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| ▲ This Yonhap file photo shows Sunwoo of K-pop boy group THE BOYZ. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- Sunwoo of K-pop boy group THE BOYZ has come under fire for his attitude toward a bodyguard, prompting his agency to issue an apology and pledge to prevent similar incidents.
In a statement released Sunday, agency IST Entertainment (formerly Onehundred) acknowledged the controversy, saying, “We are aware that Sunwoo’s behavior may have sparked concerns over his character. We recognize this situation as a shortcoming on the company’s part, and the artist is also reflecting deeply on aspects he had not previously recognized.”
The controversy arose after a short video circulated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and online communities, showing a security staff member picking up and handing back Sunwoo’s wireless earphones after he dropped them while walking. In the video, Sunwoo is seen standing still and receiving the earphones with one hand, which sparked divided reactions online — with some criticizing it as rude and others defending it as a misunderstanding taken out of context.
Former After School member Nana added fuel to the fire by commenting on the video, saying, “He needs to be scolded,” and, “It’s wrong to judge someone based only on a short clip, but his behavior came off as quite disrespectful.”
“We regret that the situation is unfolding in a way that diverges from the artist’s and company’s sincere efforts at reflection,” the agency said. “We will do our best to ensure that such oversights are not repeated through closer communication with our artists.”
The agency also warned that it is preparing strong legal action against malicious and baseless online comments.
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