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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