A popular K-Pop idol has spoken up after being criticized for alleged rudeness when mentioning actor Lee Kwang Soo‘s way of communicating with fans.
The controversy on October 20th, when BOYNEXTDOOR‘s Myung Jaehyun referenced Lee Kwang Soo’s service on a fan communication platform. At the time, he shared an anecdote about seeing the name of fellow group member Taesan among the subscriptions he follows.
He said, “I was trying to learn from Lee Kwang Soo hyung, but then Taesan’s name popped up,” expressing admiration for Lee Kwang Soo’s exceptional fan communication skills.
He added, “His ability to attract customers is unbelievable. It’s a realm of talent,” followed by a comment that he finds it difficult because he doesn’t see fans as customers.
The issue arose from the word “customers.” Some netizens pointed out that Jaehyun’s words could be interpreted as Lee Kwang Soo viewing fans as paying customers while he himself does not. Critics felt that likening Lee’s fan interaction to a commercial act was inappropriate, especially when praising a senior colleague in the entertainment industry.
On the other hand, some argued that it was simply a poor choice of words while trying to compliment Lee Kwang Soo’s outstanding communication skills and that it shouldn’t be assumed to be malicious.
As the controversy spread, Jaehyun stepped forward to explain on the 21st during a live broadcast. He said he thought Lee Kwang Soo’s fan communication style was cool and respectful and that he wanted to learn from him, but made a mistake in conveying this in his message.
He also revealed that he hesitated to talk about it further, worried his comments might cause harm to Lee Kwang Soo. He expressed that he will be more mindful and cautious moving forward.