ability to appear on music shows and variety programs in the future.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE debuted in January 2026 with considerable hype, formed through the popular ‘Boys II Planet’ survival series. The eight-member multinational group includes members from Korea, China, and other countries.
But this is not the group’s first controversy. Even before their debut, multiple members faced scrutiny: Lee Sangwon for pre-debut clubbing videos, Lee Leo for dating rumors, Kim Junseo for accepting expensive fan gifts, and Zhou Anxin for plastic surgery speculation. Kim Geonwoo’s bullying history was already considered by some to be the most serious issue, given that it involved harming others.
As of now, Kim Geonwoo’s agency, WakeOne, has not issued any official response to the accumulating allegations.
