On March 8, SM Entertainment officially announced that former NCT member Lucas is set to make a solo debut.

An official from the label confirmed the news, stating that Lucas would be embarking on his solo journey in April.

The representative mentioned, "It's true that Lucas is preparing for solo activities in April. More specific details will be revealed at a later time."

However, the announcement has sparked disapproval from many Korean netizens in various online communities.

This discontent stems from Lucas' departure from NCT, which was prompted by negative controversies surrounding his personal life.

The reactions underline the ongoing impact of such controversies on public perception in the K-pop industry.

Korean netizens commented:

"Who's going to fangirl over him now?"

"Why are they allowing him to debut as a solo artist?" 

"He's going to continue activities in Korea?"

"SM is just crazy."

"Does he even have the skills to perform solo?"

"That is just amazing."

"In Korea??"

"I guess if you want to go solo, you just cause trouble, leave the group, and stay low for a while."

"Okay...^^"

"I wonder if there are even fans who still support him."

"SM should just invest more time and support for NCT instead of wasting it on him."

"This is why everyone is leaving SM."

"Why is SM taking care of him so much?"

"He can just promote in China, why does he want to stay in Korea?"

Source(1)

BTS member Jimin made history at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS, becoming the first solo artist ever to win the prestigious Visa Fan’s Choice of the Year award.

On November 22, Jimin was honored with the Fan’s Choice of the Year award at the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN, held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. This marks a huge milestone in his career, especially considering his ongoing military service.

Jimin made history as the first solo artist to win the Fan’s Choice of the Year award, a category that BTS had dominated for six years since its debut in 2018.

In addition to this achievement, Jimin also took home the Fan’s Choice Grand Prize, making him a two-time winner at this year’s awards.

Although Jimin couldn't attend the ceremony due to his military service, his name was met with loud cheers from fans when announced.

His incredible win continues to prove his global influence as a solo artist. Jimin had also won Best Male Artist at the 2023 MAMA AWARDS, marking back-to-back wins at the event.

The MAMA AWARDS praised Jimin for his groundbreaking achievements, saying, “As the first K-pop solo artist to reach 4 billion streams and set the longest-running #1 record for a Korean artist, Jimin has proven his influence as a world-class artist and global pop star.”

Jimin's win also made him the first solo artist to claim a grand prize at the MAMA AWARDS in 10 years, with his achievement sparking excitement worldwide.

On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag “CONGRATULATIONS JIMIN” topped the trends, while “우리지민이상받았네” (Our Jimin Got the Award) reached the #1 spot in Korea.

Jimin’s ongoing success continues to shine even during his military service. He was also recently named Best K-pop at the 2024 MTV Europe Music Awards and continues to be recognized for his charitable efforts, including a recent donation of 100 million KRW to the National Defense Soldier and Veteran Love Fund.

Source: [1]