Amid the backlash SHINee Taemin is receiving following his comeback album, "Guilty," his fandom Shawol defended the idol from accusations of sexual commercialization of minors.

SHINee Taemin Accused of Sexualizing, Voyeurism of Minors Following 'Guilty' Album Inclusions

In a women's online community, netizens complained about SHINee Taemin's solo comeback album, which allegedly includes photo cards that promote sexual commercialization.

Earlier on October 30, Taemin dropped his fourth mini-album, "Guilty." While the release itself performed well, some raised their brows at the physical album inclusions, which were sold in the form of an archive box.

A fan who purchased it particularly left a review on SNS which immediately went viral in the popular forum, saying:

"I see a boy through a hole... our eyes met. When I opened it, the boy was lying on the motel bed. Isn't this unhinged?"

In the photo released together, there was a hole on the outside of the box as if someone had pierced it, and the moment you sneak a peek from it, you'll make eye contact with Taemin's eyes lying on the bed.

The fan added:

"There were very suspicious photos in the zipper bag, so if you take it out, those were body parts of a boy. When I see it, I think about it. I wonder if I've really purchased the legitimate goods."

The photos in the zipper pack especially contain parts of Taemin's body, including close-up lips and waist.

In particular, photos of slightly melted ice on his lips, including pants and undies that Taemin seemed to have taken off, drew attention.

As soon as female K-Netz saw these, they criticized Taemin's album and accused him of promoting the sexualization and voyeurism of minors, leaving comments such as:

"Even if you exclude everything else, the panties are really... It's a real 'guilty' that a large agency put out those and no one stopped them."

"It would be terrible if they were female idols."

"They think sexualizing of minors is attractive."

"The title 'Guilty' has a boyish concept and with a sexual connotation, it reminds me of pedophilia but combined with voyeurism, so I am very repulsed."

Shawols Defend Taemin from Sexualization Controversy

Meanwhile, Taemin debuted as the youngest member of the group SHINee in 2008 and began his solo career in 2014.

In SHINee, he was treated like the "baby" of the group, but he deviated from that image as a soloist.

After the accusations reached Shawols, SHINee's fandom, they were quick to defend the idol, pointing out the "hypocrisy" of K-Netz.

The idol's supporters explained that the whole point of the album is to instill "guilt" in fans who sexualized minor idols just like he experienced debuting at a young age, rather than promoting sexual commercialization.

Also, fans are frustrated that internet users were calling out the album's concept as voyeurism of minors when Taemin is already 30 years old and not a minor.

Shawols asked netizens to instead call out actual companies who were sexualizing underaged idols who were never addressed and a problem for the same K-Netz.

Here are some of what Shawols said:

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Written by Eunice Dawson.