A recent incident has sparked a heated debate, with a JTBC news article on iKON member Junhoe's solo debut coming under fire for its allegedly harsh and critical tone.

The controversy surrounding the article's tone has had a significant impact on both Junhoe and the audience.

Junhoe, known for his tenure with the popular K-Pop group iKON, ventured into the solo realm with his first album, released on July 3.

This marked a significant milestone in his career.

However, rather than celebrating this achievement, the JTBC article drew attention to what it described as the album's disappointing reception in terms of sales and viewer engagement.

The article, penned by a JTBC reporter, highlighted Junhoe's album sales figures, noting that it only sold 4,657 copies and ranked 42nd on the Circle Chart.

iKON's Junhoe released his first solo album on July 3, nine years after his debut. Although he included different music genres and participated in the album production, the public's response was so cold that it was hard to receive an evaluation. According to the music chart, his album sales hit 4,657 copies. This was a disappointing result, ranking 42 on the Circle Chart.

- JTBC reporter

It also pointed out modest viewer counts for his music videos and comparatively low listener numbers for the album's tracks.

The critical assessment did not sit well with fans and netizens, who quickly took to online platforms to express their outrage. 

Could it be because they had much better results as a group? The title song for his solo album reached 14,000 listeners, and the double title track reached only 4,200 listeners. The music video has only 20,000 views even ten days after its initial release. Although he worked hard to release the album, the results show the reality. It also looks like he knows that it's hard to work alone.

- JTBC reporter

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Many accused the article of being unnecessarily harsh and pointed out that such a critical approach was uncommon for solo debuts in the highly competitive K-pop industry.

Netizens, particularly those on platforms like theqoo, have expressed their disappointment and disbelief at the article's tone. One user went as far as to label the article as 'malicious', questioning the intent behind such a critical analysis of Junhoe's solo efforts.

This sentiment echoes the widespread support and sympathy for the challenges faced by solo artists in K-Pop.

On the other hand, there has been a strong defense of Junhoe's decision to pursue a solo career.

Commenters have emphasized the bravery and effort it takes to step out from a successful group like iKON.

HERE ARE SOME THE NETIZENS' COMMENTS:

• "The article is too much! It's already amazing to release solo music without any promotions. My idol doesn't have good album sales either, but they continue to release music, and I know how hard that can be, so I continue to support them because I want to see them promoted as an artist for a long time."
• "A reporter that writes articles like this wouldn't know the meaning and thought that goes through a solo album like this."
• "Didn't even know he released an album. But it is hard for a male solo to succeed..the article is a bit too much."
• "The article is really malicious. I'm even hurt reading it."
• "The article really went too far."
• "They really took it too far.
• "What's with this article? I'm not even a fan and I'm angry about it."
• "I just scrolled down after seeing the title."

This positive response to the article's tone underscores the resilience and determination of K-pop artists.

The backlash against the article underscores a broader sensitivity toward the treatment of K-pop idols, especially when they venture into solo projects.

Fans argue that while constructive criticism is acceptable, the JTBC article crossed a line into what they perceive as unnecessarily harsh and potentially damaging to Junhoe's morale and reputation.

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KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.