iKON's Bobby announces to get married and is expecting a child next month

▲ This photo, provided by YG Entertainment, shows iKON's main rapper Bobby. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 21 (Yonhap) — BOBBY (real name Kim Ji-won, 26), the rapper of K-pop boy group iKON, made a surprise marriage and baby announcement on Friday.

Bobby posted a handwritten letter on his social media yesterday that said, “I promised to marry someone I love. I will also become a father in September,” according to the singer’s agency YG Entertainment.

"I'm happy to have a new family, but I'm more sorry to the fans who are embarrassed by my sudden news," Bobby said. "I apologize with all my heart to those who are hurt or greatly confused by this news.”

"More than anything, I will do my best not to disappoint fans and members who are waiting for iKON's activities," the idol member stressed.

Bobby became the talk of the town before debuting as iKON's main rapper in 2015 after he won Mnet's rap competition show "Show Me the Money 3" in 2014.

Last year, popular K-pop boy band EXO's Chen made a surprise announcement that he would get married and hinted that his fiancé was pregnant as well.

While delivering the news, Chen also said, "I will do my best in my position to repay all the love I've received from my fans," however, some angry fans staged protests, demanding the singer to leave the group.

Still, unlike the past, when the public were sensitive to idols' private lives, more celebrities are openly starting families. As a result, some say that the public's perspectives are becoming more open-minded.

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