Recently, netizens have been buzzing about the resurfacing of SEVENTEEN’s Wonwoo’s past comments criticizing Girls’ Generation. The timing of these remarks has raised eyebrows, especially considering the current climate in the K-pop industry.
SEVENTEEN fans are already furious with HYBE amid the recent controversy for using the group in their smear campaigns.
After the HYBE’s internal monitoring report leaked on October 24, K-pop fans were furious about the ridicule of the artists in the report.
SEVENTEEN member Seungkwan directly addressed the controversy, asking them to not think of “Idols as pushovers” and “commodities for consumption.”
Kang Daniel, Wonwoo, and S.coups commented to show support for Seungkwan. Wonwoo commented, “I hope the world becomes a place filled with warmth like Seungkwan says.”
The next day, a Korean media outlet posted an article, highlighting his past comments criticizing Girls’ Generation members’ appearances when he was a sixth grader.
Back when he was in 2016, he posted some comments slamming Girls’ Generation’s appearance and character. In his comments, he labeled the group “the trash of the music industry.”
Following SEVENTEEN’s debut, the comments resurfaced and Wonwoo issued a handwritten apology on the group’s official fan cafe in 2016.
Fans are raising concerns about the timing of the article, accusing HYBE of engaging in negative media tactics since Wonwoo showed support for Seungkwan.
On October 29, after Seungkwan criticized the management for a derogatory report, an article emerged regarding the stampede risk during SEVENTEEN’s “pre-recording” on M Countdown, which took place on October 15.
In other news, HYBE’s CEO Lee Jae Sang apologized for the controversial take on K-pop idols in the internal monitoring reports.