Despite ASTRO's Eunwoo and his agency's apology statement, K-netizens are still extremely upset with BTS Jungkook, NCT's Jaehyun, and SEVENTEEN's Mingyu for going out in Itaewon despite the coronavirus pandemic. The three singers also gave their apology letter following the report from Dispatch.
On May 18, Korean media outlets released reports stating that the male idols went to entertainment facilities and restaurants around Itaewon on April 25, which is around the Itaewon club wherein a positive coronavirus patient visited on May 1st.
The incident happened before the identified COVID-19 patient tested positive. After that, there has been a resurgence of mass infection from several people who have been in the area, however, quarantine inspectors claimed that the first infected victim could have visited before May. That's why visiting Itaewon around late April has not been safe already.
Park Young-Joon, the head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Anti-Epidemic Headquarters, said in a regular briefing held at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, on the 18th,
"We believe that it was infected through an early group of patients at the end of April and that it may have spread a little more through entertainment establishments in Itaewon since then."
As it was also reported, the four idols are already reflecting on what they've done, but people are still attacking them. After coming to know that the idols continued their activities and promotions during the incubation period wherein their viral load could still possiby be high, the netizens were more angered.
K-netizens are then calling out ASTRO's Cha Eunwoo's hypocrisy, as of the initial report made by Dispatch on May 13, the blind item mentioned an agency denying the allegation, which is said to be Eunwoo's agency.
In addition to this, K-Netz pointed out on how the male idol accepted the "Thank you Challenge," an act or gesture showing gratitude to the medical staffs and the front liners fighting the pandemic. The sign also promotes social distancing.
A netizen then commented, "You even did the campaign challenge, yet you couldn't pull off the social distancing yourself?"
"It's okay to hang out but amidst the coronavirus pandemic? I believe you are a student's role model," another netizen said.
"What a hypocrite."
A netizen also remarked and explained why they are in a rage even if the idols went to the Itaewon club before the mass infection in Itaewon.
"Why does everyone say that they went before the confirmed person came out? Can I ask why did people stay at home after cancelling all the events in my neighborhood? Why are you wearing a mask when we don't have even a confirmed patient in our neighborhood?" Pertaining to the idols that are still susceptible to the virus, but went on to broadcast without self-quarantine. People believe that this reckless behavior could be the cause of mass infection.
On the other hand, despite the various reactions about the "Itaewon Controversy" involving the four male idols, some netizens are conveying their messages as well as Korean media outlets that fans should not tolerate the idols, and have double standards saying words such as, "Why people are attacking them? Other idols came into Itaewon as well" but instead, let the idol admit their mistakes, and let them reflect deeply over about it to become better idols who accepts responsibility, according to netizens.
