ATEEZ's leader Hongjoong is causing a stir with his latest release, and it might just be aimed at Bang Si Hyuk and HYBE!

On January 15th, Hongjoong dropped his new digital single SMB featuring rapper Odetari, but the lyrics quickly raised eyebrows. Fans and netizens are speculating that the song takes shots at Bang Si Hyuk, the chairman of HYBE, and the company itself.

In the rap, Hongjoong spits lines like, "Not fun at all," "Act your age, scoundrel," and "Think you've made it? hitman." The words “hitman” and “bang” particularly caught attention, as “hitman” is a nickname closely associated with Bang Si Hyuk, and “bang” could be seen as a subtle nod to his name.

The lyrics don’t stop there, with Hongjoong also rapping, “If you have time to watch others, be careful of your own back,” “Jealousy blinds your life”, and “The way you're cursing with a real name mentioned”.

These bold lines have many questioning if they were aimed at someone in particular, with many linking the words to recent issues surrounding HYBE.

Last year, HYBE was in the spotlight after leaked internal documents made crude comments about K-pop idols' appearances during a National Assembly audit.

The revelation caused public outrage, and HYBE CEO Lee Jae Sang later apologized, taking full responsibility for the incident and pledging to prevent similar issues in the future.

Despite the buzz surrounding the lyrics, KQ Entertainment, Hongjoong’s agency, has remained silent. They told HeraldPOP, “We have no official stance on this matter”, leaving fans and critics to interpret the lyrics on their own.

While the controversy swirls, ATEEZ is gearing up for the grand finale of their 2025 world tour ‘TOWARDS THE LIGHT : WILL TO POWER’ in Seoul at the KSPO Dome in March 2025, so all eyes will be on the group as the drama unfolds.

Fans are definitely divided on whether Hongjoong’s lyrics were a direct dig at HYBE or just artistic expression. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

Source: [1]

IU recently revealed that she watched her own concert film in a public theater, but shockingly, no one recognized her—even when she dropped a hint!

On February 27, a new video featuring IU was released, showing her inside a car on her way to Daejeon.

She excitedly shared, “This is a surprise stage greeting for UAENA! I picked this location through a ladder game when I did stage greetings.”

Previously, IU had let fate decide which city she would visit after her stage greetings. She happily said, “There are UAENAs everywhere I go. Wherever I go, it's a flowery path.” The game ultimately led her to Daejeon.

IU originally hoped to explore the city, saying, “I wanted to visit Daejeon's pride, Sung Sim Dang, and walk around, but my team said it wouldn’t be possible. The lines are too long, and it’s freezing outside.” She sighed, adding, “So, things turned out this way.”

Dressed up for the occasion, IU smiled, saying, “I don’t get to meet UAENAs in Daejeon often, so I wanted to make a surprise appearance looking my best.”

She also joked about enjoying surprise events, adding, “As long as Hanteo oppa drives me safely, I’m happy.”

But what really caught fans' attention was IU’s unexpected confession—she had secretly watched her concert film in a theater, but no one noticed her! “No one recognized me at all. There weren’t that many people, and it was a weekday… but still! I even gave a hint!” she said, sounding both amused and surprised.

Later, when IU finally appeared at the theater, her fans were overwhelmed with emotion. Some even burst into tears, prompting her to gently say, “You really didn’t expect me to come, right?”

After wrapping up her stage greeting, IU laughed at herself, saying, “Wait, did I just do a 40-minute one-woman show? I must have talked so much.”

On her way back to Seoul, IU reflected on the day, sharing, “It was so cold today. I shook hands with all the UAENAs. My hands are usually cold, and since the weather was freezing, I think I made a lot of people’s hands cold, too. But after touching so many warm hands, mine became warm, too. I still haven’t washed them.”

Her love for her fans truly knows no bounds!

Source: [1]