ZEROBASEONE leader Sung Hanbin has apologized after drawing criticism for a controversial moment on a YouTube variety show.
On September 6, Sung Hanbin and fellow member Seok Matthew appeared on Kim Dae Hee’s channel, Old Man Dae Hee. The group guested on the variety show to promote their recent comeback album, Never Say Never, which is doing exceptionally well on the charts.
During the episode, Seok Matthew pointed out that Hanbin often makes a sound whenever he goes over a speed bump. The 24-year-old idol explained it was considered a “meme” within the group and re-enacted it for the show.
While doing so, he remarked, “Don’t your butt hurt when you drive over a speed bump really hard?” before making exaggerated noises that some viewers felt resembled a woman’s moan.
The scene quickly drew mixed reactions online. Some fans praised his comedic timing and said it showed his variety sense, while others argued it crossed the line and could be seen as inappropriate. After the massive backlash, the part was edited out of the video.
In response, Sung Hanbin took to Bubble on Sunday to issue a personal apology, ‘I really did overdo it at Old Man Dae Hee. I absolutely didn’t have other intentions, and I must have just been too excessive in my desire to create entertaining moments during the variety show.’
He further apologized to ZEROBASEONE fans, ‘if there happened to be any ZEROSEs (fans) who were displeased, I’d like to sincerely apologise.. I’m sorry.. let’s improve on the way you speak, Sung Hanbin.’
ZEROBASEONE fans, however, are upset with netizens who made him apologize for a ridiculous, most trivial thing. “He had no reason to apologize for being funny,” one fan wrote. Another fan commented, ‘Why do they have to make fans feel bad about being his silly little self on a variety show?’
On another note, he concluded his run as an MC of M Countdown on September 4, and stepped down to focus on group activities.
Meanwhile, ZEROBASEONE gears up for their concert tour, Now & Here, in the fall. The tour will kick off in early October with three shows in Seoul and conclude in Hong Kong in December. In January 2026, they will continue group activities only if members’ agencies agree to contract renewal.
