In the aftermath of its controversial headline regarding Minji, MBC has uploaded a public apology following the backlash.
Read more to know further details.
MBC Apologizes for Controversial 'Kalguksu' Acrostic Poem Title About NewJeans Minji
On January 22, MBC officially uploaded an apology for its headline involving Minji.
The Korean news outlet, specifically iMBC, alongside article writer Go Dae Hyun, has faced immense flak for a headline embedding an acrostic poem that made fun of Minji's "Kalguksu" controversy.
International and domestic fans were angered to no avail, as the headline's first pairings consisted of Kal, Guk, and Su, which were all starting words to make up the article's title.
According to the post, MBC reported Minji's departure at the International Incheon Airport, since the idol headed for the ongoing 2024 fashion show in Paris. The post drew in negative reactions from the K-pop community, triggering a wave of angry fans.
Afterwards, MBC uploaded a statement, stating how iMBC is aware of the importance of intellectual property (IP) of artists, followed by its acknowledgement of the situation. The outlet then revealed that action had been taken to remove the article.
Furthermore, the outlet apologized to NewJeans and their agency and assured everyone that similar incidents wouldn't happen again in the future since preventive measures will be implemented.
Read MBC's full apology below:
"Notice.
iMBC is very much aware of the importance of intellectual property (IP) of artists. Earlier, there was a controversy regarding the title of a photo article, which was related to NewJeans, and measures have been taken to remove the post.
We express our sincerest apologies to the artists who were affected and their agencies for any distress caused by this occurrence. In order to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future, iMBC promises to take measures to improve content management."
Read also: NewJeans Minji Criticized for English Grammar: 'She's so immature for an oldest group member...'
Minji's "Kalguksu" controversy revolved around one of the idol's live broadcasts, which took place on January 2. The idol noticed that her revelation about not trying the "Kalguksu" noodle dish in December 2022 went viral online, leading her to address the matter.
However, her clarification was poorly received by netizens, as many criticized her grammar and behavior. This eventually led to Minji apologizing on January 15 through a lengthy message, which ignited heated reactions from the Bunny fandom, especially from international fans.
What are your thoughts on MBC's apology? Are you looking forward to Minji's activities in the 2024 Paris Fashion Week? Let us know in the comments below!
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