Red Velvet's Irene finds herself in the middle of a growing controversy following claims of staff misconduct during a recent fan signing event.

On December 9, a shocking post surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) and various online forums. The post accused a security guard at Irene’s fan signing event of inappropriate behavior towards a fan, leading to a wave of backlash.

A user identified as "A" shared their friend’s experience at the event. "My friend 'B' attended the event, and the treatment they faced was terrifying," A wrote. "While I’ve seen poor treatment at fan signings before, this crossed the line."

According to A, B was subjected to excessive security checks. "They were asked to roll their sleeves above the elbows and jump to ensure no hidden recording devices. When asked, ‘Can I touch your body?’ they felt pressured to say yes, fearing they’d be removed from the event otherwise," A explained.

Although the alleged contact wasn’t directly on the chest, A claimed it was “below the collarbone and above the undergarment.” They questioned, "Why is such an invasive process necessary just to meet an artist? What’s scarier is knowing it could happen again."

A also shared a past experience from another fan signing, where security allegedly “subtly checked the chest area.” They added, “Why treat fans like criminals? If you don’t trust fans, stop holding these events."

The post quickly gained traction, with another fan stepping forward to share their experience. "I was wearing a padded jacket, and they said, ‘Let me touch you briefly,’ then checked my arms, underarms, and sides," the fan claimed.

Online, fans voiced their outrage. Comments flooded in, saying, "Why treat paying fans like this?" , "This is stricter than airport security!", "They need to apologize and change these practices", "If safety is such a concern, just stop holding fan signings" and etc.

This isn’t the first time such allegations have surfaced. Last year, HYBE’s group &TEAM faced similar backlash after fans reported invasive security checks at their fan signings. HYBE later apologized and promised non-contact measures to ensure fans' comfort at future events.

Fans are now urging SM Entertainment and Irene’s team to address the issue. Many have tagged the agency and Red Velvet’s official accounts, demanding accountability.

Meanwhile, Irene’s recent solo debut with her album Like A Flower has been a major success. The album surpassed 330,000 copies in first-week sales and continues to receive love from fans. However, this controversy has cast a shadow over her promotional activities.

As of now, SM Entertainment has not released an official statement regarding the allegations. Fans are watching closely for their response.

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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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