The controversy surrounding Kim Ji Woong from ZEROBASEONE erupted due to alleged swearing at a fan, an audio report was released stating, “The swearing part was voiced by someone else.”
On February 17, Dispatch dropped an audio report regarding a video of Kim Ji Woong supposedly using profanity at a fan signing event.
The Korea Forensic Service analyzed the voice and identified three distinct parts; A (Thank You) and B (voiceless), and C (Ssibal).
According to the appraiser, section B’s pronunciation is noticeably different from sections A and C. Through voiceprint analysis, it was confirmed that section B intentionally uses the “X foot” pronunciation to enhance listeners’ concentration. The appraiser also determined that the recording was not subjected to any pitch manipulation.
The appraiser mentioned that based on the shaky video footage and the movement of the subjects in the recording, it seems like it was filmed using a different device. Additionally, they noted that section B was recorded with a voice inserted from outside.
The appraiser also observed that the pitches and heights in sections AB and BC were different, suggesting that the speakers or voices were not the same. They even mentioned the possibility that the questionable “ssibal” part was recorded from outside.
The staff member who was responsible for Kim Ji-woong during the fan signing mentioned that they don’t recall the specific details of the phone call with Mr. K.
However, they confidently stated that Kim Ji Woong did not use any swear words, as they did not hear anything of that nature. The staff member also mentioned that there were other members present on a video call at the time, making it unlikely for Kim Ji Woong to have sworn in that situation.
On February 2, suspicions of Kim Ji Woong using abusive language arose when a transcript of his fan signing event was released. Mr. A, a fan of ZEROBASEONE, shared a scene from the video fan signing event where he interacted with Kim Ji Woong. In the video, right after their conversation ended and the screen went dark, there was a voice that sounded like someone using inappropriate language.
On February 3, WakeOne Entertainment released an official statement addressing the situation. They expressed concern about the spread of false information about their artists through online communities and social media.
They emphasized that they do not tolerate any crimes that compromise security or threaten safety. WakeOne also reiterated their commitment to protecting the rights and privacy of their artists.
