After THIS 4th-gen idol faced backlash for admitting he went clubbing, he lost his job as an MC for a music show and was also excluded from his group's upcoming release.
Summary of TEMPEST Hwarang Clubbing Controversy
In February, TEMPEST Hwarang drew flak after his conversation with a fan during a fan call-signing event. During their talk, the OP claimed that she saw him at a club amid his hiatus.
The idol admitted it but clarified that he only went there because he liked music. Hwarang also denied that he had contacted girls from the club and attested fans that they would never betray them.
However, he incurred the anger of fans as the OP continued to claim that he actually drank as well as hung out with girls, who he contacted afterward through his alleged private Instagram.
What frustrated fans even more was the time of his visit to the club coincided with the period when Hwarang stopped his activities due to poor health conditions.
At the time, the agency apologized and said that Hwarang was deeply reflecting on what he did and pledged not to repeat the same mistake.
Hwarang Suffers Aftermath of Clubbing: Idol Loses MC Role, Activities Suspended
While the issue seemed to have quieted down after that, fans were surprised after the agency announced after two weeks that the idol would be suspended from his group activities and even stepped down from his solo work as an MC.
In particular, TEMPEST is scheduled to make a comeback with their 5th mini-album, "TEMPEST Voyage," on March 11.
However, ahead of their official return, Yuehua Entertainment announced that the group will continue as a six-member group for their upcoming activities, excluding Hwarang.
Regarding the reason, the label pointed out:
"During the discussion, Hwarang was not able to regain (fans) trust. Under these circumstances, we judged that it would be impossible for the team to continue activities with him, and so we decided to temporarily suspend Hwarang activities."
The label also asked for understanding if he will appear in pre-filmed and production materials as Hwarang already worked on it before he was suspended from joining the album.
Additionally, Hwarang who joined MBC's "Show Champion" as an MC last month also lost this job following his clubbing issue. MBC announced that moving forward, the show will be led by Xdinary Heroes Gaon and EPEX Keum Donghyun excluding him.
When this broke news, numerous fans even outside their fandom criticized the label for creating an unnecessary issue, such as suspending an idol for clubbing and drinking.
Fans emphasized that Hwarang was born in 2001 and and a full adult who will turn 23 in April already; thus, they don't see any wrong from his actions.
- "Hwarang was born in 2001 and is a 22-year-old adult, so what's the problem with him going to a club?"
- "They are creating controversy over something unnecessary."
- "Apologizing for going to a club? K-pop culture is seriously becoming crazier."
READ MORE: TEMPEST Hwarang to Undergo Hiatus After 'Clubbing' Issue — What Will Happen to Group's Comeback?
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Written by Eunice Dawson.
