Amid allegations of offensive behavior during a fan signing event, ZEROBASEONE member Kim Ji Woong is now facing a truck protest demanding his withdrawal.

The truck protests took place on February 7 in front of CJ ENM and WakeOne headquarters. These protests were scheduled from 8 AM to 6 PM KST and 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM KST respectively.

The controversy began on February 2 when a netizen posted a video of a video call fan signing event with Kim Ji Woong.

In the video, an offensive word, "ssibal (f*ck)," was heard after the fan signing event concluded. Though the identity of the person using the offensive language was not confirmed due to a obscured camera, the involved party claimed it was Kim Ji Woong's voice.

In response, WakeOne stated that, after confirming with Kim Ji Woong and on-site staff, the allegations were found to be false.

The agency expressed a strong denial and vowed to use various methods, including digital media forensics, to determine the truth and protect the artist.

Despite the agency's response, the fan who made the revelation faced cyberbullying and stood firm, not deleting the video.

Public opinion and fans are divided on the incident, with some criticizing Kim Ji Woong, while others argue that the perpetrator of the offensive language and whether the video was manipulated are not clear.

In the current situation, a crowdfunding campaign for a truck protest demanding Kim Ji Woong's withdrawal started on February 5.

The one-day goal of 1.4 million won (approx. US$1,055) was achieved on February 6, and the truck protest took place on February 7. The truck displayed banners with messages criticizing Kim Ji Woong's actions and the agency's response.

The controversy has led to conflicts within the fandom, and attention is also focused on how WakeOne, the agency, handles the situation.

The agency has not officially stated its position as of now. What are your thoughts on this situation?

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Hyun Bin is finally addressing the long-standing "ddongcha" (poop car) theory surrounding his character from My Name is Kim Sam-soon—and he's not holding back!

In an interview on the 19th with Star News, the beloved actor confessed, "I was wrong," responding to the reevaluation of his iconic role as Hyun Jin-heon from the 2005 hit drama. The "ddongcha" theory has been a subject of online debate for years, with many viewers critiquing Hyun Jin-heon’s character as overly arrogant and entitled.

Hyun Bin, who first rose to fame in My Name is Kim Sam-soon, took the time to reflect on the character that made him a household name. He shared, “I was just following the script; there were no personal opinions added to the character of Hyun Jin-heon. At that time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy,’ and the way it was expressed was different from today’s standards.”

With My Name is Kim Sam-soon now being re-released as part of Wavve's "New Classic" project, fans are revisiting the 2005 drama, and the character of Hyun Jin-heon is under fresh scrutiny. Director Kim Yun-cheol even admitted that the "prince on a white horse" and "bad boy" tropes that once worked in 2005 don’t quite match today's sensibilities, leading to edits in the 2024 version.

Hyun Bin humbly acknowledged his gratitude for his successful career and hit works, saying, "It’s wonderful and I am grateful to have so many hit works. I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors, and actors. Thanks to them, I’ve received a lot of attention and love." He also shared a sense of humility, noting, “But I never know when that luck will come again."

Despite the dramatic shift in perspective on his character, Hyun Bin’s charm and dedication remain strong. Fans are eager to see him in his upcoming film Harbin (directed by Woo Min-ho), set to be released on the 24th.

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