On the afternoon of April 22 KST, VLAST’s big boss Lee Seong Gu held a press meet in Seoul, tackling concerns about the virtual idol group PLAVE.

CEO Lee Seong Gu stressed the importance of risk management for PLAVE, saying, “I reckon it should be handled much like traditional idol management. It’s crucial to tread carefully around personal stuff and to use fitting language and behavior, just like with real-life idols.”

Voicing his worries, CEO Lee Seong Gu noted, “At first, we expected interactions only through broadcasts, without face-to-face meetups with fans. But, we’ve noticed cases where fans have tried to drop by artists’ homes or the company.”

Underlining the need for beefed-up security measures, Lee urged fans to hold back from such actions, emphasizing, “We’re stepping up security protocols, and we kindly ask fans to respect our artists’ privacy, just as they adore our virtual idols.”

Made up of five members, PLAVE has been making waves in the entertainment industry. After their hit run on music shows in March, the group held their first-ever fan concert, marking a major milestone in their journey.

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Seo Ye Ji is facing major backlash after her surprising appearance on SNL Korea 7.

On April 12, Seo Ye Ji made her long-awaited return to variety shows by guest-starring on Coupang Play's SNL Korea Season 7.

Before the show started, she made jaws drop by joking, "I'll gaslight the SNL crew and make it fun," referencing her own past controversies.

During the "Seo Ye GPT" segment, Seo Ye Ji played an AI that helped Kim Won Hoon nail a company presentation. She then made a sharp comment, saying, "The truly embarrassing thing is sitting quietly and being talked about behind your back. I've experienced that a lot," hinting at the criticism she’s faced.

In the "Eve Hair Salon" skit, Seo Ye Ji acted as a salon director and joked about her past "Kim Ddak Ddak" scandal, where she was accused of controlling her then-boyfriend Kim Jung Hyun. When a character mentioned her stiff neck, she responded, "It's firm," making everyone laugh but also stirring mixed feelings.

Fans were shocked to see Seo Ye Ji using her past scandals as comedy material, especially since it’s been eight years since her last variety show appearance. Many pointed out that joking about serious accusations like gaslighting and academic fraud might have gone too far.

The controversy over Seo Ye Ji’s education also came back into the spotlight. She had previously claimed she studied abroad in Spain, but in 2021 it was revealed she never actually attended the university she mentioned.

Her agency explained she was accepted but didn’t attend because of her career in Korea, but many netizens weren’t convinced.

On SNL Korea, Seo Ye Ji even played a character who lied about her past to impress a boyfriend, making fans think of her real-life academic background scandal.

After the episode aired, reactions online exploded. Some comments included, "Falsifying academic background is a crime," "This was too much," "It was funny though," "Let’s forgive it since it’s black comedy," and "Why was Seo Ye Ji the first guest?"

Seo Ye Ji’s bold jokes have definitely split public opinion, with some calling it brave and others saying it only reopened old wounds.

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